Mosquito repellents are essential on holiday, but many of us have concerns about the effects of putting strong concoctions, such as the pesticide DEET, on our skin. Try these natural alternatives to stay bite and bug free this summer:

• Mosi-guard Natural is a natural and effective repellent spray available from health foods shops and chemists. The active ingredient used is a naturally occurring extract of lemon eucalyptus oil. It protects for up to ten hours against sand flies, ticks, midges and mosquitoes.
• Mix citronella oil (citronella oil is available from most health food shops) extracted from the plant cymbopogon nardus, with a carrier oil and rub into the skin. Also try rubbing wild mint leaves, which contain the natural repellent pulegone on your skin.
• Combining the following essential oils to make a natural insect repellent:
  • 1/2 ounce citronella oil
  • 1/4 ounce lavender oil
  • 1/8 ounce pennyroyal oil
  • 1/8 ounce tea tree oil
  • 1/8 ounce jojoba oil

Do not use this blend undiluted on your skin. Follow these instructions for diluting:

• To make an insect repellent oil that can be used on your body, add 16 ounces of jojoba or almond oil to the base oil mixture and blend thoroughly.

• For an insect repellent spray, add 16 ounces of vodka to the base oil mixture, pour into a spray bottle, and shake before using.

• Arnywear sarongs, kaftans, stroller covers and soft toys are available from chemists and off the web. Arnywear is a new fabric impregnated with a natural mosquito repellent that is totally safe for children. It gives a no bite zone of around 50cm for thousands of different types of insects.

Q: A few months ago I was going through a stressful time and I found a small lump under my armpit. It has since disappeared, but should I be worried?

A: Lumps in the armpit can have various causes so should always be checked out with your doctor. If the lump re-appears then it is important to see your GP.

It is interesting that you associated the lump with going through a stressful time as these two can be connected. So the main aim now is to prevent a recurrence by controlling the stress hormones. Make sure that you are eating little and often, no longer than three hours without eating and avoid caffeine and sugar. If your blood sugar is fluctuating then adrenaline (one of the stress hormones) will be released.

Add in a good multivitamin and mineral supplement for three months (like the BioCare One a Day or MenoPlus if you are over 45) and extra B vitamins as a B complex as these vitamins are known as the ‘stress’ vitamins. Also include extra magnesium as this is Nature’s ‘tranquiliser’ and will help to cushion your body if you go through another stressful period.

The herb Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) could also be very helpful. This herb is classed as an adaptogen, which means that it works according to your body’s need – providing energy when required, and helping to combat stress and fatigue when you are under pressure. It helps the adrenal glands which will have been under extreme pressure if you were stressed. Siberian ginseng is extremely useful when you have been under mental or physical stress and should be taken for around three months.

Aromatherapy oils, such as bergamot, lavender and camomile, can be added to a relaxing warm bath just before going to bed and some women have said that sprinkling the essential of lavender onto the pillow is restful. Oils that support the action of the adrenal glands are geranium and rosemary. Rosemary is also a gentle stimulant, which can help to increase energy levels when you are experiencing stress. Sedative and antidepressant oils that are noted for initiating the relaxation response include bergamot, clary sage, jasmine, marjoram and rose.

Q: With the weather hotting up, is there any natural way to control perspiration?

A: Sweating is often considered a nuisance but bear in mind that it is an essential function and your body’s way of cooling down and maintaining the right temperature. However, for some people sweating can be a source of embarrassment and stress, hormonal fluctuations and spicy food can all make the situation worse. It isn’t usually the sweat itself that is the problem but the odour that goes with it.

The smell occurs because of the bacteria of the skin, which breaks down various chemicals and toxins in the perspiration. Some people have more bacteria on their skin than others, leading to a stronger smell. From a nutritionist’s point of view strong body odour could suggest a need for detoxification. Eating more healthy fresh food, especially fruit and vegetables and avoiding foods high in saturated fat, additives and preservatives will help as can saunas and steam baths and skin brushing – which helps open up the pores.

Unfortunately, anti-perspirants are bad news because if you block pores you send the toxins back into the body. This is particularly important under the arms, where we have a major concentration of lymph nodes, which need to be free to do their work uninhibited. Use crystal deodorants or natural deodorants, also free from aluminium, available from health food shops. Or you could use a little cider vinegar under the arms – a cheap and effective way to sweat without the body odour.