How to tackle mosquitoes naturally!

Natural Insect Repellents

From Dr D'Adam's personalized Living Newsletter Vol 11, Number 07 July 201

CATNIP - You can drive cats wild and make mosquitoes run in terror, according to research at Iowa State University, which found that the essential oil found in the herb catnip is about 10 times more effective than DEET (Common mosquito repellent) in repelling mosquitoes. CITRONELLA - the old standby. Use only pure essential oil of citronella - not fragrance oil. Oils purchased in bulk for burning are not adequate for applying topically to your skin. For your skin it is best to get a high quality citronella essential oil from a natural food store. While it's not as effective as catnip, it's still a good option. GARLIC - eat lots of fresh garlic - mosquitoes can't stand the stuff. LAVENDER - essential oil smells great and is a commonly used and effective mosquito repellent. It's best diluted in a carrier oil like apricot kernel, sweet almond, or coconut oil. If you can find organic soy oil, it is also a good option since it also keeps mosquitoes at bay. NEEM OIL or neem seed oil - According to a study by the US National Research Council neem oil is more effective than DEET. The results were confirmed by scientists at the Malaria Institute in India and in research cited in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. Neem is a plant that grows in India. ORGANIC SOY OIL - Research cited in The New England Journal of Medicine found that repellents made of soybean oil are just as effective as DEET-containing repellents. Soy oil is inexpensive and easy to find, making it an excellent choice. In addition, it is an excellent body moisturizer. As an aside, research shows that an ingredient in soy can slow the growth of body hair when applied topically. Choose organic soy oil if possible since many soy crops are now genetically modified. LOTUS (Nelumbo nucifera) - New research published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine shows that lotus is an effective mosquito repellent and also helps kill mosquito larvae. Since lotus grows in water it is a good option as a natural repellent in backyard ponds and water features rather than something that is applied topically. BLACK PEPPER (Piper nigrum) - New research from the same study shows that an extract (the study used an alcohol extract but black pepper essential oil would probably work too) of black pepper is effective in repelling mosquitoes. Conclusion: Mix about 6 drops each of the essential oils of catnip, citronella, lavender, neem, and black pepper into a half cup of organic soy oil and store in a jar. Rub into skin before going outdoors. Always do a 24-hour skin test to be sure you don't have sensitivities to any of the oils.