Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I am going to Kenya next month- hiking thru all terrains- and I'm a bit (a lot) concerned with the bug situation. I've got an immune deficiency in which vaccines don't always work in my body, so I'm looking for the best protection from yellow-fever and malaria-ridden bugs as possible. I don't wear repellent and generally don't get bitten much in the states. But that being said...

Does anyone have a tried and true alternative to DEET?

Or should I suck it up and go with the chemicals?

flag	asked Jul 2 2011 at 20:48 LiveBigger 2,994●9●22

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I am getting alot of advice for my trip to india from indiamike forum. Anti-malaria isnt really a vaccine however taking those drugs for any period at all would make the trip not worth it for me. Fortunately they say covering up (long sleeves and long pants) + DEET is the best solution. My plan is to cover up and use DEET sparingly. Once I get there I will see how the heat is going, bug concentrations, how much they like to bite me and re-evaluate how much DEET to use! There is another chemical they mention that you can soak your clothes in which might reduce DEET use! May be a good idea. – PaleoMouth Jul 2 2011 at 21:13

I will look into it, thank you. Have a great trip! – LiveBigger Jul 2 2011 at 22:18

Cory Collier · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-02 21:26:05Z UTC

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Something to bear in mind: Malaria kills approx 20 million people per year. Potential cancer as a result of DEET exposure is responsible for an inconceivably small fraction of that. Use the stuff that works, and don't risk getting something that actually does murder millions.

answered Jul 2 2011 at 21:26

Cory Collier
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I second this. My downstairs neighbor is Kenyan, and his friend back home contracted malaria and died of acute kidney failure, due to lack of access to dialysis units. And the friend was a medical resident too. Be safe! – Kamal♦ Jul 2 2011 at 21:35

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This definitely puts it in perspective... Science wins! Thank you so much. – LiveBigger Jul 2 2011 at 22:18

thanks for saying this. my husband worked for years at the school of public health doing malaria research and though hes been out of the field for years, has maintained a personal interest in the research. hes barking at me to tell you to use the DEET right now. malaria is a horrifying thing that you dont want to get. a friend in africa covered with DEET, and ended up getting bites through the holes in the grommets in his chuck taylors! mosquitoes are insidious. just use the DEET. – being Jul 3 2011 at 1:51

+1 for cost benefit analysis! – Matt Feb 20 2012 at 21:21

kilton · Answer 2 · 2011-07-02 22:17:04Z UTC

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I use this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Repel-HG-406T-Eucalyptus-4-Ounce-Repellent/dp/B001DRJE1K

But if I were going to Africa and had an immune deficiency, there's no way I'd take a chance. I'd use Deet.

answered Jul 2 2011 at 22:17

kilton
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Jodi · Answer 3 · 2011-07-03 04:42:08Z UTC

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I've made three trips to Kenya -- highlands, Maasai Mara, Nairobi, Eldoret, Kitale, Kajiado, Mombasa. I didn't notice many bugs during the day. I felt like I needed repellent only at night. I took a lotion with DEET (less than 10% I think) and slathered it on before bed. The buzzing in your ears is the worst. Use a net if it's available.

You can get a yellow fever vaccine.

Enjoy your trip! Stock up on Dormans blue mountain coffee while you're there.

edited Jul 3 2011 at 4:42

answered Jul 3 2011 at 4:27

Jodi
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	Great! I'll def have a net as I'll be camping outside. Any must-do's while I'm there? (is Carnivore as thrilling as I hope?) – LiveBigger Jul 3 2011 at 4:48
	I never went to the Carnivore, but I highly recommend Thompsons gazelle. You must go to a game park. Lake Naivasha has so many flamingos it looks like a pink oil slick spilling onto the water. If you're hiking, you'll probably see my favorite site, amazing starry skies with zero light pollution. Go to a craft market and be prepared to negotiate. – Jodi Jul 4 2011 at 3:02
	Nairobi has great Ethiopian restaurants where they roast your coffee in front of a fire. Go to church! Wonderful music. – Jodi Jul 4 2011 at 3:04
	Fantastic recommendations! I am dreaming about those starry skies... – LiveBigger Jul 5 2011 at 0:30

flashflood · Answer 4 · 2011-07-03 02:55:14Z UTC

I use a home-made tick and mosquito repellant: about 30 drops each of geranium, citronella and lavender essential oil in a base of a couple ounces of grapeseed oil. I would NOT rely on this in Africa but it works pretty well in my tick-infested yard as long as I re-apply every few hours.

