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Text丨Fish balls
Editor丨Fish balls
Preface
Every summer, mosquitoes are our enemies, especially those who are allergic to mosquitoes, and they are even more miserable. But even in today's era of advanced technology, we can't do anything about them.
So, in ancient times when there were no mosquito coils, how did they repel mosquitoes in summer? Some are not far behind!
Smell repellent mosquito method
First of all, burning wormwood and artemisia grass is a very effective way to repel mosquitoes, wormwood and artemisia have a unique fragrance, this fragrance has a great repelling effect on mosquitoes, it is like an invisible umbrella, can effectively resist mosquito infestation.
First, the harvested wormwood and artemisia grass are exposed to the scorching sun, allowing the warmth of the sun and the power of ultraviolet rays to help them dry and evaporate excess water until the leaves are soft and free of any moisture.
The mugwort is then tied tightly with a rope of grass and then lit to light the bunches, and the smoke from the fire keeps the mosquitoes away.
This method has been widely used in the Southern Song Dynasty, and the poet Lu You described this method of repelling mosquitoes in the "Poetry Magazine": "There are many mosquitoes in Zeguo, and it is strange to call for the night." If you can't lift the fan, take a piece of burnt wormwood. This traditional mosquito repellent technique is still used by many families today.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, the ancients used realgar wine to repel mosquitoes. This mysterious liquid contains ingredients such as sulfur, and its unique aroma acts as an invisible barrier for mosquitoes and flies, effectively repelling these harmful insects.
In the traditional festival of the Dragon Boat Festival, people not only smear realgar wine on themselves just in case, but also spray it in all corners of the home to ensure a mosquito-free environment. In general, the mosquito repellent methods used by the ancient Chinese folk can be described as a variety of types.
There are both physical methods such as burning wormwood and artemisia, as well as chemical methods such as using realgar wine. These methods are not only effective, but also environmentally friendly, and they are worth learning and learning from today.
However, with the development of science and technology, we also have more mosquito repellent tools and methods, such as electric mosquito swatters, electric mosquito coils, etc. While respecting tradition, we should also actively innovate and find more effective ways to repel mosquitoes.
Mosquito damage
Mosquitoes, an inconspicuous little life, are particularly annoying in the hot summer. When night falls, their buzzing flight sounds, as if there are invisible hands, whispering in your ears day and night, arousing anxiety and uneasiness in your heart.
During the day, it may be enduring, but at night, the sound lingers like a ghost, and even in the deepest of dreams, it is disturbed by the small sound.
These inconspicuous little insects may not be large in size, but their influence is extraordinary. Not only do they disrupt our peaceful routines, but they can also adversely affect our physical and mental health.
In the face of such annoying insects as mosquitoes, we must take proactive measures to deal with them, we can use a mosquito coil or an electric mosquito swatter are two simple and easy-to-implement methods, these products directly act on mosquitoes through the chemicals or electricity they contain, so as to achieve the effect of repelling them.
In addition, installing window screens is a cost-effective way to prevent insects such as mosquitoes from invading without affecting the lighting and ventilation of the room. Of course, if you want to solve the problem more quickly, spraying pesticides may be a good option.
However, mosquito infestations don't stop there, mosquitoes aren't just ghosts at nightfall, they're also seen as a deadly threat to health. They are notorious for disturbing human sleep at night, but even more intimidating is their ability to spread disease. Among many diseases, malaria is a disease that poses a serious threat to public health security worldwide.
According to statistics, more than 200 million people are infected with the disease every year, and nearly a million people lose their lives as a result. Mosquitoes undoubtedly play a key role in this, becoming the main vector of malaria transmission.
mosquito net
In classical China, mosquito nets were more than just simple objects designed to keep mosquitoes away. It carries the ancient people's meticulous consideration of the details of life and the pursuit of a comfortable living environment, and this ancient invention has first shown its prototype in the era of the Book of Songs.
In the Book of Songs, Zhaonan, Xiaoxing, we can feel the deep perception of mosquito infestation by ancient people, and they describe the troubles caused by mosquitoes in their poems, and show how to eliminate these troubles through some simple physical means. The character "裯" mentioned in the poem has been widely interpreted by later scholars as a kind of bed net specially designed to prevent mosquitoes from entering, that is, the mosquito net we know in modern times.
