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| Spotty Yakeral | | Print | |
| Monday, 01 October 2007 | ||||
Got a thousand itches you can't scratch?If there's anything I really don't like about the discovery coast of Queensland, it's the discovery that sand flies (or Biting Midge as they are otherwise known) are a major pain in the... well, everywhere. I'm wise enough to cover up whenever I go kayaking, usually from head to toe. Ergo, sand flies only really get a chance to bite the topside of my hands whenever I'm fishing. But I don't walk around fully covered up at camp, however, and it's costing me dearly. My limbs are so damned itchy that a good old trusty mozzie bite would almost come as a relief! I've tried a few things to combat this problem, both as prevention and cure. The most obvious preventative measure is to use Bushman repellant, although I really try to keep that as a last resort. One look at the precautions warning on the packaging sends shivers up and down my spine: avoid contact with eyes, mouth, cell phones, spectacle frames, other plastics (like my kayak for example) painted surfaces, vinyl seatcovers and synthetic fabrics. Here's my question: if Bushman repellant can do damage to the above mentioned substances, what is it about my skin that makes it OK? Our skin is but a sponge for pretty much anything, so I'm left wondering how safe this stuff really is. My guess is not very.  Biting Midges are driving me nuts If anyone has any words of wisdom to share with me on this issue I'd be very appreciative. I'm starting to resemble a dalmation more than a human and not only is it itchy as hell, I reckon it's also starting to work as a repellant to the opposite sex, in much the same way pimples do.    
01-10-2007 13:57 one word....NEEM neem oil is the best for sandies and mozzies just mix with sunscreen during day and sorbelene cream for night works a charm....sorry should have told you earlier......plenty more sandies where you going....except my place of course cheers 01-10-2007 14:44 Neem - OK, thanks for that. Where am I likely to find the stuff? Chemist perhaps? 01-10-2007 16:11 possibly also try essential oil shops, health food shops, if you can't get it there it is also used in the garden and i have bought it at bunnings cheers 01-10-2007 19:17 Prevention is better than cure. Bushmans mate, Bushmans. Apparently Dettol mixed with baby oil is good also. Ant 01-10-2007 19:44 neem works as a repellent and is non toxic, great for both sandflies and mozzies http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=8245951&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus cheers 01-10-2007 20:29 Prob should have read the post a bit more carefully before commenting before. Having relatives that live in FNQ, Bushmans is the usual recommendation. Having spent time up there, esp hiking on Hinchinbrook Isl, if I didn't have Bushmans I think the buggers probably would have picked me up and carried me away. Yes the Bushmans is fairly potent stuff, but here's some suggestions: Maybe try the aerosol stuff for the midgies as opposed to the 80-90% DEET gel. Try a pyrethrin soak for your clothes Use the gel only in your 'hotspots' ie on the jugular on your neck, inside of elbows and backs of knees. Mozzie coils burning around camp at dawn and dusk are an effective control measure also. Haven't tried the Dettol and baby oil but have heard very good reports. If you try it, let me know how it goes? Telfast is your friend! Might not control the biting, but damn it helps the scratching! All else fails, try some of Squidders licorice all-sort leggings. Will keep the midgies away - they'll all die laughing! Ant 01-10-2007 22:00 Hehe Leftiant :-) Some good suggestions here - I'm glad I wrote this post. I've also read eating loads of marmite a day or so before works as well. I'll be trying out that Neem stuff first I reckon, failing that will try the Dettol and Baby oil option. I can't stand the taste of marmite, and as I mentioned, I just don't trust the ingredients of Bushmans. Telfast is something I'll probably seek out as well. Soov does very little in my experience. 15-10-2007 23:13 Try Stingoose hi Josh, great site u've got here. Sandflies bites are a bitch. I've got scars from 2 years back and recently added more to the "collection" while castnetting at a muddy place. What I'm recommending ain't an insect repellant but an after-spray. I find it absolutely effective in stopping the terrible itch. They come in gel form or bottled sprays from any Chemist. check this site out for more info http://www.jnjaust.com.au/products/stingose/ Cost about 10 odd. Give it a go and see if it helps. Cheers, Eddie 13-12-2007 11:18 Try Stingoose Thanks Eddie. I have actually tried that several years ago and did find it quite effective. I was looking for it when these bites occured but couldn't locate it anywhere. I have found a good new preventative measure in lavander oil. Smells better than neem oil as well. It seems to work quite well. Only registered users can write comments. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
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