Mosquitoes transmit diseases to an estimated 600 million people annually worldwide, of which millions that are infected will result in death. The mosquito borne diseases are the viral disease yellow fever, dengue fever, and they are transmitted mostly by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Malaria is carried by the genus Anopheles mosquito.
During summer and with the rainy season at hand, these little pests are all over the place. It is very important that you protect your family, particularly young children, and the elderly from being beaten. Last year a co-worker went to South America to his sister’s wedding and a few days after returning to the USA he died from malaria.
There a hundreds, if not thousands of chemicals on the market today, which are used to fight, kill, and repellent mosquitoes. Unfortunately, they all have side effects and can potentially be harmful to you, your family and your pets.
For example, let us take are look at DDT, the inventor won a Nobel Prize for in 1948, which was used for a number of years to eradicate mosquitoes and other pests in America and other parts of the world. Today it is banned because it have been found to be very TOXIC. It is no longer used as a pesticide for crops but it is still widely used to fight mosquitoes.
The creator knew what he was doing, so he created natural ways to protect you. Here are eight plants, which can help:
Ageratum Plant
Ageratum is an annual herb, which grows about 60 cm high and produces small pink flowers. Its origin is in Central America and the Caribbean. It can also be found in several tropical and sub-tropical countries, including Brazil.
How to prepare:
Buy the plant from your local nursery or home and garden store.
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Or you can cut the plant up in small pieces wash it out, or you can use the leaves. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle up to ¾ and full up the other ¼ with rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
c) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spray around the house.
Basil Plant
Origin from India, and is used as a culinary herb that is very popular in many Italian dishes. Basil is a tropical plant that needs plenty of sunshine. It grows both outdoors and indoors and can easily be found in any garden store.
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Or you can cut the plant up in small pieces wash it out, or you can use the leaves. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle up to ¾ and full up the other ¼ with rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
c) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.
Catnip Plant
Catnip is a member of the mint family, a perennial herb and origin from North America and Europe. It is widely grown in gravelly soil, near streams, fields, and dry waste ground.
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes that way.
b) Or you can cut the plant up in small pieces wash it out, or you can use the leaves. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle up to ¾ and full up the other ¼ with rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
d) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.
e) Dry the leaves and used it as a potpourri, because dried leaves retain their fragrance. If you have a cat she or he will love you for that
Citronella Plant
Origin: India, Citronella is a tall tropical grass related to the lemongrass. Unlike the lemongrass, citronella is not edible due to its unpleasant taste. It does not act as an insect repellent as a planted plant. It is not recommended to plant citronella in your backyard garden, because of its invasive behavior.
How to prepare:
a) Cut the leaves and wash them out then crush and place in a small open container, the aromas will discourage mosquitoes.
b) Purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.
c) “Iowa State University recommends applying the oil directly to the skin or clothing, but notes that some people may be allergic to this plant. Test for allergy to the citronella oil by applying it to the inner forearm a day or so before using it as a topical repellent.”
Lavender Plant
Origin: Asia, the lavender plant is one of nature’s best and has been in use since ancient time. The Egyptians even used it as perfume and for bathing. Lavender is mentioned often in the holy book the Bible. John 12:3 “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard (from the Greek name for lavender, naardus), very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.”
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Use the blossom; wash it. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the blossom in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
d) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some water shake and spay around the house.
e) Dry the blossom and used it as a potpourri, because dried blossom retain their beautiful perfumery fragrance
Lemongrass Plant
Origin: India, lemongrass is a perennial herb and is widely cultivated for commercial purposes in Paraguay, India, England, Guatemala, China, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Central and South America. Generally, Thai people used it in many of their cooking recipes.
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Cut the leaves up in small pieces wash it out. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the refrigerator so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house or directly on the skin (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
c) You can also purchase the oil from your local health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.
d) Crushed the green leaves and place it in an open container, put the container in a safe place
Marigolds Plant
Origin: Central America. Marigold plants today can be found all over the tropics and subtropical region of the World. They are cultivated in India and Pakistan for medicinal purposes, flavoring, and dye and as ornamental plants.
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Use the leaves and blossom; wash it. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle up to ¾ and full up the other ¼ with rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
c) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.
Rosemary Plant
Origin: Europe, Rosemary is a very common herb used in thousands of recipes, and is a very aromatic plant.
How to prepare:
a) You can grow the Plant in your backyard garden, or on your patio, it will repel mosquitoes.
b) Or you can cut the plant up in small pieces wash it out, or you can use the leaves. Put 2 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil, put the cut plant and or leaves in the boiling water, turn off the heat and cover for one hour. After it is cooled strain with a very fine strainer. Pour some in a spray bottle up to ¾ and full up the other ¼ with rubbing alcohol. Put the rest in a closed bottle and place on the fridge so you can have mosquito repellent for the entire season. You can then spray a small portion around the house (make sure you and your children are not allergic to the plant).
c) You can also purchase the oil from your health food store. Put a few drops in a small spray bottle add some rubbing alcohol or water shake and spay around the house.