Citronella versus dengue
(Yesterday’s column)
When I read a couple of weeks ago that the incidence of dengue in Caloocan City had risen by 500 percent, I was shocked. That was were I grew up and, even back then, the mosquito situation was already bad. The story goes that when I was a toddler, my father required the nanny to follow me everywhere I went around the house, in my grandparents’ house next door and the gardens in between and beyond–with a lighted mosquito coil. My father had a huge scar on his leg, the result of scratching an itchy mosquito bite that got infected, and he wasn’t going to allow his only daughter to get ugly scars. Dengue was an unknown term then although there was a constant though low-level scare about H-fever.
When I became a mother, my abhorrence toward mosquitoes had less to do with the fear of scars on my daughters’ legs than the threat of dengue which, by then, had become a household word that scared the bejesus out of every parent, rich and poor alike. But I preferred a different solution–Nenuco mosquito repellent lotion instead of the smelly, nose-clogging and probably lung cancer causing mosquito coils.
When the girls were a little older, there came the inevitable avalanche of information about the evils of mosquito repellent lotions. It seemed that, just like mosquito coils, they were a double-edged sword. Sure, they kept mosquitos off but they also introduced chemicals to our bodies through the skin that, in cumulative amounts, may actually cause cancer or some other life-threatening ailment.
The thing is, whichever solution materializes becomes something bad after a new solution is introduced. Of course, it has a lot to do with capitalism. When the makers of mosquito repellent lotions wanted their new products to take off, they had to kill the competition–the mosquito coils which, for decades and decades, had monopolized the anti-mosquito market. The lotion makers simply glossed over the obvious fact that in well-ventilated rooms, mosquito coils are quite safe to use.
Scare tactics usually work. Not surprisingly, the same mosquito coil makers developed a new product–mats inserted in electric-operated dispensers. Unlike mosquito coils, they are smoke-free and pleasant-smelling. They need not touch the skin and do not, therefore, serve as agents that introduce toxic chemicals into the body. Good for those who can afford the rather pricey electric dispensers and mats, right? But what they don’t bother telling the public is that the nice-smelling mats hid what they still basically are–insecticides. And notwithstanding the nice smell, the toxins are released in the fumes which, while killing mosquitos, are also there for us to inhale freely.
My husband felt so upset and helpless that he started talking about installing screens in the entire house and putting up mosquito nets on every bed. But this is the Philippines with its never-ending ironies. The tropical climate brings on the mosquitos but the same tropical climate means that screens and mosquito nets will ruin the natural ventilation in any room. Besides, screens are only good so long as doors are rarely opened. And mosquito nets only provide safety while one is inside it.
So, were we going to be prisoners of our own house and beds? An aunt living in Canada but who grew up in the same mosquito-infested neighborhood in Caloocan City and, therefore, fully aware of the problem, advised us to use citronella. Where we could find it was a mystery.
It wasn’t until we came upon Ilog Maria (www.ilogmaria.com) in Silang, Cavite that I finally discovered the wonders of citronella. I bought a few bottles on trial, found the product effective and, thereafter, ordered online. But Ilog Maria’s products are not cheap so I decided to look around for less expensive and more accessible sources of citronella. A few mouseclicks and the result was amazing.
According to Wikipedia, “Citronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon.” Cymbopogon is none other than lemongrass. The lowly tanglad that I planted in the garden of our old house because I loved using it for cooking. The herb that was the subject of forwarded e-mails last year claiming that lemongrass was a natural antidote for high blood pressure.
An article in Seatle Post-Intelligencer (www.seattlepi.com) describes a process for making mosquito repellent at home and I am going to try it soon. It’s just a matter of pressing the plant, mixing it with body oil and allowing the mixture to infuse for two weeks. What can be simpler? What can be more natural? What can be less expensive?
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Marriage takes a lot...
