In Medieval times Rosemary and Sage were strewn on the floors of hospitals to get rid of pests and probably to refresh the air with aromatic scents. In the days before insecticides, hedges of different herbs surrounded vegetable gardens. Simply planting marigolds and or garlic in and around your garden will keep many pests away.
Today, conscientious people do companion planting and make many of their own remedies for the household, for bug repellents, for cosmetics, etc. Besides having knowledge of natural remedies, there are a few tips to be aware of. Be aware of the color of your clothes. Light colored cloths do not attract bugs to the same degree as bright colors. Also, leave the scents, perfumes and hairspray at home. Find a non-scented deodorant to wear. Around your home use yellow light bulbs in outdoor places.
The following are remedies you can make yourself. Experiment with mixing them. Unlike drugs, more ingredients are better.
Head lice: Tea tree oil, Rosemary oil, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rose Geranium.
Ticks: Bug repellent essential oils can be used. These include Rose Geranium, Eucalyptus, European pennyroyal, Neem oil, and real Mexican vanilla diluted in water.
Fleas: Orange oil, cedar oil.
Flies: Eucalyptus, Pennyroyal, cedar, Citronella, Peppermint
Mosquito control: Get rid of any standing water near where you live. This is where mosquitoes breed. Wear light colored clothes. Plant Citronella in pots around your outdoor patios. Burn Citronella candles inside and outside. The herb Rosemary is one of the best bug repellents. Make oil using the leaves of the herb Rosemary blended in your favorite oil and then strained. The mosquitoes will hover but not bite and it smells good. Neem oil is another natural safe repellent but has a pretty strong odor. You can also try Pennyroyal, Thyme or Lavender. Many of these can also be mixed for an additive effect. Some claim that splashing yourself with rubbing alcohol repels mosquitoes.
Natural garden insecticide: 1 Tbs. dish-washing soap and water in a spray bottle, or 12 finely chopped garlic cloves in 4 ounces mineral oil. Let soak for 2 days, strain, add a few drops of dish-washing soap, ½ cup water and spray on your plants.
Companion planting: Be willing to experiment with these suggestions as sometimes there are other factors that might enhance or deter from the overall effect. Companion planting is age-old and can be read about back to the middle ages. Some plants will benefit others and some won’t. One reason for companion planting is to draw or attract beneficial insects like: ground beetles, ladybug larva, lacewing larva, parasitoid wasps and hoover or robber flies. These bugs feed on aphids, caterpillars, grubs and leafhoppers. Many herbs are used as companion plants to deter pesky insects. Most commonly used are: Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Catmint, Sage, Lavender, Borage, Santolina, Tansy, Fennel, Angelica, Coriander, Dill, Queen Anne’s lace, Clovers, Yarrow, Rue, Mints, Chamomile and Hyssop. Some experimenting is usually required to learn which plants to pair as companions. One very important consideration is to plant diverse crops in the same location over time. Planting the same crop over and over brings the same bugs and can lead to an over-population.
Herbs and Synergy: Synergy occurs when the effect of one or more plants together is greater than would be expected by summing the effects of the individual active components. Compounds that have the same mode of action and do not react with one another act additively. Synergistic compounds are those that do not have the exact same mode of action but are increased when they are added together.
In a study of 27 different herbs and spices done at the USDA, a ranking based on the number of chemicals with specific activities in these herbs and spices was done in many categories. The following apply to this article.
In order, the strongest pesticide herbs and spices: Licorice, Ginger, Coriander, Oregano, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Black pepper, and Cinnamon.
In order, the strongest insectifuge herbs and spices: Black pepper, Rosemary, Coriander, Oregano, Ginger, Bay, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cumin, Parsley and Cayenne.
In order, the strongest herbicide herbs and spices: Black pepper, Cinnamon, Coriander, Ginger, Oregano, Bay, Cayenne, Cumin, Nutmeg and Rosemary.
Based on the above information, by combining Licorice, Ginger, Black pepper, Rosemary and Cinnamon in an oil or water and spraying it on your plants you would have a potent synergistic pesticide, insectifuge and herbicide all in one. To make it so it would have the most effect (with maximum properties from the herbs and spices), slightly heat the oil with the herbs to 80-90 degrees to elicit the most essence.
Rosemary MacGregor RN MS
info@themangotreespa.com
www.themangotreespa.com
506 27896 5300
Tags: bug sprays, herbs, insecticides, Natural Products, pests, Rosemary, synergistic compounds, synergy