Wilderness Way

Posted on Usenets by Glen Monaghan

Regarding the recent discussion about insect repellents, Vol 2 Issue 3 of Wilderness Way has an article about natural pest control.

• Mentioned the usual Vitamin B, eating lots of greens such as lambs-quarters, dandelion, and sunflower. Eat garlic and onion, domestic and wild for "allicin and related components." However, it is noted that diet alone almost requires total immersion to be effective. Hence, make use of natural plant chemical warfare.
• Strong plant odors usually are for attracting pollinators or repelling predators, or both. Just have to find the right one(s). Mint family, especially American Pennyroyal and Citronelle, leaves can be crushed and rubbed on skin/clothing for some of "strongest repellents in nature." Also drink as strong tea (except don't drink Pennyroyal tea, which causes liver damage) or use as a wash.
• Eucalyptus good too, if available.
• Feverfew contains Pyrethrum compound. Dried tops are used to make a wash that is a powerful insecticide vice repellent.
• Wash from bloodroot roots said to be especially effective against flies and mosquitoes, but is toxic and requires care. Goldenseal/bear grease/elderberry root salve also said to be effective. Cooled wash of mayapple leaves that have been crushed and boiled. All these may stain clothing and should not be ingested.
• Mentions that ring worm (a fungus) can be treated with wash made from outer hulls of black walnuts. Also use it on other fungi like athlete's foot. Definitely stains.
• Osage orange fruit placed around an area repels pests, particularly roaches. Don't eat the fruit.
• Transplant Sweet Flat (Acorus Calamus), an aromatic cattail look-alike, around mosquito breeding grounds.

Has references to An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Dover Pub, by Britton and Brown; Natural Insect Repellents for Pets, People and Plants, The Herb Bar, by Grainger and Moore; Little Medicine: the Wisdom to avoid Big Medicine, Media Methods, by Meuninck; and Stalking the Good Life, David McKay Co, by Gibbons.