Does that mean ornamental plants and herbs containing natural
insect repellents are practical additions for residential settings?
"Proper
insect repellent use is just one part of protection," she added.
Both the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., are urging the public to use
insect repellents and take other precautions to avoid biting insects that carry serious diseases.
DEET and other
insect repellents such as citronella are generally safe for individuals over 2 months of age.
If your grandma put bay leaves in her flour canisters, it was because of this herb's long reputation as an
insect repellent. Today, the effectiveness of bay (Laurus nobilis) in repelling cockroaches is well documented.
If you can regularly reapply the
insect repellent when you are out for long periods of time, or if your child will only be outside for a few hours, a repellent with 10% or less DEET should be enough.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from eucalyptus leaves and is the only plant-based active ingredient for
insect repellents approved by the CDC, is available in several different forms, including Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, OFF!
Insect repellents are largely made up of chemicals in the form of sprays or repellent smoke.
* For the maximum protection against biting insects, use the DoD
Insect Repellent System.
"I was experimenting with natural
insect repellent products 12 years ago in Ecuador and became aware that I was onto an effective recipe."
Julia McMillan, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Disease and professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, agreed with the CDC's recommendations to use
insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing to keep insects at bay.
Another alternative is Bug'n'Out, a natural, nontoxic biting
insect repellent spray that uses a four percent concentration of citronella oil to safely and effectively repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, biting flies and chiggers.
