• Home
• About
• Advertising
• Contact
• Print Subscriptions
• Donate
• Archives
• Links

Mosquito Repellent: There Are Organic Alternatives to Deet

By Trish McCaul

Sweltering summer days, the signature of the desert, are upon us. Soon, the monsoon rains, the nurturing gem of summer life will arrive. With the cooling, moist and nourishing monsoons come some familiar and challenging pests.
Perhaps the most troublesome and potentially dangerous of these are mosquitoes. Annoying and aggravating with their itching sting, they cause much discomfort and are known to spread disease to humans and animals. Fortunately, there are several simple measures one can engage to minimize the potential of being bitten.
Whenever possible, deny them places to breed. Mosquitoes breed in standing water –ponds, puddles and containers that hold stagnant water.
Avoid attracting them. Mosquitoes have been much studied, and we know quite a bit about their preferences. They are attracted to dark clothing. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide and perspiration that human bodies produce consistently, and in greater concentrations when doing strenuous activity. Lactic acid excretions also attract mosquitoes. The presence of lactic acid in our perspiration is increased by exercise and after eating foods high in potassium or salt. Mosquitoes tend to be most active from dusk to dawn. So certainly abstain from eating a bunch of potassium-rich bananas and go “Sweatin’ To the Oldies” in dark exercise duds by the duck pond at dusk.
Our most common method for keeping mosquitoes at bay is to coat ourselves with commercial insect repellents. Many commercial insect repellents contain DEET (Diethyl-Meta-toluamide). On the plus side, DEET is an effective insect repellent. Unfortunately, DEET is effective because it’s a very potent insecticide that studies have shown can have a detrimental effect upon the human nervous system. In particular, it has been shown to affect regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration. These findings are consistent with studies of military personnel exposed to high concentrations of DEET in the Persian Gulf and other wars. Extensive exposure to DEET and other man-made chemical insecticides can cause memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath. Man-made chemical insecticides may have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system as well. The effects of exposure to DEET may or may not appear immediately, but can become evident years later. Children, of course, are particularly susceptible to such chemicals.
With this in mind, more people are turning to natural, plant-based insect repellents. These often contain essential oils from plants such as lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, catnip and citronella. Some have been used for hundreds of years as repellents. These ingredients in combination are available in many commercially produced, ready-to-use repellents. You can also make your own natural repellent, if you wish to. Many books on essential oils are widely available. Essential oils are highly concentrated and potent plant substances. If you wish to undertake the process of making natural repellents, I strongly urge that you take the time to educate yourself and seek professional guidance on their safe and efficacious use. This is particularly important for use by children, those pregnant or nursing, or those with medical conditions.
The simple truth is that insects have always outnumbered us and will be doing so long after we’re gone. Consider the dangers of bathing ourselves and our children in toxic chemicals to avoid them. We have workable alternatives. Let’s be informed and use them…

Trish McCaul is a long-time student and adviser in the field of herbal medicine, and is assistant manager of the vitamin and supplement department at Mountain View Market. Her responsibilities require a wide knowledge of herbal and nutritional supplements. She is founder and owner of Mother McCaul’s, a line of locally hand-made organic and wildcrafted herbal health and body care products.

Sources

Gulflink website. “Chapter Five: DEET”. Gulflink.                Http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/library/randrep/pesticides_paper/mr1018.8.ch5.html (13 May 2009). Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “Natural Mosquito Repellents”. About.com.      Http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingsworks/a/aa050503a.htm (13 May 2009). Pierson, P.J. and Mary Shipley. Aromatherapy for Everyone. Ridgefield: Vital Health, 2004. Quantum Health. “Use Caution When Using DEET”. Quantum Health.     Http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/dangers_of_DEET.html (13 May 2009). Rose, Jeanne. The Aromatherapy Book. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1992. Worwood, Valerie Ann. The Complete Books of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Novato: New World Library, 1991.

Comments