Green Mosquito Repellents, Repel the Mosquitoes naturally.

A Community Health

How to Control Mosquito

Part 7: Green Mosquito Repellents, Repel Mosquito naturally !

Environment friendly – Eco friendly :
The environmental friendly (eco-friendly) and biodegradable natural insecticides derive from herbs and plants origin are alternative green mosquito repellent. Repellents of plant origin have been used for medicinal purposes for a long time because they do not cause hazards of toxicity to human beings and are easily biodegradable, when compared with other synthetic chemical compounds, natural products are far safer for human beings use.
The chemical contents extracted from herb and plant materials can be used as larvacides, insecticides, and repellents, herb and plant products have been used in many parts of the world for killing or repelling mosquitoes either as extracts, oils or as the whole herbs or plants, many natural products have been tested for repellent activity against mosquitoes, for examples: Ocimum species, Eucalyptus species and Lemon grass.

In addition to using mosquito repelling plants, we want to consider some other factors that can help keep mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes find their host by following carbon dioxide, lactic acid and other components that human beings breath out, mosquitoes key in on carbon dioxide signatures of warm-blooded creatures, humans have a CO2 signature of their own which mosquitoes love them best, blood is close to the surface of the skin. Citronella oil (contains Citronellal) sprayed and misted into the air confuses the mosquitoes because it interferes with their ability to detect CO2. Many outdoors-people have noticed that mosquitoes have a greater attraction to people that have been eating processed foods, sugary foods, on the other hand, mosquitoes less attracted to people eating more of a natural diet such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, the processed food diet may make our body odor and blood chemistry more attractive to mosquitoes, beside that, diets high in garlic and onions have been noted to help reduce the attraction of mosquitoes.
We must realize that natural does not always mean safe, because many people are sensitive to plant oils, some of the natural insect repellents are toxic, therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals repellents, please be careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using natural insect repellent products.

Please be noted that different species of mosquitoes are
repelled by and attracted to different things.

Mosquito Repellent Herbs and Plants:

There are a variety of both wild and cultivated herbs and plants that repel mosquitoes, plant-based mosquito repellents are especially useful for people who spend a great deal of time in the wilderness. There are many attractive garden herbs and plants that repel mosquitoes, planting these herbs and plants that repel mosquitoes is a great choice for our house, these attractive herbs and plants do not just enhance the landscape, but we can have a pretty ornaments that also drive mosquitoes away, moreover, it is not only earth-friendly way of repelling those insects, it will add beauty to your gardens, and will not harm our health.

It is important to note that there are many chemical compounds found in the herbs and plants that do repel the mosquitoes, those chemical compounds need to be released from the herbs and plants to increase the mosquito-repelling qualities, depending on the species of herbs and plants themselves, they can be released by either crushing, drying, extracting or steam distillation of the herbs and plants into extracts or oils or alcohol bases that can be applied to skin, clothing, or living rooms, there are also herbs and plants that are best used as smokes, which releases the volatile organic compounds in a smokes.

There two different opinions on Mosquito repellent herbs and plants:
1. First opinion: people who are sure that Just standing near living plants that repel mosquitoes is often not effective, the herbs and plants must be crushed to release the aroma, otherwise mosquitoes can't smell them.
2. Second opinion: people who are sure that those herbs and plants can repel mosquitoes effectively, due to the characteristic aromas they have which mosquitoes don’t like.
Nevertheless, we appreciate, those are free opinions, based on their experiences. It is better to try than do nothing (No Action, Talk Only).

Mosquito Repellent Herbs:

Zodia / Evodia suaveolens :

Zodia or Evodia suaveolens (Rutaceae) is a genuine Indonesia herb, originally from Papua Island. Zodia can repels mosquito, either indoor or outdoor, this is due to its characteristic aroma containing evodiamine and rutaecarpine which mosquitoes don’t like them. It should be noted that Zodia does not kill the mosquitoes, but only gets rid of or repel them from surroundings, Zodia is used besides as mosquito repellent herb, it is also used as decorative plant in house garden. The Papua people usually rub Zodia’s leaves on their skin when they are going to the forest to prevent mosquitoes’ bites, they also believe that Zodia can repel mosquitoes from its surroundings, when there is wind blowing across the herbs, their leaves scratched each other, producing aromatic organic compounds which caused the mosquitoes go away, its scents (stink / unpleasant odor) are totally unacceptable to mosquitoes, so many people now cultivate and place the Zodia herbs at home indoors as well as in front of the doors and the windows (outdoors)

Evodiamine

Gas Chromatographic result of the Oil produced from the leaves of Zodia contains 46% Linalol and 13,26% alpha-Pinene, which area well known as mosquito repellent. Examinations to Aedes aegypti mosquito (mosquito causing dengue desease) indicate that the arms which have been rubbed with leaves of zodia is protected against the mosquito attack during 6 hours compared to arms which are not rubbed. The ability of zodia to repel the mosquito is equal to 70%, more over, the skin bitted by the mosquitoes will faster relief when rubbing with Zodia leaves.

Lavender / Lavandula officinalis

Lavender or Lavandula angustifolia - Mill. Failia Labiatae,
The essential oil obtained from the flowers is very good scented, has a very wide range of applications, it can be used as an insect repellent, the aromatic leaves and flowers are used as an insect repellent, to deliver an aromatic sweet smell to house rooms and to repel mosquitoes.

Citronella Grass

Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus) which grows in tropical regions, is the most popular cultivated plant used for repelling mosquitoes, Citronella oil obtained from Citronella grass contains Citronellal that has insect repellent properties, research shows high repellent effectiveness against mosquitoes. Citronella oil is the primary ingredient in most natural insect repellents, products applied to the skin are most effective.

Citronellal

Ocimum basilicum

Sweet Basil or Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae) is an effective insect repellent, it is a good plant to grow in house, where it repels insects, essential oil obtained from the whole plant when applied to the skin it makes a good mosquito repellent.

Rosemary / Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary or Rosmarinus officinalis (Labiatae) belongs to mint family. Its native habitat is the area around the Mediterranean Sea and Portugal, now cultivated in many countries, its leaves are long and skinny like pine needles. Rosemary flowers which are violet in color, bloom briefly in spring, Rosemary is a great natural mosquito repellant herb, its essential oil contains eucalyptol (cineole) is considered to have potential antibacterial effects, and has mosquito repellent properties.

Additional cultivated plants that repel mosquitoes:

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.)
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

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