Natural Herbal Insecticides
 

This page is designed to help with bug control safely. Man-made insectides is burning up the very Earth we hold so dear to our survial. The more that is made, the more the bugs become immune. Then man makes stronger pesticides.

We eat these pesticides in and on our food, we drink water from the run offsthat are seeping into the ground. And at this time there is more health problems then there ever has been. It tends to make you wonder!

 

 

DEWORMING CONCOCTION

This is an old time remedy for deworming dogs and cats. Use full amount on dogs and 1/4 amount on cats. Mix one teaspoon of dried, powdered rosemary and one teaspoon of wormwood with 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground garlic. Mix well and divide into 4 portions. Give pet a portion mixed in with food or pet treat four times a day. Repeat this for 3 days and pet should be completely dewormed

 

House and Garden Natural Insecticide
2 tablespoons liquid soap
1 quart water
Spray bottle

Mix soap and water; add to spray bottle; spray plants evenly, aiming directly at pests whenever possible.

 

All-Purpose Insecticide
1 bulb of garlic
1 small onion
1 tablespoon cayenne (red) pepper
2 tablespoons liquid soap
1 quart water
Spray bottle

Finely chop onion and garlic; mix with tap water; add cayenne pepper; let sit for one hour, then add soap. Mix well. When foam subsides, strain into spray bottle. Keep refrigerated. Good for 1-2 weeks.

 

Special Pest Treatments
Ants

Use boric acid, talcum powder, or chalk as a barrier along the line of entry.

Snails and Slugs

Fill a shallow pan with flat beer and place in the infested area.

Roaches

Set out a dish containing equal parts sugar and baking soda. Roaches are attracted to sugar, and baking soda is deadly to them.

Fleas

Orange peels
Grapefruit peels
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon rosemary, (optional)
1 pint water

Combine ingredients in blender; blend until liquified. Heat mixture on low heat for 15 minutes. Strain liquid into spray bottle. Spray on pet, and massage thoroughly into your pet's coat, avoiding their eyes.

 

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Note: Feed your pet brewers yeast and garlic, as a diet supplement. Vacuum furniture and carpet frequently (store vacuum outside of home--in shed or garage--during problem periods); clean your pet's favorite sleeping spots regularly and sprinkle with fennel, rue or rosemary. .

 

THE SAFE INSTANT KILL INSECTICIDE

The most effective insecticide that instantly kills flying and crawling insects on contact but does no harm to mammals or birds is the dried and crushed flowers of the Pyrethrum Plant. This brown powder will kill or stun the insects the moment it touches them but does no harm to pets when sprinkled on their coats. This member of the daisy family is a beautiful ornamental and will compliment any garden or flower bed. While very effective, the dried powder only lasts for a few days. You can prolong its use throughout the year by freezing fresh flower heads in zip-lock bags and drying and crushing them as needed

 

Cedar Oil
Try a cedar oil spray. I get it at PetSmart & use it on the dogs, cats & kids - it may seem a bit pricey but one bottle lasts for awhile. There may be another source for it among herbal shops, natural food stores, etc. One tip for anyone using it for fleas - it's a REPELLANT and works best if used before you see any fleas. If you've already got fleas, the same company makes a shampoo.

 

 

Rubbing Alcohol
I found out many years ago, when I was a young teenager, that just splashing plain rubbing alcohol on me and allowing it to dry would deter mosquitoes from biting me. I am allergic to mosquito bites and develop huge welts everywhere they bite me. With the alcohol, they never bit me. And once it dries, it leaves a pleasant odor on the skin, not repugnant at all. Thought this might help. And it only costs less than 50 cents a bottle!

 

 

Vaporub

This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents I have found and I am in the woods every day, is Vick's Vaporub. I rub it on my pants and legs to ward off ticks. If you can tolerate the smell it's pretty good.

 

 

Marigolds in the Yard
There are several things to do when trying to protect yourself and kids from those nasty bugs in the yard during the summer. One thing to do is plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.
Try putting a bounce dryer sheet on your belt or in your sock, the sheet will mask your smell and ward off the bugs.

