Who doesn’t anticipate the arrival of summer? The blue skies, warm sunshine, and nights spent with family out on the back deck. But, what about those pesky mosquitoes? This is one aspect of summer that can really put a damper on your summer fun. A few mosquito bites can not only keep you scratching for hours, but can also increase your risk of West Nile virus. Although you can buy mosquito repellents to reduce the risk of bites, they usually contain DEET which can be toxic at high concentrations and isn’t a healthy choice for children. Fortunately, there may be a natural way to prevent mosquito bites from ruining your summer fun.
The Problem with Natural Mosquito Repellents
When it comes to protecting you and your family against mosquitoes, you’re likely to encounter a dilemma. Natural mosquito bite repellents toxicity aren’t as effective as the synthetic ones with DEET as their active ingredient, but the DEET repellents may cause health problems if overused and can also interact with sunscreens, reducing their effectiveness. Which do you choose?
A Study on Natural Mosquito Repellents
Fortunately, there may be a natural way to prevent mosquito bites that’s both safe and inexpensive. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that using a repellent made with soybean oil could protect against mosquito bites. In this study, soybean oil along with a variety of other natural mosquito repellents was compared to DEET in terms of the ability to prevent mosquito bites. Of all the natural mosquito repellents tested, the soybean oil repellent was the most effective. It provided protection against mosquito bites for around 1.5 hours, which is comparable to the protection offered by products with the lowest concentration of DEET.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Mosquito Protection
Although soybean oil based repellents don’t offer the same length of protection as those containing higher concentrations of DEET, they’re a natural product without the potential risks or side effects that can be a problem at higher concentrations of DEET. They’re also a safer option for protecting children against mosquito bites. The only drawback is that you may need to reapply the product often.
Natural Options
You can buy a soybean based repellent to prevent mosquito bites called Bite Blocker from various online sites. You can also make your own by adding essential oils to soybean oil. Try adding ten drops of lemongrass essential oil to a half cup of soybean oil and place it in a spray bottle. Be sure to reapply this formulation at least every ninety minutes while you’re outside.
Using a soybean oil based mosquito repellent to prevent mosquito bites is a healthier alternative to DEET based products. Why not see if it works for you?
References:
Prescriber's Letter. July 1998. page 41
