Know The Science Behind Natural Insect Repellents

Insects, lizards, termites, mosquitoes, and other disturbing creatures do not enter the homes with an alarm. They enter silently and create havoc that leads to severe damage inside the household. Also, they cause life-threatening diseases like dengue fever, malaria etc. Did you know you can easily prevent these bugs with a little chemistry? Whether you are at home, lounging on the beach, hiking in the woods, or camping, you can keep the bugs away.

The natural insect repellent is a herbal spray that is a kind of pesticide. Pesticide does not necessarily always refer to the product that kills the insect, instead, it is an herbal product that is made to drive away from the pests without killing them. Such a product works in two in one fashion- the pleasant smell of the spray works as a room freshener while forming a seal in the air all over the house to keep the pests away.

What it contains:

To isolate the unappealing compounds, natural products are booming in the market as they are non-toxic, harmless, kid friendly, safe for pregnant women, and have medicinal values. Unlike the chemical products that contain a lot of harsh ingredients and have major side effects on the body, products like herbal mosquito repellent have 100% natural products. They result from a unique blend of plant extract, herbs, and herbal aromatic oils. Here is the list of ingredients they contain:

• Devdaru Oil: Since it has inflammatory properties, this oil helps prevent acne, dry skin, and other infections that insects may cause.
• Lamajjaka Oil: It has Ayurvedic benefits that help in treating burning sensations, skin diseases, bleeding disorders, etc. It also helps in purifying the blood.
• Bhutika Oil/ Lemongrass: Known as Bhutika in Ayurveda, lemongrass has a lot of purifying properties that make it one of the perfect ingredients for skin. It helps the skin in different ways like-
• Remove impurities
• Detoxify the skin
• Neutralises damaging free radicals
• Has acne-fighting properties
• Neem Oil: Neem oil, extracted from the seed of the neem tree, is one of the most promising agents. It contains ingredients that are good for the skin. Some of them include- fatty acid, vitamin E, antioxidants, calcium, limonoids, and triglycerides. The benefits of these ingredients help treat multiple skincare issues like:
• Treats dry skin
• Treats wrinkles
• Treats acne
• Reduces scars
• Heals wounds
• Minimizes moles, warts, etc.
• Helps in collagen production
• Cedarwood: Registered as a pesticide, Cedarwood helps repel ants and other insects. With its antibacterial properties, it helps solve problems like-
• Acne treatment
• Reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation

Benefits of using Herbal Insect Repellent:

While they comprise 100% non-chemical substances, many other benefits make them in demand everywhere. Here are the benefits that make them good for you and the environment both.

1. Highly effective:

The essential oils used in herbal insect repellents have properties that make them highly effective, like any other chemical-based repellent. They not only drive away from the bugs, but they also have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties. Therefore, the misconception of natural repellent being ineffective, to be used as a complementary product, or to use a higher amount of product is no more true.

2. Cause no skin issues:

Since they make the natural insect repellent from plants and other natural oils, they are 100% safe to be used on the skin. Hence, redness, rashes, or itchiness is never the case. Unlike chemical repellent which has a lot of side effects like skin issues etc, using natural repellent is safe.

3. Kids friendly:

DEET is an ingredient that is found in most repellents. It effectively ticks away mosquitoes and bugs easily, but this substance is harmful to the nervous system. This is one reason natural repellents have been doing the rounds as they are away from DEETS and that’s what makes them a safe product for kids too.

4. Safe for Pregnant Women:

When it is about pregnant women, everything needs extra care and caution when used or consumed. Chemical-based repellents used to keep the bloodsucker away have pesticides that are harmful to pregnant women. Exposure to some ingredients from such sprays brings changes to the glucose level, reducing the red blood cells and affecting the mother-to-be’s kidney. Not just this, it can be even harmful to the fetus. Thus, the natural alternative keeps such worries away, making it safe for pregnant women and bringing in peace of mind.

5. Environment friendly:

The natural repellent sprays are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, which means in the production of such products, no animals are harmed. Also, this repellent doesn’t kill the insects, they just keep them at bay. Thus, you can enjoy staying bug-free while feeling relaxed, with no guilt about harming the environment.

6. Strong yet soothing aroma:

Unlike conventional repellents, natural repellent sprays have an aroma that is soothing to relieve and calm the body and strong enough to ward off the mosquitoes. Thus, these repellents are not just for saying goodbye to the bugs, but also have a calming effect on the mind and body.

Thus, if you haven’t been using the natural repellent spray to the notion that they are not beneficial or effective, it’s time to ditch the chemical-based repellent. Use it to know the importance of natural products for your skin and the environment and have a bug-free, safe and healthy life.