Bug Repellent
What is Bug Repellent? An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface.
Mentha Pulegium (Pennyroyal)
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- Pennyroyal is a species of flowering plant.
- Pennyroyal has had many uses throughout history, including partaking in medicine and used as a bug repellent mainly towards mosquitoes.
- When the Pennyroyal leaves are dried and crushed it will exhibit a strong scent that is similar to spearmint.
- The leaves of Pennyroyal are crushed and mixed with animal fat then applied to skin. It is said that the scent of Pennyroyal is what helps fend off mosquitoes.
- The essential oil of Pennyroyal is a highly toxic, volatile organic compound affecting the liver and uterine
- Pennyroyal should never be digested because of its toxic principles which will harmfully affect the human liver and the uterine function
- Pulegone is an organic compound that is found in many plants including Pennyroyal which is what gives Pennyroyal the distinctive scent of spearmint and gives Pennyroyal the property to fend off
- Pulegone is also an insecticide - the most powerful of 3 insecticides naturally occurring in many mint species.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Camadensis L)
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- Goldenseal was used for repellent as well. It was mixed with bear fat then applied to the skin.
- The active ingredients of Goldenseal include a group of alkaloids, hydrastine and berberine.
- Goldenseal is now an endangered species because there was a high demand for because the properties of Goldenseal contributed a lot to medicine.
- Different cultures used Goldenseal different when applying it as bug spray
- Cherokee Indians smashed the roots of golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis) into a pulp and mixed it with bear fat as a means to spread over the body for protection from insects.
- While other cultures placed the leaves onto hot cols and used it as a smudge
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
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It is said that in some cultures that peppermint was not only used a remedy and for food but also used as a bug repellent.
It is noted that bugs do not like the scent of peppermint.
Peppermint oil also has a large concentration of natural pesticides. Such as pulegone and menthone which is why it works so well.
It is noted that bugs do not like the scent of peppermint.
Peppermint oil also has a large concentration of natural pesticides. Such as pulegone and menthone which is why it works so well.
Cintronella
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The medicinal plant was adopted by Europeans from the Aboriginal healers. It was used both by the Europeans and Aboriginals as a deterrent for mosquitoes.
It is the strong scent which keeps the mosquitoes away.
Studies have shown that Citronella is a natural repellent that has no harmful effects. Although it is illegal to use in Canada as a repellent due to data-gaps in toxicology.
It is the strong scent which keeps the mosquitoes away.
Studies have shown that Citronella is a natural repellent that has no harmful effects. Although it is illegal to use in Canada as a repellent due to data-gaps in toxicology.