Buzz Free Zone
* Certified Organic & Food Grade *
. . . with Organic Catnip Essential Oil
Catnip is a perennial herb belonging to the mint family. Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about
ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET
- the synthetic chemical commonly used in commercial insect repellents.
In the laboratory, repellency is measured on a scale ranging from a +100 percent, considered highly repellent, to a -100 percent, considered a strong attractant. A compound with a +100 percent repellency rating would repel all mosquitoes, while a -100 percent would attract them all. A rating of zero means half of the insects would stay on the treated side and half on the untreated side. In lab tests, catnip ranged from a +49 percent to a +59 percent at high doses, and a +39 percent to a +53 percent at low doses. By comparison, at the same doses, DEET's repellency was only about +10.
Repellents containing DEET can be dangerous and do not reduce mosquito populations. DEET is a synthetic chemical that can cause neurological damage in humans, particularly in children. Up to 56 percent of topically applied DEET penetrates the skin, and 17 percent is absorbed into the bloodstream. Possible reactions include headache, disorientation, agitation, seizure, anaphylaxis, and coma.
Research shows that DEET does not fend off all mosquito species, and it should only be applied to clothing or exposed skin, never under clothing. The American Association of Pediatrics issued a warning that DEET solutions over 10 percent concentration should never be used on children, and as little repellent as possible should be used. Infants and pregnant women should never use DEET.
(On a personal note, during my teenage years I spilled a popular insect repellent on my portable radio. The repellent actually turned the hard black plastic of the radio into the gooey consistency of a roasted marshmallow! Needless to say, I have never used synthetic insect repellents since that day!)
So why treat yourself to a delicious day of summer sunshine only to coat yourself in toxic synthetic chemicals? This year, protect yourself and your family from horrible chemical concoctions -- try our Buzz Free Zone Insect Repellent -- certified organic to food grade. It works!
