It goes without saying, that insect repellent wards off insects. By warding off insects, they protect us from bites. However, it is not only the bites we have to worry about. Insect are big transmitters of contagious and chronic diseases. They have the ability to transfer infectious bacteria and viruses such as Lyme disease, yellow fever, malaria, and many more devastating illnesses.
There are several kinds of insect repellents in the market. Some are synthetic harsh chemicals and others are made from natural plant source. For many decades, the insect repellent market had relied strictly on the use of toxic chemicals to kill and repel pests. However, knowledge and health awareness is bringing people to the realization of the impact of these chemicals on our bodies.
The great thing is that many of the plant source can repel as effectively and even in some cases better than the synthetic chemicals. Some require more frequent application while others are sustainable for long hours. Just like everything, maintenance and frequent attention to application is best for optimum results.
Even though many of the toxic chemicals could last for hours. The effect of these chemicals causes even long term diseases such as cancer, hormonal disruption, neurological damage, severe skin irritation and much more. Yes, they last long enough to cause damage to your health especially from prolonged usage.
Lemon of Eucalyptus oil can be as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes. However, the pure oil has not been currently approved by the EPA as an insect repellent. Instead, a synthetic version of the lemon oil eucalyptus repellent exist as high as 30% active ingredient. It is known to be as effective but is not of natural source. However, using lemon of eucalyptus oil is a great start for prolonged effectiveness from mosquitoes.
There are many discussions and choices when it comes to picking the right insect natural repellent for several situations. However, choosing the best organic insect repellent is not easy as it sounds, considering the fact that you have to take into account a number of factors before making the final purchase.
Add to that, there are a plethora of stores selling insect repellent flooding the market today, which makes it harder to select the best one for you. Read on to find out four tips to choose the best insect repellent.
- Protection time- One of the major factors that you need to take into account when choosing your insect repellent is to select a product that covers the protection time needed. Different essential oils have varying protection time and requires more application to have prolonged protection. This is particularly important for outdoor activities.
- Read product label- When it comes to choosing the best insect repellent, make sure you read the product label and follow manufacturer instructions before using a repellent
- Check whether the ingredients are natural or synthetic- Without a doubt, a crucial factor that you need to consider when choosing an insect repellent is checking the ingredient labels. This lets you know what you up against.
- Oils like Cedar wood oil, lemongrass oil, neem oil, oil of lemon eucalyptus, lavender oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil will repel and kill fleas and tick. Check out the level of protection when using these oils and be committed to re-apply when needed to avoid the use of toxic chemicals.
- Buy from a source committed to wellness- Check the brand, get to know their mission before you commit. Many toxic products out there are profit driven and just have a general belief that people don’t really care about their health. We can change that trend of thinking by looking a little more closely at our selections.