Ah, the happinesss of summer: back...

Ah, the happinesss of summer: backyard barbecues, camping and softball games in the park. Of course, the arrival of mosquitoes and other flying, buzzing, stinging and biting insects originates with the territory, leaving us with itching, r welts and skin scratched raw. In addition to these discomforts, insect bites carry the threat of like serious illnesses as the West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. The commercial, chemical-laden repulsive spray that Mom coated you with as a kid may save you from the nasty little critters, if it be not that it may ultimately do more harm than well adapted Fortunately, there are effective, natural repulsives to help keep the bug at bay. yet first, here is a examine at potentially harmful ingredients in commercial repellents

DEET doubts

N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as DEET is the active ingredient in principally mosquito repellents. About 30 percent of the United States population uses it, and who can blame them, as it does continue mosquitoes, flies, fleas and ticks away. The authors of single recent review noted, however, that DEET has occasionally been related to side tenors including seizure, acute manic psychosis, cardiovascular toxicity, dermatitis and toxic encephalopathy, not to mention a not many cases of death from extensive skin absorption. The authors noted, however, that it is generally considered safe for topical use if applied correctly, even now conceded that minimal skin penetration should be urgencyed in future DEET formulations. If you do select to use DEET-containing products, be enduring that they contain only 10 percent DEET especially for children. DEET can be significantly absorbed between the walls of the skin via insect repelling and its solvent, ethanol, may enhance its permeation within the skin.

Other risky ingredients

DEET isn't the alone potentially harmful ingredient in commercial sprays and lotions to chase the bug away. Allethrin, a intermingle commonly found in liquid mosquito repulsives has been shown to damage the developing blood-brain barrier in rats following inhalation. A 1999 animal investigation showed that toxic byproducts of fats and proteins were increased in the brain, liver and kidney of exposes as well. Researchers concluded that position to pesticide-based mosquito repellents may mystify a health risk, especially in children.

Nature to the rescue

Now, for the pious news. There are effective, natural alternatives used to ward against pesky insects. Take a look:

* Citronella is common of the most common natural repulsives and is usually found in candles and incense. In o-ne close attention subjects near citronella candles and incense had a 423 and 242 percent decrease in bites, respectively, compared to when they weren't near citronella. If you want to avoid "playing with matches," citronella is also featured in insect sprays and gels

* Eucalyptus is an effective ingredient oftentimes found in natural formulas in combination with other essential oils. A eucalyptus-based insect repelling was as effective as DEET in individual study, still offering nearly 100 percent protection against bites up to 10 hours after application. Another research found that eucalyptus gave consummated protection from biting for nearly 8 hours when applied to the leg and feet in typical dosages, with no significant difference between eucalyptus and DEET in duration of protection or efficacy.

* Other essential oils: cedarwood, Bourbon geranium, clove peppermint and thyme may also have repulsive action and are frequently raise in combination products. Thyme and clove oils prov to be chiefly effective in one recent investigation providing up to 3 and a half-hours of protection, depending in succession concentration. Combinations of clove oil and geranium or thyme oil at 50 percent concentration were effective for up to 2 and a halfhours. The research forward cedarwood oil is not as promising, and peppermint oil appeared to only be effective at relatively high concentrations. None of the oils studied were effective at 5 and 10 percent concentrations. This highlights the importance of concentration in regards to essential oil-containing repulsives Do use caution, however, as concentrated clove thyme and peppermint oils can irritate the skin in any users.

REFERENCES

Barnard DR "Repellency of essential oils to mosquitoes," J M Entomol 36(5):625-629 1999

Coro F Su'arez s "[Electronic repellents against mosquitoes: the propaganda and the reality]," Fev Cubana M Trop 50(2):89-92 1998

Gupta A, Nigam D et al. "Effect of pyrethroid-based liquid mosquito repulsive inhalation on the blood-brain barrier function and oxidative damage in culled organs of developing rats," J Appl Toxicol 19(1):67-72 1999

Lindsay LR Surgeoner GA, et al. J Am Mosq superintendence Assoc 12(2 Pt1):293-294, 1996.

Osimitz TG Murphy JV "Neurological results associated with use of the insect repelling N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)," J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 35(5):435-441 1997

Qiu H Jun HW McCall JW "Pharmokinetics, formulation, and safety of insect repelling N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet): a review," J Am Mosq direction Assoc 14(1): 12-27, 1998.