The power of garlic?

[treadlightly]

My trip to the woods a couple of weeks ago was great fun for me and a veritable banquet for all the little biting things which live there. I came home happy but looking like a pin cushion.

I have just returned from three days in the same wood and as I sit here I am virtually bite free.

The difference? Garlic.

I read somewhere a while ago ( it may have been on here) that garlic deters the little beasties so for the time I was out I swallowed a clove every few hours to see if infusing my system with eau de garleec would do the trick. It seems to have worked, although I will have to try it a few more times before I'm sure.

Anyone else tried this or heard about it or can explain it?

The only problem is I now have breath akin to a bear's armpit.

[Teepee]

In Galloway forest a couple of weeks ago, I had severe toothache. Chewing raw garlic is the best way I know, short of local anaesthetic to stop the pain temporarily.

We were getting eaten alive by midges and I spent the weekend chewing raw garlic to relieve the pain and hopefully ward off the loveble little bitey things as a bonus . It made no difference at all ! None! Nada! It was midge central and I was literally oozing Allicin .

To be fair though, Wilmas nordic summer, DEET wipes and standing in thick green birch smoke didn't keep them off either.


Categorically, IMO, garlic is no defence against special forces trained midges.

[jacko1066]

2 words. Commando midgies!!!! Plus 1 to what teepee says!! I was with him and the one with deet wipes!!!
You must have been really lucky mate, perhaps we should bottle you lol
Cheers
Steve

[dwardo]

My trip to the woods a couple of weeks ago was great fun for me and a veritable banquet for all the little biting things which live there. I came home happy but looking like a pin cushion.

I have just returned from three days in the same wood and as I sit here I am virtually bite free.

The difference? Garlic.

I read somewhere a while ago ( it may have been on here) that garlic deters the little beasties so for the time I was out I swallowed a clove every few hours to see if infusing my system with eau de garleec would do the trick. It seems to have worked, although I will have to try it a few more times before I'm sure.

Anyone else tried this or heard about it or can explain it?

The only problem is I now have breath akin to a bear's armpit.

I wonder if the smell of garlic simply kept all your camp mates away from you thus creating a bigger alternate concentrated target for the midge?
Either way it works

[HillBill]

Well it is said to keep away blood drinking vampires so why not midges. If that fails you could sharpen a wooden stake, that should sort it

[Huon]

Well it is said to keep away blood drinking vampires so why not midges. If that fails you could sharpen a wooden stake, that should sort it

Marmite in large enough quantities is also supposed to do the trick (eaten not used as an ointment!). Perhaps Marmite and garlic sandwiches every hour or so?

[HillBill]

Hmmm, i expect the company you were keeping would dissapear with the midges

Marmite in large enough quantities is also supposed to do the trick (eaten not used as an ointment!). Perhaps Marmite and garlic sandwiches every hour or so?

[the interceptor boy]

If you don't want your breath to smell like a bear armpits, slice and half a clove of garlic then take the small green heart of garlic out, you will never have bad breath of after taste as in cooking with garlic, also try rubbing vinegar on yourself stop itching immediately. After being bitten by beasties. Cheers the interceptor boy.

[HillBill]

Why is it that i never get bitten by anything? I almost feel left out....almost.

[jackcbr]

Why is it that i never get bitten by anything? I almost feel left out....almost.

I don't know you so please don't be offended, and if my hypothesis is correct you won't be, but maybe you're thick skinned?

[HillBill]

Lol, maybe

I don't know you so please don't be offended, and if my hypothesis is correct you won't be, but maybe you're thick skinned?

[rik_uk3]

On another forum someone said that taking Vit B tablets does the job.