Insects in the house can be really annoying and disturbing, so numerous people use DEET to repel them. Yet, this insect repellent contains harmful toxic ingredients, and its use is extremely unsafe.

On the other hand, there is a completely safe and highly effective natural way to keep insects at bay, and its results are far better than the effects of DEET- lemon eucalyptus oil!

Numerous studies have compared the effects of this oil and DEET and found that lemon eucalyptus oil is 12% more effective at preventing mosquito bites.

This is due to the presence of the active ingredient p-methane-3,8-diol (PMD), which blocks signals which help mosquitoes find humans, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

PMD was classified in the “least toxic” category by the BeyondPesticides.org. Therefore, it might irritate your eyes, but nothing more. On the other hand, DEET is much more harmful.

To imagine its effects on living beings, note that it actually corrupts the receptors on the antennae of mosquitoes.

It is easily absorbed into the skin, and then travels to the gut and the central nervous system, leading to:

• Insomnia
• Seizures
• Muscle coordination issues
• Memory dysfunction
• Disorientation
• Death

Children, if exposed to DEET longer, have an increased risk of death and other severe side-effects. The risk is so high that the U.S. has forbidden all DEET products to make claims of child safety.

The product labels must carry the following warnings:

• Do not spray in enclosed areas
• Do not apply to hands or near eyes and mouth of young children
• Don’t apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin
• Do not allow young children to apply this product
• Do not use under clothing
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water

The only thing you need to be careful when using lemon eucalyptus oil is to protect your eyes. The following video will show you a way to prepare an extremely effective lemon eucalyptus oil-based repellent:

Source: www.davidwolfe.com
Other included sources linked in David Wolfe’s article:
EnvironmentalHealth.ca
MedlinePlus.gov
BeyondPesticides.org
Reset.me
Scientific American