Before you head for the hills or plan your next outdoor barbecue, think twice about using DEET to keep the mosquitoes at bay. DEET has recently been linked to brain damage; since there are many natural options that are as effective as or more effective than DEET, there’s no need to take the risk.
DEET, or diethyl-meta-toluamide, as it’s known in chemistry circles, has recently been linked to brain-cell damage. Duke University research shows that regular use of chemical repellents like DEET may damage brain cells and interact with medications. The pharmacologist conducting the study observed brain-cell death and behavioral changes in animals after their frequent and prolonged use of DEET Another study showed that up to 15 percent of DEET is absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream.
After more than thirty years of research on the effects of chemicals on the brains of rats, Mohamed Abou-Donia, PhD, discovered in two separate studies that the frequent and prolonged application of DEET causes neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory, and concentration. Moreover, rats treated with a comparable human dose of DEET (40 mg/kg body weight) performed far worse than control rats when challenged with physical tasks requiring muscle control, strength, and coordination. Such effects are consistent with physical symptoms in humans reported in medical literature, especially those symptoms reported by Persian Gulf War veterans, claims Abou-Donia.
Even U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist Michael Watson noted an instance “where exposure to DEET caused six cases of brain damage in girls aged one through six—and three of them died.”
So what do you do if you wish to avoid the potentially dangerous effects of DEET while still keeping the mosquitoes at bay? While Mother Nature offers dozens of different options, here are some of my top natural mosquito repellents:
1. Citronella
The old standby—use only pure essential oil of citronella, not fragrance oil. Oils purchased in bulk for burning are not adequate for applying topically to your skin. For your skin, it is best to get a high-quality citronella essential oil from a natural-food store.
2. Soy Oil
The New England Journal of Medicine reported that natural repellents made of soybean oil are just as effective as repellents that contain DEET are. Soy oil is inexpensive and easy to find, making it an excellent choice. Plus, it is an excellent body moisturizer. As an aside, research shows that an ingredient in soy can slow the growth of body hair when applied topically.
3. Catnip
An Iowa State University research group showed that the essential oil found in the herb catnip is about ten times more effective than DEET is in repelling mosquitoes in the laboratory.
4. NEEM Seed Oil, or “Neem Oil”
It is extracted from a plant that grows in India. An ingredient in Neem seed oil has also been found to be more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes by researchers at the Malaria Institute in India. Both the U.S. National Research Council and the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association have confirmed this finding.
5. Lavender Essential Oil
It smells great and is a commonly used and effective mosquito repellent.
6. Garlic
Eat lots of fresh garlic—mosquitoes can’t stand the stuff.
Choose a natural mosquito repellent to ward off both mosquitoes and the nasty effects of DEET.
By Michelle Cook of SheerBalance
Updated September 3, 2010