"Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET"
Researchers at Iowa State University compared the essential oil of catnip, called nepetalactone, to Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), which is the main ingredient in many commercial insecticides. According to a report at the 222nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society currently underway in Chicago, catnip oil was more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes.
"Natural alternatives are becoming available to repel mosquitoes," says researcher Joel R. Coats, PhD. "Our lab tests show the essential oil of catnip would be effective in repelling mosquitoes when sprayed on clothing or mosquito netting. We think it would also be effective if rubbed on your skin, but we haven't actually done that test yet." Coats is professor of entomology and toxicology and chairman of the department of entomology at Iowa State University in Ames.
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We have been using Catnip Essential Oil as part of our Rayne's Ready to Fly Bug Deterrent over the past couple of years. We first started making this blend as part of keeping the horseflies and mosquitoes away from our horses! But, then we started noticing that the mosquitoes were staying clear of us as well, so we repackaged this so that our two-legged friends could start benefiting from our find too!
Since then, we have had many happy customers using our Rayne's Ready to Fly Bug Deterrent Concentrate. Just add 1 1/2 teaspoons to 6 oz of water (bottle included with purchase) and you will be good to go! With our special blend of other bug deterring essential oils your summer will be mosquito free and you will smell great too! None of that citronella smell.
Make sure you sign up for our July newsletter to get our special discount code as this is one of the many items on special for the month of July!
1 comments:
This is very interesting. Thank you for publishing this information. My kids get terrible inflammation and swelling with mosquito bites, so I am willing to try anything. What is funny is that the same thing used to happen to me as a little girl, but now I do not react as bad. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I tanned for a while in tanning beds, and it changed my skin. Or, it may just be because my skin changed with age. Overall, I cannot stand the itch of mosquito bites and am always searching for that "better" product.
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