I hate when they buzz in your ears! That is one species nobody would be sad to see go extinct (along with ipis)
Oh, and let’s include ants as well.
I discovered this flowering plant from my brother in law (don’t know the name) that is supposed to repel mosquitoes so I planted some of it near the window of our bedroom, let’s see if it works
Would love to find out the name, Kreez.
Hi Connie! The bookstore here in school sells T. Ana’s natural insect repellant (made from citronella, lavender, and other natural ingredients not to mention that they’re handmade) I think it costs 200php for a 100-ml bottle.
Whoa! I need to visit HEdCen soon. Thanks!
Hi Connie, i’ve been planning to try extracting the oils from lemongrass through distilling. Though it’s already available commercially, i still want to try. It’s also applicable to a lot of herbs.
Ako rin. There’s a satisfaction in being able to do it yourself that cannot be replaced. Are you using any special tools for distilling?
Yes, i agree. I haven’t started. I still need to buy or attempt to create a homemade distiller. Nakakaaliw yung possibilities of what essential oils you can extract. So many uses, for food, medicinal, aromatheraphy, etc.
check this out:
http://www.heartmagic.com/EssentialDistiller.html
I have a friend from Ilo Ilo, that contracted dengue fever. Nothing to play with
Hi Ms. Connie! I grew up in Tondo and hated the smell of mosquito coils. An officemate suggested to use citronella coils, I bought mine in Robinson’s Department Store, in the incense section. It can be in coil form or as an incense. Pero ang mahal naman! P200+ for just 10 coils and that was a couple of years ago. I still think making your own repellent is a better alternative, especially for someone who’s currently pregnant like me. Will have to test it first to my husband though.
Why go to all those process in extracting oil from what-ever plant. Yung balat ng lanzones is a good mosquito repellant. Leave it under the sun to dry then light it up. The smoke it produces (and the smell maybe) does something to these insects. They don’t dare come near it.
How about smoking a joint. It happened to us while fishing at a mosquito infested river bank. It was either the mosquitos didn’t like the smell of the weed or we were just too stoned to feel their bites. What a night that was. It was one of those dreams fulfilled.
Mike, my daughter Sam caught dengue when she was 5. I agree — nothing to play with.
BlogusVox, lanzones isn’t available all-year round.
Tom, if that’s how you’ve been shooing away mosquitoes all your life, I don’t wonder anymore about your thinking processes HAHAHAHAHAH
Hindi naman ganoon, once in a while lang especially during special occasions. Is the law correct at prohibiting the use of an herb that inspired someone to come up with a line, like, “Excuse me while I kiss the sky”?
Hey, I’m FOR the legalization of the use of marijuana — but only for medical reasons and they exclude ALLEGED artistic inspiration.
I am positive there would be no protest marches to “save the lamok” hahahaha
You’d be surprised. My kids have this teacher, a true-blue environmentalist. He is so against the killing of ants that find their way inside the classroom. My goodness, if I were his student, I’d show him how to cut an ant’s head off using a pair of crafts scissors.
I wonder how he feels about roaches!
LOL Next time I see him, I’ll ask.
When I lived in Hawaii they had these centipides that would give a huge welt if they bit you — and they had a bad habit of hiding in beds so they bit you in the most inconvenient places. They need to die along with the lamok and roaches!
Hey, don’t forget to include the ants — all kinds — red, black, small, big. I hate ants.
We see a lot of millipedes around here and they sometimes get into the house. First time I saw them, I panicked, read up and found out that if you touch them, they emit something which can cause “minor” skin irritation. “Minor”. Tell that to someone with sensitive skin.
I agree with Miguk above, who says “When I lived in Hawaii they had these centipedes that would give a huge welt if they bit you — and they had a bad habit of hiding in beds so they bit you in the most inconvenient places. They need to die along with the lamok and roaches!
I too have the problems with centipedes here in Hawaii.
Please tell us if you perfect the natural insect repellant and share the recipe with us.