Natural insect repellants can prevent mosquito bites and contain ingredients that are not toxic to the body. You can make some of these insect repellants yourself from simple ingredients found in specialty grocery stores. Using essential oils and natural skincare products, you can protect yourself from the unpleasant and disease carrying bites of mosquitoes. With concern about the Zika virus rising, using natural insect repellants are a good way to go.

How to make you own natural mosquito repellant

Many plant oils naturally repel mosquitoes. You can make a mixture of any of the following ingredients and apply to exposed body parts, using coconut oil to obtain proper dilution. You can also add the plant oils to an unscented body cream or moisturizer.

Insect repellant oils:

• Lemon oil
• Neem Oil
• Citronella oil
• Clove oil

Clove oil can be irritation unless used in dilutions under 24%. Lemon oil can be used in a 10-30% concentration.

What are the toxic ingredients in some commercially available insect repellants?

Picaridin, IR3535, and N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide and N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide or diethyltoluamide are common ingredients added to commercial mosquito repellants. N-Diethyl-meta-toluamideis sold as DEET. DEET is an insect repellant that has been in use since 1957, after the US government invented it during World War II. It has been considered relatively safe, causing only skin and eye irritation as side effects. The EPA states that DEET is “not classifiable as a human carcinogen” however, there is some concern that it may cause damage to nerves. In addition, the safety tests for DEET and other insect repelling chemicals were done with a specific concentration per application.

Where to find commercially available insect repellants with natural ingredients

Many specialty groceries now carry natural insect repellants. You may even find them in pharmacies. Look for brands that don’t contain Picaridin, IR3535, and N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, (also known as DEET). Many new products are being introduced do to customer demand.

Source:
courtesy of NATURALNEWS

by Melanie Grimes

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