Herbs Can Be An Excellent Insect Repellant Articles | Remedy

By: Richard Bleuze

Many herbs have excellent insect-repelling properties. And  there are a number of them that can be easy to cultivate or are readily available at the health-food store.

As a bonus, many of the insect-repelling herbs are ornamental and fragrant as well as effective, thus doing double duty in the garden. Ecologically friendly and economical, natural insect repellants made from herbs act without the harsh chemicals present in many commercial repellants.

The herbs most well known for their insect-repelling abilities are bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, and thyme.  Citonella and tea tree oils are potent essential oils that may be combined with herbs in insect-repelling sachets to enhance their effectiveness.

Insect-repelling herbs can be planted in pots kept on windowsills to discourage insects from entering the house.   The herbs can be cultivated in a dedicated garden, or they can be added to an existing garden or flower bed. Many herbs are excellent companion plants. Because they discourage insects from damaging the plants around them.  In addition, they are a great complement to other forms of organic pest control.  Herbs with insect-repelling properties also can be grown in pots and placed around the perimeter of your patio or outdoor eating area to keep insects at bay.

Fresh herbs are "activated" by gently bruising their leaves—rubbing them between the thumb and fingers with light pressure. This brings the plant’s oils to the surface of the leaf, releasing the fragrance and enhancing its ability to repel insects.  Dried herbs can be hung near windows, doors, and in entryways to ward off insects. Dried herbs can also be packaged in cloth sachets. The sachets can then be tucked into cabinets, drawers, and sheds.  Garlands of dried herbs can also be hung near pet areas to repel fleas.

If you would like to try blending your own mosquito-repelling sachets, I might suggest that you try the following:

1 cup (100 g)  processed corncob litter as a fixative
1/4 cup (60 ml) citronella essential oil
1/2 cup (25 g) dried lavender
1/2 cup (25 g) dried rosemary
1/2 cup (20 g) dried lemon balm
1 cup (50 g) dried santolina
1 cup (50 g) dried mugwort

In a glass jar with a screw-on lid, combine corncob litter with citronella. Seal, shake, and let cure in a cool, dry place for a few days. In a large glass or plastic bowl, combine the herbs. Add the cured fixative and toss gently to blend (step 1). Spoon this mixture into small cotton sachets and seal the neck of each with a rubber band. Tie with a piece of ribbon and hang from a lawn chair,  etc. Do not allow sachets to become damp. When you’re not using them, store the sachets in a resealable plastic bag or glass jar in a cool, dry place.

By following the above, you should have a great summer that is pest free!