several voices twitch They are more disturbing than the buzzing of a mosquito flying around our bed at night. His voice bothers you. And the scars left by bites are even more disturbing, much more numerous. We know this all too well in Spain, where we deal with the dreaded tiger mosquitoes between late spring and summer. And they know this well in Japan, where these little bugs are a real headache. They are especially seen there too aedas albopictusIt is the most irritating species on the island of Honshu, where most of the cities are concentrated.

To face these, the Japanese developed a method more than a century ago that can help us avoid annoying itching in Spain.

Don’t say mosquito, say it katori senko. Although burning aromatic vegetables to scare away mosquitoes is not a tactic unique to Japan, over a century ago Japan developed a particularly effective way of doing so. Your name: katori senko. The word sounds exotic, but the concept is actually very simple. It basically consists of a spiral-shaped incense stick that is fixed to supports and to which other components are added to repel insects. anacetum cinerariifoliumIt is better known as pyrethrum.

A solution with a history. Use katori senko It’s very simple. You just need to light it and wait for the smoke to spread. The burning of aromatic herbs is neither new nor specific to Japan, but is a more common version of Japan’s history. katori senko It ensures that it is there where it was designed to be. To be more precise, this praise is attributed to Eiichiro and Yuki Ueyama, who came up with the idea at the beginning of the 20th century.

Japan Times Remember that this idea came about completely by chance. In fact, Eiichiro Ueyama devoted himself not to the fight against insects, but to the export of tangerines. Through the intermediary of his friend, the statist Fukuzawa Yikichi, he contacted a US trader who offered him seeds of pyrethrum, a showy plant that he said was deadly to insects. Ueayama baptized him “jyochūgiku“and it wasn’t long before he was mixing the powder of its flowers with starch to make incense sticks that actually repel mosquitoes.

Key: spiral shape. The sticks were good but a solution that could be improved. First of all, because they sell out very quickly. After 40 minutes, only ashes remained. In 1895, Eiichiro’s wife Yuki had an idea: Why not change the shape to a spiral? “The coils were successful and were rolled by hand until 1957, when production was mechanized. Since then, little has changed in Ueyama’s Kincho brand of mosquito repellent, including the dark green color and packaging,” the Japanese newspaper reported.

The change was not small. As Living Japan points out, by giving it a spiral shape katori senko They gained some significant advantages: thickness and length (which means greater durability) and safety, as the new concentric design reduces the risk of falling and causing a fire.

adapt to the times. The method worked so well that today we can find mosquito coils in different brands and in a wide variety of scents. The system has also improved. “While traditional coils and wands are made from pyrethrum paste, modern mosquito coils contain mostly pyrethroid insecticides or substances derived from plants, such as citronella. They are inexpensive, portable, and generally effective in reducing bites.” Sydney.

In small print. The Australian agency reminds that the coils’ ability to repel mosquitoes is “well researched” and generally reduces the insects’ “ability” to bite; but he also advises keeping its limits in mind: “It is good for mosquitoes to bite less, but when there is a risk of disease, all bites should be stopped,” he reminds.

In an article focusing on katori senkoProfessor Cameron Webb from Sydney Medical School encourages avoiding long-term exposure to smoke, especially if coils are used indoors.

“There is sufficient evidence to suggest that burning mosquito coils when used outdoors help reduce mosquito bites, but they need to be used with caution. Using them in conjunction with topical insect repellents probably provides the best protection. It is better to avoid using them in closed rooms as a good alternative.”

One system but not one. Coils are not the only method the Japanese use to protect themselves from mosquito bites. In addition to ultrasonic and spray repellents, more traditional methods such as installing fly screens on windows and doors, eliminating stagnant water sources (pots or vases) in the house as much as possible and wearing clothes that pollute the air are used in the country. The job of insects that want to bite us is even more difficult.

Pictures | Tom (Flickr) and Ronald Langeveld (Unsplash)

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