dianasaska

Heard this on CBC radio one a couple weeks ago and was going to reply to Neil's skinsosoft and DEET comparison in his trip followup post, but could not remember the name of the herb, so was waiting until I could remember the name and then the following bit of info landed in an email today, so in the interest of helping others to keep from toxifying their livers with DEET ....

Apparently, catnip essential oil is 10 times more effective than DEET, but it lasts only half as long (2 hours vs 4 hours) for repelling mosquitoes. Have not found a natural bug repellant product formulated with catnip oil. I suppose if you infused a bunch of catnip, bottled the infusion then wiped it on instead of DEET you would likely find it to be just as effective and (assuming you aren't allergic to catnip) avoid the side effects of DEET.

EMAIL FROM ORGANZA, A HEALTH FOOD STORE

Natural Insect Repellent

Would you apply a chemical to your child's skin that peels paint, damages spandex and even melts plastic? Not intentionally, of course, but maybe you have not been aware of it. The chemical we are talking about is DEET (diethyl toluamide), a synthetic compound found in most conventional insect repellents.

56% of DEET applied to the skin enters the bloodstream. It is distributed to all organs including the brain and the fetus and accumulates in the body. As a result, DEET products carry the following precaution on the label: DEET should NOT be used on infants under two years of age, pregnant women or children�s bedding or bedclothes. Repeated exposure to DEET can cause rashes, lethargy, hives, muscle spasms, headaches, irritability, confusion and nausea. An extreme reaction may even result in seizures or death.

The alternatives to conventional insect repellents are made primarily from essential oils such as citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, pennyroyal and/or neem. These essential oils are safe when applied to the skin but they might not be as effective as DEET based insect repellents. Therefore, use the following guidelines for natural products:

� Reapply often because plant-based repellents rely on fragrance to repel insects.

� Keep natural repellents out of eyes and mouths.

� Don�t apply repellents to children�s hands since they tend to stick them in their mouths.

� Don�t use sprays directly on face. Spray first on hands and then apply to face.

In recent years, researchers have found a natural substance that is even more effective than DEET. According to a research report presented at the American Chemical Society (8/28/01) the essential oil in catnip (nepetalactone) is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.

The use of DEET insect repellent has been strongly recommended by government agencies when spending time in tick-invested areas. Lyme disease is a very serious disease that can be transmitted by tick bites. Swedish researchers investigating a more natural approach to tick-bite prevention conducted a randomized, double blind trial of garlic to prevent tick bites among 100 Swedish marines. They found that the consumption of garlic supplements (1200 mg daily) resulted in a significant reduction in tick bites. The researchers concluded: "garlic may be considered as a tick repellent for individuals and populations at high risk for tick bite, rather than other agents that might have more adverse effects."

By using natural insect repellent you and your children will be able to enjoy outdoor activities without the fear of bug bites or DEET side effects.

END OF EMAIL


BTW ... apparently those who eat bananas tend to attract mosquitoes more than those who don't ... never seemed to make any difference to me, they always find me more attractive than those I am with (did I just say bugs find me more attractive than other people?? - could be true .

I intend to try out the catnip theory in the coming weeks, will let you know how it works. Maybe I'll just get all wirey, start to bounce off the walls, chase laser beams and chase the mosquitoes.

Diana