Eliminate and Avoid Mosquitoes Naturally Without Dangerous Pesticides and Commercial Repellents
by Tony Isaacs
author of
Cancer's
Natural Enemy
(The Best Years in Life)
Spring, summer and fall are all prime
times for mosquitoes and recent years
have seen banner crops of the annoying
and potentially dangerous
disease-carrying, blood-sucking pests.
The good news is that mosquitoes can be
eliminated and avoided naturally without
resorting to dangerous pesticides.
Here are some of the best tips for
getting rid of and avoiding mosquitoes:
Eliminate or treat standing water on
your property
Mosquitoes are attracted to standing
water, where they breed - thus the best
way to avoid attracting them is to
reduce the amount of standing water on
your property. Here are some suggestions
on eliminating standing water:
* Regularly clean and treat swimming
pools
* Frequently change the water in wading
pools, bird baths and other water
containers
* Keep ditches, drains and culverts free
of debris so water can drain properly
* Repair leaky pipes, outside faucets
and failed septic systems
* Mow your grass short
Another option for standing water is
mosquito dunks, which float in water and
slowly release Bacillus thuringiensis v.
israelensis (BT). BT is toxic for
mosquitoes but considered safe for
humans. An organic nursery is almost
certain to have mosquito dunks and you
can also often obtain them at local
regular nurseries, hardware stores and
Walmart.
Plant mosquito repelling plants.
Bug-repelling plants such as marigolds,
tansies, Thai lemon grass, citronella
grass, oregano, chives, catnip and
garlic are excellent, natural mosquito
repellents. Below is a suggested
anti-mosquito planter:

Use mosquito repelling oils
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is considered to
be one of the most effective natural
mosquito repellents, providing
comparable protection to low
concentrations of the toxic mosquito
repellent DEET.
Other effective mosquito repelling
oils include:
Oil of Citronella. The oil of citronella
found in outdoor candles, torches and
skin products provides a natural and
fragrant way to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Note: there is a chance that citronella
can cause skin irritations in children
and people with sensitive skin,
especially if applied incorrectly.
Soybean oil (provided that you can find
an organic non-GMO source). A study
conducted by The New England Journal of
Medicine found that soybean-oil-based
repellents protected against mosquito
bites longer than all other botanical
repellents tested.
Lavender oil. Fragrant lavender oil
repels mosquitoes and it can be found in
a variety of natural skin care products.
Other tips for eliminating and avoiding
mosquitoes
1. Avoid being outside during dusk and
dawn hours when mosquitoes are most
active.
2. If you're going to be outdoors for a
long period of time, wear light colored
long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes
and socks that cover your skin. Tightly
woven materials are best. Plus, be sure
to wear light colored clothes, since
mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
3. Avoid wearing fragrances (other than
the oils listed above). Mosquitoes are
attracted to fragrances, so it's a good
idea to avoid wearing perfumes and
scented products while you're outside.
4. Eat plenty of garlic. Garlic is
released through the pores of your skin
and the scent makes it harder for
mosquitoes to find you and less likely
to stay on your skin.
Make your own natural insect
repellent
Herbalist Debra Nuzzi-St. Claire
suggests combining the following
essential oils to make a natural insect
repellent:
* 1/2 ounce citronella oil
* 1/4 ounce lavender oil
* 1/8 ounce pennyroyal oil
* 1/8 ounce tea tree oil
* 1/8 ounce jojoba oil
Do not use this blend undiluted on your
skin. To make an insect repellent that
can be used on your body, add 16 ounces
of jojoba or almond oil to the base oil
mixture and blend thoroughly.
For an insect repellent spray, add 16
ounces of vodka to the base oil mixture,
pour into a spray bottle, and shake
before using.
Note: To treat mosquito bites, see:
Natural Remedies for Insect Bites and
Stings
See also:
How to Minimize Exposure to Aerial and Ground Spraying
of Pesticides
Use These Tips to Detox After Exposure to Aerial or
Ground Sprayed Pesticides
Eliminate Pesky Household Gnats with
Gnat Traps and Other Solutions
Other sources included:
http://www.tbyil.com/Gnats.htm
http://www.onlinedegreeshub.com