I wonder if there was something non-chemical that the locals use that works. Short of that DEET is probably a necessary measure.

Also helpful to repel biting insects: avoiding anything that spikes the blood sugar and eating lots of raw garlic.

jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com · Answer 5 · 2011-07-03 15:12:33Z UTC

I lived in Central America for a year and was in areas that were very malarial inflicted - I also have friends who are scientists who work on malaria. My advice to you stems from what they gave me in addition to my own research. I would definitely recommend that you talk to a specific travel/health doctor before leaving as they will be more familiar with what you will be up against rather than a regular doctor. Scour WHO and the CDC for the most current information on the area you'll be in. Long sleeved shirts, long pants, hats. Tuck your pants into your boots/socks. Tuck your shirt in. Use DEET, sorry, and spray all your clothes including your boots, mosquito net, etc. I believe the product I used was by Sawyer. I also took Mefloquine with me. I have a friend who contracted Malaria and from hearing personal account on what he had to go through? You don't want it. Take care and good luck!

Cave Tomboy · Answer 6 · 2011-07-04 08:59:58Z UTC

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Reactions to mefloquine are very perosnal. I've taken it for 3 Tera straight with not problems. You can also take malarone, but it is very, very expensive and not covered by insurance. It is effective and has lower risk of side effects.

Mosquitos are generally worst at dusk and dawn, so pay particular attention then.

Natural stuff does exist, tho' it's not as effective as Deet and needs to be reapplied very frequently.

answered Jul 4 2011 at 8:59

Cave Tomboy
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	what do you know on natural stuff? – oak0y Jul 4 2011 at 9:27
	Sorry, I couldn't pull it out of my head when I first commented. Picaridin which is widely available in Europe and now also in the US (can't remember which brand uses it, but I bought it at Walgreens) has been proven to be just as, or very close, effective as DEET. Personally, I cannot and would not use DEET, though I'm afraid to recommend that to anyone else. Your best bet, honestly, is to stay indoors between 4-6pm and sleep under a mosquito net. When I got cerebral malaria, I was bitten on my breast -- through a bra, shirt, sweater and jacket. – Cave Tomboy Jul 5 2011 at 8:45

Wcc Kamal Stabby fan · Answer 7 · 2012-02-20 18:57:48Z UTC

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Repel Lemon Eucalyptus is supposedly effective, but I have not used it personally.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/aznaturalremedyindex/a/mosquito.htm

answered Feb 20 2012 at 18:57

Wcc Kamal Stabby fan
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cerement · Answer 8 · 2012-02-20 20:43:58Z UTC

Repellent
I've had good luck with Picaridin based repellents, still a chemical, but works as well as (or better than) DEET, does not reek like DEET, and does not melt plastic like DEET, doesn't irritate skin like DEET. You can get Natrapel wipes and sprays at most outdoor/camping stores. The most common truly natural alternatives usually include mixes of Citronella (lemongrass), Geranium, Lavender, Peppermint, and/or Eucalyptus oils. The biggest difference between repellents is not so much effectiveness, but how often you need to re-apply the repellents. Even if you are taking an anti-malarial, you still want a repellent, malaria is not the only parasite mosquitoes carry and there's enough other bloodsuckers out there that can pass on some nasty things.

Washing
As a side note, Campsuds makes a bio-degradable camping soap with Citronella, Lavender, and Peppermint oils that keeps the bugs off of you while you shower (and leaves you smelling minty-fresh). Otherwise, Dr. Bronner's Lavender is a classic standby.

Clothing
This is (most likely) overkill, but as a backup measure, I often get a Permethrin (another chemical, generally "safe" around people and dogs, BUT toxic to cats) based clothing treatment. Sawyer seems the easiest to get hold of.

Anti-Malarial
I've had the best luck with Malarone, one of the more expensive anti-malarials, but doesn't have the nasty side effects of the 'quines and doesn't wreck your gut flora like (the MUCH cheaper) Doxycycline (broad spectrum anti-biotic [leaves me exhausted with the full run of symptoms you would expect from a harsh antibiotic regimen]). Note that with any anti-malarial, you really don't want to be taking them for the long term (usually one to two months at the most).

DEET alternative that works?

8 Answers