The bane of any good bbq, a swarm of mosquitoes can ruin a night’s fun. Used to be that the most reliable way to ward them off was a solid DEET-based repellent. Of course, we now know that beyond being bad for the environment, DEET has recently been linked to brain cell damage and can even interfere with several medications. Frequent applications of DEET have been tied to neuron death in parts of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory, and concentration. Why take a chance with your health? There are plenty of healthy, eco-friendly ways to guard off the blood-sucking little bastards.
A Solid Standby
Citronella is hardly a new concept – it’s been used in outdoor lanterns and torches for decades as a way to add light to any outdoor setting and keep mosquitoes at bay. Pure, essential oil of citronella is what’s required here, and bought in bulk it’s easy to burn in any basic lantern. If you want a topical product, your best bet is the beauty product section of your local natural food store.
Other Oils
Believe it or not, there are heaps of other oils that are not only as or more effective than traditional DEET based products in warding off insects, but actually have other unexpected benefits. Take soy oil, for instance. Often cheap and easy to find, soy oil has been reported by reliable sources like The New England Journal of Medicine as being just as effective as more traditional products. What’s more, it has a great benefit of being a good body moisturizer and is even thought to slow the growth of body hair.
NEEM seed oil has actually been proven as more effective than its chemical counterparts. Lavender oil has also been known to work and smells great, often thought to reduce headaches and relieve stress.
Unexpected Alternatives
Surprisingly, the essential oil in catnip – you know, the stuff that your pet goes bloody bonkers for – has been found to be about 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes by a research group in Iowa. And if all else fails and you can’t find any of these fancy oils, why not try something simpler like indulging in a good bit of spaghetti? Loaded down with garlic, of course – mosquitoes find it more repellent than a horny teenager might.
Just remember to think a bit outside of the usual and you’ll likely find the perfect, healthy and natural alternative that works for you.
