274 Natural Bug Repellent [30 June 2014]

With all the rain we have had this spring when it finally warms up the mosquitoes will be out in hordes. Since the coming of West Nile Virus they are no longer just a nuisance but a very real health hazard. Ditto for ticks and Lyme Disease. DEET is still the most effective repellent for both mosquitoes and ticks. Watkins insect repellent has a good reputation because it has the highest DEET content allowed by Health Canada.

There are also many natural options. Most natural repellents use one or more essential oils like citronella or peppermint. Two unusual ones that I carry are a repellent you wear (a wrist band impregnated with peppermint oil) and one you eat (a supplement called Mozi-Q). You can also make up your own with essential oils using Witch Hazel as a base.

Here is a recipe I found:
• 15 drops citronella
• 15 drops lemongrass
• 15 drops geranium (for tick protection)
• 10 drops lavender (optional)
• 10 drops tea tree oil (optional)
• 10 drops peppermint (optional)
• 10 drops cedarwood (optional)
• 355 ml Witch Hazel

Mix in glass jar and pour into spray bottle. Apply to exposed skin and rub in. Do not spray on face – apply to hand and rub on face carefully avoiding the eyes. Repeat application every 30 minutes to 2 hours as required. Health Canada recommends DEET and citronella repellents not be used on infants and toddlers.

Peppermint oil also makes an effective rodent deterrent. Put 15-20 drops on a cotton ball and place in areas out of reach of pets and children. You can also mix the oil with water and spray it along baseboards etc. Refresh regularly as the peppermint odor fades. It works well and smells better than mothballs.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner. See this article on my website for links to sources and further reading.

171 The Insect Repellent You Eat [25 June 2012]

Finally, a mosquito repellent that you eat! Doesn’t sound very appetizing, but that’s because we think of insect repellent as smelly, toxic creams or sprays. Xerion Dispensary Ltd, the developers of this remarkable new product they called Mozi-Q, insists it is safe with no known side effects. Health Canada must agree, as the product received approval for sale in Canada last month.

Xerion is a Calgary homeopathic clinic, the largest in western Canada. Mozi-Q is their first homeopathic product brought to market. A few years ago they discovered, in a textbook, a homeopathic remedy for keeping mosquitoes away and started to sell it in their clinic. Over four years of testing they improved the formula with four additional remedies. It worked so well they decided to manufacture it.

Mozi-Q works two ways: it greatly reduces the frequency of insect bites and also reduces your reaction should you get bitten anyway – no more itchy red bumps! It works on other bugs too besides mosquitoes – including flies, ticks, head lice and bed bugs.

Mozi-Q starts to work about 30 minutes after you take the first tablet, which is dissolved under the tongue. It lasts 3-5 hours before you need another one; there is no limit to how many you can take in a day. Because it is a homeopathic, it is non-toxic, has no contraindications for use, and does not react with any medication or herb. It is also safe for pregnancy, babies and children.

Now whenever mosquitoes start “bugging” you this summer, just pop a pill and they’ll leave you alone. Warning - always carry the box with you when you go out because your friends will want one too.

To learn more about Mozi-Q and Xerion Dispensary see www.mozi-q.com.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.