Green Options » DEET

Oils from Herbs and Spices to Replace Synthetic Pesticides

Bryan Nelson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:03:44 +0000

Herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary and mint, usually used to flavor food, can also offer a green alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Research has shown that oils derived from the herbs interfere with insect nervous systems, causing them to spasm haphazardly until they die. Best of all, these all-natural pesticides are inexpensive to produce.

Natural Insect Repellent Skin Patch: Don’t Bite Me!

Jennifer Lance — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:06:31 +0000

Applying eco-friendly insect repellent on my son’s skin is like applying sunscreen: he hates it! Luckily, we rarely need it do to a predictable evening wind on our property, but when we go camping or visiting friends, it’s a different story. He’s also a compulsive scratcher, so avoiding the mosquito bites all together prevents this problem as well. Don’t Bite Me! offers a unique approach to this problem with a skin patch.

Don’t Bite Me! is a skin patch that offers up to 36 hours of protection from insects for your entire body, and it is safe for children. It has only two ingredients: vitamin B1 and aloe!

Don’t Bite Me! uses a discreet, all-natural transdermal skin patch to deliver a blend of protective Vitamin B1 and aloe combination throughout the body. Excess B1 is secreted through the body’s pores, creating a scent that is almost undetectable to humans, but offensive to mosquitoes. This scent forms a protective barrier around the body that shields the user from mosquitoes and other biting insects. Aloe, the other active ingredient, accelerates the absorption of the B1 and serves as an anti-inflammatory. Don’t Bite Me! is also environmentally friendly and waterproof, perfect for lakes or pool parties!

It’s Eco-Friendly Sunscreen and Natural Bug Repellent Season

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:29:28 +0000

It’s official, I got my first sunburn this weekend. It was only a light burn, but somehow I always forget the sunscreen during the first warm days of spring. Fortunately, I remembered to protect my children with SmartShield when we headed down to the river. One added bonus to this “serious sun protection” is it contains natural cedar bug repellent, which kept the “eye bugs” from swarming their faces.

SmartShield is an “eco-friendly” sunscreen and bug repellent combination, but it does not appear to be all natural, as there are some ingredients I do not recognize. I researched several of these ingredients on Skin Deep, as Smartshied itself has not been rated, and I discovered they contained a low to moderate hazard. The Environmental Working Group has done an extensive study on sunscreens and found that:

Our comprehensive scientific review indicates that 85% of 1,015 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. Only 15% of the products on the market are both safe and effective, blocking both UVA and UVB radiation, remaining stable in sunlight, and containing few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards.

Tip o’ the Day: Keep Mosquitos Away

Amy Stodghill — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:35:53 +0000

Don't let mosquitos get in the way of your summer outdoor fun. Here are a few tips on keeping you bite free.

Remove standing water sources. This is prime mosquito breeding ground. Dump water from anything in your yard or outdoor area that is collecting it. For things you'd like to keep water in (birdbaths, wading pools, pet water bowls) change it often.

Turn on a fan. Mosquitos prefer still air. A nice breeze will deter them and keep you cool.

Plan accordingly. Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening, so if you can, plan around these times or take extra precautions if you know you'll be out and about.

Wear long sleeves. When you cover up there's less exposed skin for the little blood suckers to feast on.

Use essential oil based bug sprays. Most bug sprays contain DEET. Even though it works wonders at keeping folks bite free the active ingredient (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a chemical that absorbs into the skin and could cause reactions such as rash or skin irritation (long term harful effects have yet to be conclusively proven at this time). If you go this route, don't over do it and keep away from eyes or mouth.

There are many natural sprays available at Whole Foods and health food stores that can repel mosquitos without harsh chemicals. You can even mix some up yourself. In a spray bottle use 4 oz of water and ten drops of essential oil such as cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, thai lemongrass, rosemary or catnip (yes catnip oil, it is said to be very effective). Neem oil, a natural vegetable oil from the Neem tree in India, is also said to work as a natural mosquito repellent. You can also add a little vegetable oil to the mix.

Mosquitos are also carriers of diseases such as malaria, west nile virus and dengue fever, which aren't as common in the United States and Western Europe as in other parts of the world, but there is still a risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additional information on international travel and further tips on vector borne disease prevention (ie. mosquitos).

Amy says: I've been a mosquito magnet for as long as I can remember and have used my fair share of DEET over the years. This summer I think I'll try out some of these natural sprays to see how they work.

Products to try:
Burt's Bees

More info:

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