Do you think that eating Garlic really helps keep mosquitos away?

Garlic - This is a picture of some garlic. I've heard that eating garlic helps keep biting flies away from you.
@Nykkee (2522)
Canada
May 12, 2008 12:15pm CST
Someone once told me that eating garlic or taking garlic pills would help keep mosquitos from biting me. Apparently it is supposed to make you taste bad to all biting bugs includeing black flys and mosquitos and fleas. I have heard of peopel giving garlic to dogs to keep fleas off them up until the recent discovery that garlic is bad for dogs. I have been thinking about getting some garlic pills so that I can take them daily in hopes of keeping the bugs away this summer. I have to use alot of bug spray and often wear a head-net when I go out side because I am allergic to the bite of some flys and I swell really bad if I get bit. Do you believe that eating garlic will keep bugs away or do you think that it's just an old wives tale?
1 person likes this
5 responses
• Philippines
13 May 08
hi nykkee, Try this experiment garlic minced put a little water place it in a small container and place in the 4 corners of your house that will repell all kinds of insects in your house. gudlack!
2 people like this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
13 May 08
That sounds interesting I will have to try that. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@lishiwei (1550)
• China
12 May 08
Yes,it's really very useful.But it also really smell very teriouble.
2 people like this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
12 May 08
Really? Taking garlic pills will make you smell bad? I don't want to smell bad. :(
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
12 May 08
A friend once told me that her uncle ate a lot of garlic and was never bothered by mosquitos, but didn't say if he had a bad BO or not. I have heard that eating a lot of strongly flavored food can cause BO. Garlic might keep mosquitos away but may keep people at a distance too! Might be worth a try, though, if they really bother you.
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
12 May 08
(The mosquitos, I mean, not the people!)
1 person likes this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
13 May 08
Hahaha! People repellant. That's funny.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
12 May 08
I am unsure. I know that it keeps those blood-sucking-thirsty vampires away. It may could work for mosquitos being that they like to suck blood as vampires do. Have you tried eating Garlic to see how it may effect the insect? Try this, if you have not.
2 people like this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
12 May 08
Thanks for responding. I already use bug repellant and stuffm but I am allergic to fly bites and the repellant doesn't keep all of them away so I am trying to find extra measures to take to repel them.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 May 09
They work. I've done it for years. I only take them when I know I'll need it so I don't get BO from it. I think you would have to take large amounts daily for that to happen (if it would at all). I know they work because if I forget to take one I'm attacked. I like sugary drinks and am typically warm to the touch, so they normally love me. But when I take a garlic pill before hanging outside at night, I'm spared (while everyone else is going nuts). It's worth a shot for you. I really doubt they would ever make you smell. give it a try. It's better than than all those greasy smelly repellants out there. Good luck!