Best Natural Ingredients that Repel Mosquitoes:- Mosquitoes cause various deadlier diseases like Malaria, dengue, etc. The World health organization (WHO) declares these little creatures as one of the fatal species.
Over 500 million people are infected every year due to diseases that are spread by mosquitoes in the world.
Although there are various solutions available like mosquito coils, Insects tested nets, electric mosquito repellents, and different other chemicals and sprays. Moreover, all these have their advantages and disadvantages as few ingredients have extensive efficiency but have health issues with them or some have less efficiency but don’t have any health issues. But, there are several ingredients available that are natural and also have the ability to repel mosquitoes.
1. Neem
Neem has various medical benefits such as smoothing of hair and skin, boosting immunity, and much more. It may seem amusing but, neem oil also useful as a repellent against mosquitoes. Some researchers studied neem oil with DEET mosquito repellent to test its mosquito repellent properties. The result of the research is that 20% of neem oil concentration provides 70% of protection for almost 3 hours. The DEET mosquito repellent also shows a similar outcome but for 8 hours.
In another research, the burning of neem leaves provided 2 hours of protection from the mosquitoes. It means using neem as repellent impart similar results as chemicals but for a short period but, it is acceptable as there is no health issue in using neem as a repellent.
Note that using neem oil as repellent can cause skin irritation. It is a factor that you keep in mind before using it as a repellent. Also, if you have any skin disease, then using neem oil as repellent is not suggested.
2. Basil(Tulsi)
Although you heard about basil used for various health problems like diabetes, cold, etc., and also has efficient properties of repellent against some particular type of mosquitoes. There are several types of research held previously to test basil as a repellent. The field study in Kenya shows that a potted plant of basil provides approximately 40% protection against a particular type of mosquito that carries malaria disease.
One of the laboratory studies also shows that basil oil provides 100% protection against yellow fever mosquitoes for almost six consistent and continuous hours.
3. Peppermint(Pudina)
Peppermint is also used as a food ingredient and also has various medicinal properties such as for common cold, headache, and other vast conditions. But peppermint can use as a mosquito repellent. The researchers concluded that a high concentration of peppermint is efficient as a mosquito repellent.
Peppermint is highly effective against mosquito larvae. It can provide 100% prevention from mosquitoes that spread the yellow fever virus for up to 150 minutes.
4. Citronella
Citronella is a very known ingredient that can use as a mosquito repellent. It made with a mixture of various herbs, used in many mosquito repellents also. Citronella is as effective as DEET but, the citronella oil vapourises fast that’s why it is efficient for a short duration. It doesn’t recommend generally using a high concentration of citronella because it causes skin irritation.
Citronella candles can provide 50% prevention against mosquitoes in an outdoor environment. Also, it shows that citronella can provide 100% prevention against three major types of mosquitoes for about 120 minutes. It recommends using more efficient products while traveling to areas where mosquitoes have higher numbers.
5. Clove
Clove is often used in baking or adding aromatic essence to dishes and drinks. But these food natural ingredients also can repel mosquitoes. That’s why used in many mosquito repellents. It is practically proven that clove oil mixed with bases of coconut and olive oil will result in the prevention of yellow fever mosquitoes for up to 96 minutes.
Some studies suggested that Methyl eugenol(a sub-component of clove) is very efficient in the prevention against mosquitoes. Clove oil is generally available and doesn’t irritate the skin. So it can use as a mosquito repellent.
6. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a natural herb from citrus trees such as orange, lime, grape, etc. It is a popular ingredient used in tea and various Asian dishes. The research in 2015 states that lemongrass with olive oil provides almost 98.8% prevention against mosquitoes.
In another field study, it states that lemongrass oil provides approximately 75-90% prevention against two types of mosquitoes for about 2.5 hours.
7. Soybean Oil
Soybean is also a home ingredient usually used for cooking. According to recent research in Florida states that soybean-based products with approx 2% soybean essence able to provide long-term prevention against almost all types of mosquitoes.
With soybean oil, if you add some lemongrass oil in it, the mixture is highly efficient against a different type of mosquito species with a longer duration of time.
8. Catnip
Catnip is a species from the mint family. The scientific name is L. Nepeta Cataria. This herb is more efficient as a mosquito repellent as compared to other chemicals and sprays. The catnip oil extracts from the plant leaves are more important than that flower that is approx 18 inches with white and pink flowers.
Research shows that catnip oil provides complete prevention against yellow fever mosquitoes. The catnip oil repels mainly two different types of mosquitos that are yellow fever mosquitoes and common household mosquitoes.
9. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is an old known remedy used as a mosquito repellent. The disease control and prevention center approved this ingredient as an effective mosquito repellent. The research in 2011 shows that it can provide 93% prevention against filarial mosquitoes for approximately 4 hours when used with coconut oil.
Another field study states that eucalyptus plant leaves provide 72% prevention against mosquitoes for almost 2 hours.
10. Geraniol
Geraniol is a concentration type of alcohol. It uses as an ingredient in mosquito repellents with DEET, lemongrass, etc. It extracts from a plant called citronella. It is known because it is efficient as a repellent with two to four hours of consistent working.
It does not recommend to come in direct contact with it as it causes eyes and skin irritation.
Conclusion
We generally use chemical-based products as mosquito repellents that cause various environmental and personal health issues. They have their advantages in high mosquito areas. Although we also have several natural ingredients as mentioned above to use as mosquito repellents and some of them are efficient while some have a longer bearable tendency.
The advantage of the natural one is that it doesn’t cause any harm to the environment or human health. And, if you want to use indoor, then you can prefer these natural ingredients for mosquito repellents for their health advantage. You can also mix these natural ingredients for their benefits.