Contents:
- Medical Video: THIS Essential Oil Is More Effective Than DEET For Repelling Insects!
- Benefits of citronella oil in anti-mosquito lotion
- But, is it really effective?
- How to use citronella oil is recommended to repel mosquitoes
Medical Video: THIS Essential Oil Is More Effective Than DEET For Repelling Insects!
One of the benefits of citronella oil that is very well known is that it is a natural ingredient in the anti-mosquito lotion on the market. What is actually contained in citronella oil, which is believed to be able to repel and prevent mosquito bites?
Benefits of citronella oil in anti-mosquito lotion
Basically, anti-mosquito lotions and aerosol spray versions containing diethyltoluamide (DEET) work by blocking the mosquito's olfactory sensor. But it's no secret that these chemicals have a toxic effect on the human body.
In theory, the benefits of lemongrass oil are similar to DEET in inhibiting the mosquito's olfactory sensor. Lemongrass oil works to cover scents that are attractive to insects, namely carbon dioxide and lactic acid in the human body.
Lemongrass oil is favored as a safer alternative to generic insect repellents, because it contains natural active ingredients that can counteract the effects of free radicals so they do not harm your body.
But, is it really effective?
It is believed that citronella oil can fight mosquitoes Aedes aegepti, which is a mosquito that causes dengue fever. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Citronella oil is actually not very effective in repelling mosquitoes.
This objection was reported by a study published in the Journal of Insect Science, reported by Science Magazine. This study tested the effectiveness of 11 types of mosquito repellent products (bracelets, lotions, spray, aromatherapy candles) in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - which carry the Zika virus, yellow fever, dengue fever, and other diseases.
The team asked a participant to sit at one end of the tunnel which is located as a porch as "bait", while scientists measured how many mosquitoes moved towards the target, depending on the type of mosquito repellent used
As a result, most of these mosquito repellent products do not fulfill claims on their labels. At a distance of 1 meter, DEET lotion and mosquito spray containing lemon eucalyptus reduce the attractiveness of mosquitoes by only 60 percent. The rest of the other products, including aromatherapy candles that contain citronella oil have a weak repellent effect, not even better than not using protection at all. The only anti-mosquito product that works effectively is a clip fan containing metoflutrin insecticide.
Research says that how to mix citronella oil is important to determine how effective an anti-mosquito product is. If the lemongrass oil product is formulated correctly, it will be as effective as DEET lotion and can protect you for up to two hours. If the formula is incorrect, citronella oil can evaporate quickly and make you even unprotected.
How to use citronella oil is recommended to repel mosquitoes
To use citronella oil to repel mosquitoes, apply this essential oil once every 30-60 minutes if you want the effect to last longer. You can also combine lemongrass oil with a few drops of coconut oil or soybean oil and rub it on your body like using lotion. You can also put the lemongrass oil in a bottle and add it to the water then spray it onto your skin, hair, or even your clothes.
Combination geranium oil and vanilla extract are reported to have a protective effect of up to 7 hours against mosquitoes Aedes aegepti. Whereas oil from leaves mint and thyme considered effective for fighting mosquitoes Anopheles and Culex which is a cause of malaria and filariasis. Using pure citronella oil directly to your body is believed to have a more effective effect than citronella oil scented candles.
