Suffering from Mosquitoes? Here's Why You'll Go Back to Using Bar Soap
A user seeking help online for persistent mosquito bites returned with a particularly useful grandmother's tip.
"I just don’t know what to do about these bites—I've tried everything and nothing helps," wrote a user on an American blog focused on natural remedies for various issues and ailments. "I’d love some good advice."
Offering help was a group of mothers who claimed there was a lesser-known ‘grandmother’s method’ that those who have tried could confirm truly helps. "Since I tried it, I no longer need to spend so much money on mosquito repellent products," wrote one of them, a user named Amy.
"I know the method from my grandmother, who used to make soaps with a special oil and rubbed it on us before bedtime."
According to this method, every evening before bed, take a bar of solid soap, wet it slightly, and rub it on the bite area. But like this user's grandmother, some people make the soaps themselves and add a few drops of a special oil called citronella oil—which can also be used alone, without any additions.
What’s important to know about citronella oil? Here are some eye-opening facts:
- It is safe for use even for babies and children.
- It has natural mosquito-repellent properties, thanks to its lemony scent.
- Every chemical spray for repelling mosquitoes contains this oil to some extent.
- It is derived from a perennial plant similar to lemongrass, common in the Far East, India, and California.
- China and Indonesia, where the plant grows wildly and abundantly, have taken over the global market and produce nearly half of the oils marketed worldwide.
What else can this oil help with?
- Healing of pus-filled wounds, infections, and fungi.
- Alleviating muscle pains and rheumatic pains.
- Repelling pests and insects from yards and homes.
Who should not use it?
- People who suffer from high blood pressure.
- People with a known sensitivity to any of the oil’s components.
- People who have undergone surgery and whose wounds have not yet healed.
- People who are ill and suffer from various health issues—it is advisable to consult a physician before using the oil.
