Mosquito repellent, DIY repellent


Mosquito bites are gross. They’re itchy, sometimes painful, and capable of transferring a wide variety of diseases including malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus. Thankfully, with the help of research, bug sprays, insect repellants, and even essential oils, you can ward off mosquitoes before they even have the chance to bite you. According to the CDC, oil from lemon eucalyptus is an equally effective bug repellent to DEET. (1)
Bug Repellent Ingredients

We’ve all heard that bug spray and long-limbed clothing help repel nasty mosquitoes, but there are many other handy mosquito fighters out there that many of us have not heard of. DEET, for instance, might be a foreign name to you, but it’s actually very common. DEET, an insect repellent used in a large number of bug sprays, repels insects like mosquitos, biting flies, and fleas. It’s a liquid with a faint odor that doesn’t dissolve easily in water. It’s colorless and effective, developed by the United States back in 1946 to protect American soldiers against insect-infested areas. DEET has been in public use since 1957. (2)

Scientists aren’t 100% sure why or how DEET helps prevent insect bites. It has been suggested that the chemicals in DEET disguise the body’s natural chemicals. Because of that, insects exposed to DEET are unable to locate a person or animal. (2)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents External when choosing an insect repellent in order to select a safe repellent. The CDC says, “When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellant are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.” The following are ingredients safe and effective in repelling bug bites:

DEET
Picaridin (KBE 3023 and icaridin)
IR3535
Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
2-undecanone
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)

(1, 2, 3)

Other Bug Repellent Options

Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a plant-based bug repellent that is registered with the EPA. That makes it safe for human use, even for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. While there aren’t any other EPA approved plant-based bug repellents, there are other plants and essential oils that have been shown to prevent bug bites. (4) These include:

Crushed lavender flowers (5)
Cinnamon oil (6)
Thyme oil (5)
Soybean oil (7)
Tea tree oil (8)

Do not place essential oils directly on the skin. Instead, dilute their potency with a carrier oil. Almond oil makes for a neutral carrier oil. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate most essential oils which makes it possible and even easy to purchase faulty products. When purchasing essential oils, always do so from a reputable source. (4)

Conclusion

Now that it’s summertime, you might be looking for some innovative ways to reduce your experience with mosquito bites. Instead of splurging on lots of nasty smelling bug sprays, try using lemon eucalyptus oil added to a spray bottle with water instead. Shake well and spray to prevent itchy bug bites before they happen.
from Healthy Holistic Living