Catnip Oil Promising as Organic Insect Repellent
Future Uses for Catnip Could Include Natural Termite Control
Sep 22, 2009
Natural catnip has a long history of driving cats wild. But most people aren't aware that catnip oil has some promise as a safe insect repellent. The secret ingredient is nepetalactone, the same substance that causes wacky behavior in kitties.
Catnip Mosquito Repellent?
This isn't so crazy as it sounds. There's more than one organic insect repellent on the market that contains catnip essential oil. One popular product, BUGz Be Gone, is claimed to be effective against ticks, chiggers, gnats, and blackflies.
Catnip oil by itself isn't a very effective mosquito repellent. But in combination with various other essential oils, including eucalyptus, citronella, rosemary, cedar, geranium, lemongrass, or peppermint, it seems to work quite well. With the recent controversy over the safety of deet, a common ingredient in many insect-repelling formulations, there will undoubtedly be more interest in finding a deet-free insect repellent made from natural products.
Some cat owners probably would like to know if one of these formulations would be effective in getting rid of fleas, and keeping ticks off felines. Tick carry cytauxzoonosis, also known as bobcat fever, a disease that's deadly to felines. Unfortuntately, cats and essential oils are not a good combination, as these oils are toxic to kitties.
Perhaps in the future, a form of nepetalactone will be developed that would be safe to use on cats to repel ticks. It would be interesting to find that catnip, which has been used for centuries to amuse felines, could contain a substance that may help to prevent a disease that kills them.
Natural Termite Control
Termites are the bane of many a homeowner's existence, causing around $300 million a year in damage to homes. Up until now, the only way to keep these destructive pests at bay was to spray poisonous insecticides around the outside of the home.
Back in 2003, researchers tested sand treated with catnip oil. The oil not only stopped termites from burrowing through the sand, but actually killed them, when concentrations of it were high enough. However, the problem is that catnip oil breaks down quickly in the environment, usually within a couple of weeks. Conventional termite-control treatment can last up to five years. Hopefully scientists will find a way to make the effects of the catnip oil last longer.
Right now, catnip oil isn't really feasible as a natural termite control. However, the possibility exists that further research may yield a termite-control product that's both safe for the environment, and long-lasting as well.
Using Catnip Essential Oil Safely
Is it possible to make an herbal insect repellent at home? It certainly is.
A combination of catnip oil, along with one or more of essential oils of eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, cedar, geranium, or rosemary, as mentioned above, would be quite effective. However, remember that undiluted essential oils cause skin irritation, so never use them without diluting them in a carrier oil. Soybean oil has been found to be an effective natural insect repellent, so it would make a great base.
It doesn't take a lot of essential oil to repel bugs. Most commercial products use a two to four percent concentration of herbal oils, so when making natural insect repellent at home, start by adding just a few drops of essential oil to the carrier oil. Remember to reapply the homemade mosquito repellent every hour or two to keep the bugs at bay. Keep in mind that essential oils are toxic to cats, so never use any products containing these oils on felines.
Natural catnip isn't just for kitties any more. This herb, much beloved by cats and their owners, may have new uses in the not-so-distant future.
Sources:
 |
 |
 |
