In Reply to: vit B 1 posted by Chris on Tuesday, 23. August 2005 at 13:44 Bali Time:
Is'nt it funny how pharmacists always come up with ways in which the stuff they sell can help you, even though the advice has no scientific basis? I am yet to walk in to a pharmacist who says "save your money sir, go home ans have a good nights rest"... they always want you to buy something.
Anyway, did a little research on your theory and it does not really check out at all. In fact if you go to the Standford Uni website there is a publication about mossie bites and it appears the only single thing ever proven to have worked is DEET..? Found this as well..
Does taking vitamin B prevent mosquito bites?
Lisa
River Falls, Wisconsin
Dear Lisa:
In a word, no. Dr. Jonathan Day, the resident expert of mosquitoes.com, doesn't think so: "We've tested many home remedies like garlic, bananas and vitamin B," says Dr. Day. "While they may offer other health benefits, repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects is certainly not one of them." Instead, Dr. Day recommends any repellent featuring the chemical compound DEET, which has been on the market for over 40 years.
But seeing as how Dr. Day is in the employ of the OFF! repellent company, we decided to double-check our sources. A rather technical article from the Annals of Internal Medicine agrees with Dr. Day, calling DEET "the most effective, and best studied, insect repellent currently on the market."
The article also gives the rest of the usual suspects the thumbs down: "Ultrasonic devices, outdoor bug 'zappers,' and bat houses are not effective against mosquitoes." And on the vitamin B issue, it asserts, "Despite the obvious desirability of finding an effective oral mosquito repellent, no such agent has been identified."
Oh well, back to covering ourselves in chemicals.