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"When insects take over the world, we hope they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics."
Bill Vaughan.

While bugs at picnics have long been the topic of bad jokes, what once was a mere irritation is now a major health risk. Insect-borne disease is a leading cause of sickness and death worldwide. Mosquitoes alone transmit disease to more than 700 million persons annually. (1) Malaria kills 3 million persons each year, including one child every 30 seconds. (1,2,3)

Although insect-transmitted infections are currently a greater health problem in tropical and subtropical climates, no part of the world is immune.

In Canada and the U.S., arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes cause sporadic outbreaks of eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis. 4,5 In 1999, the West Nile virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, was detected for the first time in the Western Hemisphere.

At the same time, traditional DEET-based (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) chemical insect repellents are themselves repelling health conscious consumers because of their proven toxicity. In 2001, a Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist recommended caution when using the insecticide DEET after his animal studies found the chemical causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats after frequent and prolonged use. While DEET's level of toxicity is still being intensely debated, the pharmacologist, Mohamed Abou-Donia, Ph.D., says that his 30 years of research on pesticides' brain effects clearly indicate the need for caution among the general public. His numerous studies on rats clearly demonstrate that frequent and prolonged applications of DEET cause neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration.

Download the complete report by clicking here. (Large file)

Although studies continue to show that DEET-based products can be depended on for longer-lasting effects when compared to natural repellents, frequent application of natural repellents is a small price to pay to avoid brain damage. Also, DEET is not the perfect repellent. It can be washed off by perspiration and rain, and its efficacy plummets with rising temperatures. 6,7,8 DEET is also capable of dissolving watch crystals, the frames of glasses and certain synthetic fabrics.

So, how does a health conscious consumer protect his or her family from voracious and potentially deadly bugs? Well, certain essential oils have proven to be highly effective in combating mosquitoes, ticks and other irritating and hazardous insects.

Julia Lawless in her excellent book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Element Books, 1995), recommends the following essential oils for fending off mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insect pests: Geranium (actually rose geranium), lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, Atlas cedarwood and clove.

While you'll often see citronella in natural repellents (sometimes it is the only ingredient) it isn't the most effective of the oils. It's frequently used because it's inexpensive. A study at Guelph University in Ontario in 2003 found that while citronella was 30% effective in repelling mosquitoes, rose geranium oil was 97% effective! Rose geranium oil is rarely used in commercial natural insect repellents simply because it is very expensive. So, when shopping for a natural insect repellent, seek one containing the above essential oils, but make sure that rose geranium (or simply geranium) essential oil is one of the ingredients.

Just because a product is labeled "Natural" doesn't mean you can carelessly slather it on. Some precautions apply.

• Keep natural repellents out of eyes and mouths.
• Don't apply repellents to children's hands since they tend to stick them in their mouths.
• Don't apply over cuts or wounds.
• Apply only to exposed skin and clothing.
• Don't use sprays directly on face. Spray first on hands.
• Follow the instructions on the package.
  
  Also while DEET-based repellents last for several hours (unless washed off by rain or perspiration) most natural repellents are only good for an hour or two. They rely on fragrance for their deterrent effect so remember to apply frequently.

References:
1. Taubes G. A mosquito bites back. New York Times Magazine.
August 24, 1997:40-6.
2. Shell ER. Resurgence of a deadly disease. Atlantic Monthly. August 1997:45-60.
3. Malaria. Fact sheet. No. 94. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1999. (Accessed May 3, 2002, at http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact094.html.)
4. McHugh CP. Arthropods: vectors of disease agents. Lab Med 1994; 25:429-37.
5. Goddard J. Physician's guide to arthropods of medical importance. 3rd ed. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2000.
6. Maibach HI, Khan AA, Akers WA. Use of insect repellents for maximum efficacy. Arch Dermatol 1974; 109:32-5.
7. Maibach HI, Akers WA, Johnson HL, Khan AA, Skinner WA. Insects: topical insect repellents. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1974;16:970-3.
8. Fradin MS. Insect repellents. In: Wolverton SE, ed. Comprehensive dermatologic drug therapy. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 2001:717-34.

"Natural Insect Repellents" was first published in alive magazine.

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