r/CampingandHiking • u/Effective_Moose_4997 • 22h ago

Tips & Tricks Vitamin b1 for ticks?

Someone I know takes b1 to prevent tick bites. They don't use any bug spray or anything just b1. I'm not sold that it actually works since I can't find anything about it. It seem a little... Weird. Is there anything to support it?

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77

u/codespace 22h ago

Nope.

"It's been touted as an insect repellent since 1943, and denounced as an ineffective placebo for just as long."

11

u/Effective_Moose_4997 22h ago

That's what I thought. I'll keep my tongue bit when they mention it next to me. If I tell them it doesn't work they'll just think I'm a smart ass. 🥲

15

u/codespace 22h ago

You can also show them the abstract I linked that goes through 104 relevant studies. On the National Institute of Health's website.

Or this one, over on Cambridge University's website with the full body of the report.

12

u/Effective_Moose_4997 22h ago

Haha no. This person is my mother and would just get mad and me and say "you think you know everything" and "why do you always have to fight me on stuff"

8

u/codespace 22h ago

Ah, yeah, fair enough. My father was the same way before he passed.

16

u/MilesBeforeSmiles 22h ago

There is nothing to support their claim that vitamin b1 prevents tick bites. This is 100% some woo-hoo bullshit. It has about as much validity as rubbing garlic on yourself to prevent sunburn.

Thiamine (vitamin b1) has been thoroughly debunked as a bug repellent.

6

u/313078 21h ago

I think wearing a necklace with moon stone is more efficient

1

u/MurphysNaturals 3h ago

If you were to douse that moon stone in Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, that would actually work..!!

1

u/211logos 2h ago

Maybe if the ticks take it.... :)