Reducing the number of mosquitoes can only accomplish so much. People still must protect their homes and themselves from those that survive. In a series of experiments, scientists have proven that neem is effective at keeping mosquitoes out of the homes of villagers who rarely have windows or screens. When neem oil is mixed with the kerosene used in the lamps of villagers mosquitoes are repelled from the home at only a 1 % concentration. Cardboard mats covered with neem oil and placed over a small heater worked equally as well, reducing the number of biting mosquitoes by as much as 83% ( Sharma et al, 1993). Both of these methods are inexpensive and easily practiced by villagers, many of whom have neem trees growing by their homes.
The next experiments narrowed the focus of protection from disease carrying mosquitoes to an individual level. The researchers wanted to find out if neem could be used as an insect repellent for people when applied to the skin. To test this theory volunteers spent all night in the open with skin exposed to entice mosquitoes to bite. Half of the volunteers were covered with a mixture of coconut oil and 2% concentration of neem oil. The other half were covered in coconut oil alone to act as control for the mosquitoes that landed on each of the volunteers so the number collected could be counted in the morning. The results surpassed all of their expectations. Those who were covered with the coconut oil and neem lotion were completely free of mosquito bites while the control group was subject to several hundred bites. Later experiments showed that a neem oil lotion also protected against the bite of the sand fly, a vector of several serious diseases, oriental sore and the Phlebotomus fever virus ( Sharma , 1993 ).
When we go outdoors insects will usually be a part of the experience. Keeping them from biting and possibly transmitting diseases can be accomplished safety with products containing neem oil. The compounds developed over millions of years by the neem tree offer natural, safe and affective protective from insects.