This kind of bed tent was called a curtain tent in ancient times, and it was usually hung on the side of the bed or on the door to achieve the purpose of physically blocking mosquitoes. Its existence undoubtedly greatly improves people's quality of life in the hot summer, allowing people to enjoy tranquility and comfort in the coolness.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the popularity of mosquito nets reached a new height. At this time, mosquito nets were no longer limited to domestic use, but were very popular in the market. In addition to the traditional fine linen and silk, there are also other materials such as cotton and bamboo.
However, due to the high summer temperatures, mosquito nets often have to be rolled up to allow for ventilation and cooling. The Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen's poem "Mosquito incense, sweat and light yarn, high curly mosquito kitchen lying alone." This scene is vividly depicted.
The materials used to make a mosquito net have a significant impact on its performance. Mosquito nets during the Tang and Song dynasties were usually made of fine linen or silk, which not only had a certain degree of breathability, but also had a soft texture and were suitable for close use.
However, due to the high price of these materials, the price of mosquito nets is also a significant expense for poor families. As a result, some families even need to borrow money to buy mosquito nets to ward off mosquito infestations in the summer.
The correct use of mosquito nets is also crucial. The mosquito net should be hung above the bed to form a complete protective cover. While sleeping, one should make sure that the mosquito net completely covers the body to prevent mosquito bites. In addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to the safe use of mosquito nets, such as avoiding puncturing them with sharp objects to prevent accidents.
Mosquito nets played an important role in ancient Chinese society, which not only provided people with effective means of mosquito prevention, but also reflected the wisdom of life and the pursuit of quality of life of ancient Chinese people. Although with the development of science and technology, mosquito repellent methods in modern society have become more diverse and advanced, mosquito nets, as a traditional household item, still play their unique role in some occasions.
Raise frogs
In ancient times, there was an interesting decoration of the courtyard - a large water tank was placed in the courtyard, and the ancients would keep a few frogs in it to ensure that the tank was effective in repelling mosquitoes.
This unique design is called the "mosquito control tank", and when we look closely at this large tank, it is not difficult to find its difference. First of all, the size of the tank must be large enough to hold enough water and enough stones.
Secondly, the tank should be shaped so that the water can fully contact the stone and maintain a certain humidity. Such an arrangement can provide an ideal environment for frogs to thrive in. In addition, the water should be cleaned and replaced regularly to avoid water quality deterioration and affect the survival of frogs.
The design principle of the Mosquito Control Tank is based on the simple but ingenious fact that mosquitoes have a natural preference for warm, moist environments, and they prefer to thrive in cold and humid places. So, when a hungry mosquito stumbles into a large tank, it enters an elaborate trap.
The mosquito struggles in the tank, trying to escape the hands of the Grim Reaper. But it will soon find itself in an unimaginable predicament – it is surrounded by an army of frogs. The frog's tongue acts like a nimble baton, capable of unerring accuracy to catch mosquitoes that are trying to escape, sending them into their stomachs.
In addition to using natural phenomena to control mosquitoes, the ancients also invented many other anti-mosquito strategies. For example, they grow a series of plants with special mosquito repellent properties in their homes, including flies, geraniums, lavender and other flowers.
The aroma from these plants not only keeps insects away, but also brings a touch of coolness to the people who live around them at night, making them feel comfortable and relaxed.
In addition, there are some urbane people who choose to use the "mosquito killer lamp", which is a small device mentioned in the "Golden Bottle Plum" that can suck mosquitoes in and burn them to death through the air flow created by combustion.
epilogue
These anti-mosquito methods of the ancients provide us with a valuable inspiration: we should pay more attention to and respect the natural environment, and use the power of nature to solve problems in life.
Only in this way can we create a better and more livable living space. Let's start by focusing on sanitation and work together to make our future a better place.
Nowadays, with the development of technology, we have more modern technologies, such as electric mosquito coils and mosquito nets, which have greatly alleviated the discomfort caused by mosquitoes.