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Natural Mosquito Repellent as Good as Bug Spray

Essential Oil Mix as Effective for Mosquito Control as Insect Sprays

Jul 2, 2009 Victoria Anisman-Reiner

NCB Michigan tested a mixture of essential oils in mosquito season and found the oil blend as effective at preventing mosquito bites as commercial insect repellent.

Summer campers and adventurers take note: A new informal "study" conducted by NBC reporters in Michigan tested a blend of essential oils against the mosquito repellent power of the bug spray, Off, and an insect repellent wash called Skin Armor. The results might come as a surprise to anyone who's gotten used to relying on chemical sprays to keep nature at bay.

The Test: Essential Oils vs. Off vs. Skin Armor

In an informal test aired on NBC 25 (Mid-Michigan NBC) in June 2009, three NBC staff members including news anchor Dan Armstrong each applied a different insect repellent and waited near standing water to see if the bugs would bite. The three insect repellents tested were:

  1. traditional bug spray, Off
  2. a new insect repellent soap, Skin Armor
  3. a mixture of essential oils, including lemon, peppermint, lavender, and Young Living Essential Oils' blends, Purification and Thieves

The results? After ten minutes, the reporters declared that the bugs had swarmed and some had even landed, but no one got bitten. Armstrong reported with some surprise that the natural essential oil treatment was just as effective as the chemical bug sprays and the insect repellent soap.

What's in the Mosquito Repelling Essential Oils?

Many plants can be used to repel insects naturally; in fact, most essential oils act as insect repellent for one bug or another. The oils tested by NBC were a mixture that is suggested specifically to repel mosquitos and other biting insects found in Michigan. It included:

  • Purification, a blend of citronella, lemongrass, lavandin, rosemary, melaleuca, myrtle
  • Thieves, a blend of cinnamon, clove, lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus
  • lemon
  • peppermint
  • lavender

Using Essential Oils as Insect Repellents

Although the NBC crew noted that the essential oils were the most expensive choice of the three, there are some significant advantages to using essential oils instead of chemical bug sprays.

For starters, these essential oils are safe and non-toxic (this isn't true of every brand, but is true of the ones that were tested by NBC). They can even be used by most children, pets, and allergy sufferers without trouble.

Essential oils are much better for the environment than chemical bug sprays like Off and Raid. They are completely natural, coming from the earth and returning to the earth without any toxicity issues and without harming animals or the natural ecological balance the way chemical insect repellents do.

A final word of caution: Don't expect these kinds of results with every brand of essential oils. There is a huge amount of variety in the quality and processing of oils, so it's very much a market where buyers should beware. For more information, see The Real Quality of Essential Oils.

Sources

  • Armstrong, Dan, "Bug repellent test," ConnectMidMichigan.com, 24 June 2009.
  • Essential Science Publishing (compiled by), Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2nd Edition. USA, Essential Science Publishing, 2001.
  • Stewart, David, Ph.D., "Essential Oils for Things that Bug You Around the House," Raindrop Messenger, Vol. 1 No. 5, May 2003.

The copyright of the article Natural Mosquito Repellent as Good as Bug Spray in Natural Medicine is owned by Victoria Anisman-Reiner. Permission to republish Natural Mosquito Repellent as Good as Bug Spray in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Essential Oils, Great Natural Mosquito Repellent, Filiford, Morguefile Essential Oils, Great Natural Mosquito Repellent
   
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