FYI....[Paracelsus] Natural Repellents Tell Mosquitoes to Buzz Off (fwd)

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Subject: [Paracelsus] Natural Repellents Tell Mosquitoes to Buzz Off

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081700517_\

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Natural Repellents Tell Mosquitoes to Buzz Off

By Ilene Sternberg

Special to The Washington Post

Thursday, August 18, 2005; H01

West Nile Virus season has arrived and, increasingly, folks are opting to

thwart mosquitoes herbally rather than use body sprays containing DEET, the

most successful mosquito-repellent ingredient on the market.

DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) has been deemed safe by the Environmental

Protection Agency, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention for the general population, including

children over 2 months old at levels up to 30 percent concentration.

Nevertheless, DEET can dissolve nylon and plastic, is highly flammable, has

caused rashes, eye and sinus irritation, headaches, insomnia, and confusion

in sensitive people, and is dangerous if absorbed into the bloodstream

(through open wounds). Studies on rats have shown DEET may cause brain cell

death or damage. Also, products combining sunscreen with DEET are not

recommended. DEET can decrease the sunscreen's efficacy by 34 percent, and

although sunscreens are intended for generous, frequent use, DEET should be

used sparingly.

Because of these concerns, many Americans have become afraid to use

products containing DEET, and resist applying any repellent, even though

the virus is a serious threat, having now appeared in all the lower 48

states and the District.

Reacting to this consumer retreat from DEET, biotech companies are bringing

new herbal products to the market. " New, " however, is a relative term; for

centuries, gardeners have turned to herbs to fend off bugs.

One of two new CDC-sanctioned repellents is picaridin, a barrier-forming

chemical used in at least one product, Cutter Advanced. The other repellent

is lemon eucalyptus oil.

The lemon eucalyptus oil is available in OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent,

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, and other sprays and lotions containing the

ingredient. While nearly as effective and long-lasting as DEET, lemon

eucalyptus can cause skin reactions and isn't safe for children under 3

years of age.

A repellent named Bite Blocker for Kids is made from a 2 percent concoction

of soybean, vanillin, and coconut and geranium oils and is effective for 90

minutes. (Bite Blocker's adult version is good for four to eight hours).

Nature's Herbal Natural Mosquito & Insect Shield contains catnip oil, which

has been shown to repel mosquitoes though perhaps not visits from every cat

in the neighborhood.

Another emerging natural repellent may be as close as your vegetable patch.

Roe, a scientist at North Carolina State University, discovered

that a substance in tomato plants is as potent as DEET. A biotech company

is working to develop products containing the compound, which is awaiting

EPA approval. In addition to repelling mosquitoes and flies, it has proved

effective against ticks, which can carry Lyme disease.

Certainly, being " natural " or " organic " doesn't always render something

safe; deadly ricin, after all, derives from a common plant. Natural

products usually are made from essential oils distilled from plants that

use them to fend off insect feeding. In high concentrations -- more than 5

to 10 percent -- they can be toxic and irritating, causing skin reactions

or worse, particularly for children.

If you don't have these on hand, using garden plants directly may help,

though first you must crush the leaves to release the essential oils. Lemon

grass, a staple in Thai cookery, can be bought at Asian groceries, easily

rooted and grown as a tropical plant, for wintering indoors. Rubbing a cut

stalk vigorously, releasing its wonderfully perfumed oil, repels well for

four to five hours. Other plant extracts mosquitoes avoid are fennel, shrub

verbena, lavender, witch hazel, tansy, peppermint, basil, lemon balm, lemon

oregano, lemon geranium, rosemary, sassafras and eucalyptus.

Before applying leaves to skin, " patch test " yourself for allergic

reactions by rubbing some repeatedly on your inner forearm for a day or so;

if there's no irritating skin reaction, such as redness, itching or

swelling, or other adverse response, then, aye, there's the rub for you.

What doesn't work?

Plants that just sit there, no matter what oils they contain, will not

repel mosquitoes, including the scented geranium Pelargonium citrosa , sold

as " mosquito plant. "

Citronella wristbands have proved highly ineffective.

Permethrin is a synthetic poison that mimics a natural one found in

chrysanthemums, and is used in pesticides. It is not for use on the skin

but is sprayed on clothing, tents, sleeping bags, etc., where tests show it

maintains potency for at least two weeks. Several spray products containing

0.5 percent permethrin are on the market, including Repel Permanone. It is

also available in lines of outdoor clothing -- one brand is Buzz Off --

though its effectiveness may not last through as many washings as promised.

The attractant level of individuals is based on a complex interaction of

many chemical and visual signals. Because something works for one person or

against one type of mosquito, doesn't necessarily mean it will for others.

A repellent's efficacy depends on which mosquito species is biting and the

age, sex, level of activity, humidity levels, and animal magnetism of the

human user.

According to preliminary studies, 85 percent of a person's susceptibility

to mosquito bites is genetic. Body chemistry plays a role. Female

mosquitoes (the bloodsuckers) target those who produce excess amounts of

certain acids, such as uric acid, and people with high concentrations of

steroids or cholesterol on their skin (byproducts of the body's processing

efficiency, unrelated to cholesterol levels). They're lured by a

combination of scent, water vapor, and the warm carbon dioxide expelled

during breathing and emitted from skin. When a person pants from exertion,

the CO2and lactic acid pouring from sweat glands is irresistible to Ms.

Quito, who needs blood to develop fertile eggs. Resist going on a swatting

rampage when insects hover. Such movements can double the number of

mosquitoes you attract. Also, mosquitoes seem drawn to dark rather than

light-colored clothing.

Incense has long been used worldwide to foil mosquitoes. incense,

myrrh, artemisia, sweet flag and thyme are effective when burned.

Citronella candles repel about 40 percent of mosquitoes, according to

scientific studies, but only within a range of a few inches.

Dr. T's Mosquito & amp; Gnat Scat (

<http://www.yardiac.com/>http://www.yardiac.com/ , or 800-921-3080) is a

kitty litter-like substance infused with biodegradable nontoxic oils (lemon

grass, mint, and garlic) that, when applied 12 hours before an area will be

occupied by guests, vows to ward off mosquitoes and other flying insects

for two to three weeks.

Some people swear by a 99.3% liquid garlic concentrate developed as a safe

repellent property spray for farmers and sold as Garlic Barrier and

Mosquito Barrier (

<http://www.garlicbarrier.com/>http://www.garlicbarrier.com/ ,

http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/ , 800-424-7990.). This should keep everyone

away.

© 2005 The Washington Post Company

[Guest guest]

As an elected town council member incharge of mosquito control for

many years on the marsh side of VA- I have some personal knowledge

of this issue- the garlic spray is the only thing, in my trials,

that worked for a broad area of coverage. It is time consuming to

spray your own yard, but the smell goes away in one hr, the

mosquitos stay away for at least 2 weeks. It would ,in my opinion ,

work better than pesticides in the ground spray trucks, but I could

not get anyone to agree to try it.For people with our sensitivities,

it is very important to stay away from all pesticides, this offers a

good substitute.

> Some people swear by a 99.3% liquid garlic concentrate developed

as a safe

> repellent property spray for farmers and sold as Garlic Barrier and

> Mosquito Barrier (

> <http://www.garlicbarrier.com/>http://www.garlicbarrier.com/ ,

> http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/ , 800-424-7990.). This should keep

everyone

> away.

> © 2005 The Washington Post Company

>

>

>