DEET sprays can melt plastic bags and fishing lines. Doesn’t that make you wonder what it can do to you?Commercial bug sprays contain the chemical permethrin which is a neurotoxin. Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides. He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain.
When rats had their skin treated with the average human dosage of DEET, they performed far worse than control rats on physical tests requiring muscle control, strength, and coordination. This is consistent with reports of symptoms after the military used DEET in the Persian Gulf War. Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brain including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration, and learning.
Heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides can cause eye and skin irritation, memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, nausea, tremors, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear months or even years after use.
General repellent:
- 6 drops of peppermint oil
- 6 drops of melaleuca oil
- 9 drops of citronella
- Dilute with water 20:80 and apply to exposed skin as needed.
- Avoid eyes.
Mosquito repellent:
- 6 drops lemon
- 6 drops peppermint
- 6 drops eucalyptus radiata
- 6 drops lemongrass
- Dilute with water 20:80 and apply to exposed skin as needed.
- Avoid eyes.
Lavender and peppermint oils reduce insect-bite-induced itching and infection.
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