 

Marine's Choice

I don't know how "organic" you want to go, or if it's just DEET you're trying to avoid. But here in Jacksonville, NC, home of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, our "tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol. I've tried it, and I have to admit it works just as well if not better than the commercial sprays. Actually, I just saw an ad on TV this week for Avon's own Skin-So-Soft insect repellant. I'm assuming it's made about the same way -- but it may turn out to be less expensive in the long run to mix your own. An added plus -- it smells great too.

 

 

Homemade Recipe

 

20 drops Eucalyptus oil

20 drops Cedarwood oil

10 drops Tea Tree oil

10 drops Geranium oil

2 oz. carrier oil ( such as Jojoba )
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities . Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.

 

Vanilla

One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla (not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It's cheap there if you know of someone that lives there or in the US close to the border. If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it for you. I use it half vanilla and half water and find that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects. It's nice that you don't smell like a chemical plant but a cookie! I cannot use chemical insecticides, so I love the way this works and I hope you and your kids will also.

 

Moth Balls

To the person who needed natural insect repellent. This is not natural but if you put out moth ball in the yard where children can't find them, they are great for mosquito. Or make a mixture of 1part baby powder, 1 part flower of sulfur(found at drug stores), 1 part cornstarch. Mix in a ziploc bag, sprinkle on the ground. Repels most bugs.

 

 

from HGTV
I am testing a preparation suggested by HGTV's Paul James. "Finely chop a dozen garlic cloves into 4 ounces of mineral oil. Soak for a day or 2, strain it and add 4 drops of dishwasher liquid. Dilute with half cup of water and pour into sprayer." I used a coffee filter to strain it (sort of messy) and it smells out loud. So far I have used it on two plants and it appears non-damaging. Incidentally, I planted garlic cloves next to each rose bush and that appears ot have repelled insects. That is a widely known practice, I gather. Incidentally, I use old soap and garden spray bottles with no harmful residue.

 

Catnip Concoction
Make your own by filling a quart jar with some herbs from the mint family - catnip, spearmint, pennyroyal and then cover with apple cider vinegar. Shake twice a day for 2 weeks. Strain and either rub on or spray on.

 

Lavender Oil

I just read about a pleasant solution, though, that worked for me last weekend in the mountains (lots of biting bugs, but they pretty much left me alone.) Use lavender oil, and dab it on your pulse points (I used it on my wrists, behind my ears, temples, behind my knees, and on my ankles). Smells wonderful, but apparently the insects don't think so.

 

Bug-Proof Your Yard
There are many insect repellents that contain 'pyrethum' which is actually a natural extract of the marigold plant. It is very safe for use around children and pets but it is quite expensive.
You may also want to regularly spray your plants and grass with a soap and water solution. This will have 3 effects: 1) it will dehydrate most bugs and kill them without chemicals, 2) it will help to keep your grass and plants clean of pollution and make them healthier and 3) it will soften your soil which mean you won't have to water as much.
Use a hose-end sprayer filled with 1 cup of any cheap dishwashing soap for your grass or 1 tablespoon of soap in a hand-held sprayer for your plants.

 

THE GREAT MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Mosquitoes are very sensitive to certain scents, Chamomile and Citriodora especially. Both are easy to grow and both are used in dry flower arrangements. Citriodora is also used in potpourri. To make The Great Mosquito Repellent, take one oz. of green leaves from both plants and boil in a gallon of water. Strain and place in the refrigerator. Before going outside, splash the mixture liberally over your face and exposed parts of your body. You will enjoy the fresh, citrus smell but the mosquitoes will stay far away.

 

TOBACCO DUST.

This dust is ideal for making a great natural pesticide. Mix 1/8 oz. of tobacco dust with one tablespoon of black pepper and one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Simply apply as you would a chemical pesticide. This dust is also very effective sprinkled around the base of plants.

 

Paint Sticks.
To repels bugs from your plants, Pick up paint sticks from your paint store. You can get them for free. Spray paint them florescent yellow. Then spray them with a spray adhesive. Put near all your plants. The bugs will be attracted to the color, they will fly or crawl on the sticks and get stuck!