Using actual fresh herbs for the Ageless Apothecary Outdoors collection was an exciting and fulfilling experience. After two other attempts, I finally found the right combination to come up with an Herbal Bug Repellant that works. Visits to the Alaskan bush in the summer means mosquitos and biting flies. Whether you want to avoid them or deal with the bites, having a remedy is a must. It does not matter what time of the day (since daylight is 24/7) the pesky insects will find you and the go to for everyone is DEET (chemical name, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many repellent products. Although deemed as safe, it is still synthetic chemical designed to making it difficult for disease carrying insects to smell us (Epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet)
Since DEET was deemed as safe back in 1998 and again in a 2014 review, why would anyone bother doing the research for an alternative? Well per our mission, we want to harness what nature provides and combine traditional techniques and modern herbalism knowledge to provide all-natural handcrafted products and ingredients to limit, adapt, or avoid synthetic chemical exposure. A great way to limit synthetic chemical exposure is to find an alternative made from herbs!
I took both the Herbal defense Insect Repellent and the Herbal Relief Anti-itch cream. The Alaskan bush last month when we went up there to mine for gold off the grid. Alaska is known for the crazy mosquitos in the Tundra summers and the previous two years I had tried (unsuccessfully) to create an all-natural herbal repellent. This year was different. Combined with the herbal know how and knowledge I am obtaining from my studies in courses and my determination, I decided to make a repellent infused with real herbs! I gave both the bug repellent and anti-itch to others who camped in the bush with us (10 days) and received all positive feedback that they really worked! I also, of course, used them and can attest.
Look into the Ageless Apothecary Outdoor Collection which includes insect repellent and an anti-itch topical cream to relive the sting and itch of the ‘ones that got away”. Both products are made fresh from real herbs with no harsh synthetic chemicals and have a pleasant aroma which connects you to nature. It’s all about the blending and combining the best plants to create a balanced, natural alternative to synthetic chemicals
Some of the active plants for Herbal Defense Insect Repellent Include: *
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) – This weed has many skin uses, but did you know mosquitos hate this plant? It comes from the large genus of Artemisia which has approximately 180 species and is a member of the of Asteraceae family. Artemisia is derived from Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild creatures and the hunt. In the Middle Ages, it was known as the “mother of all herbs”. It has been used in traditional Chinese, Hindu, and European medicines as it has antioxidant, hepatoprotective (liver protection) properties and works as a muscle relaxer and helps block the detection of a painful or injurious stimulus by sensory neurons. It contains insect repellents compounds of monoterpenoids and was used in history to treat malaria.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – Thyme is used in tincture form in Herbal Defense Insect Repellent and Laboratory studies have shown that topical applications of of thyme can provide 89.0–97.3% protection against the common house mosquito for up to 82 minutes. (medicalnewstoday.com)
Himalayan Cedarwood (Cedrus deodara) – This wonderful scent is pleasing to us but not to bugs. It is believed to be the first ever essential oil to be extracted and used for its many benefits. The aroma is a woody and spicy one and it also is helpful to reduce anxiety. Therapeutic grade essential oil is used in Ageless Apothecary’s Herbal Defense Bug Repellent.
Active Plants for Herbal Relief Anti-Itch Cream Include: *
St, John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) – This Anti-inflammatory plant has two chemicals that play a role in how St. John’s Wort is effective in relieving itchiness. Hypericin and Hyperforin may affect the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Applying hypericum on the skin can help treat skin injuries, irritations, and first-degree burns. (urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia). Ageless Apothecary Herbal Relief Anti-Itch contains real organic St. John’s Wort flowers infused in grapeseed oil for better skin absorption.
Astragalus Root (Astragalus membranaceus) – This root has been used for medicine by the Chinese for centuries. It has topical benefits to the skin as it promotes blood flow improvement and speeds up wound healing. Benefits include itch relief, stop oozing and peeling of skin, skin lightener, and has anti-fungal and anti-septic effects. Ageless Apothecary’s Herbal Relief Anti-Itch remedy infused dried astragalus root with cold pressed coconut and grapeseed oil.
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) – Organic whole cloves not only spice up chai it also has many benefits in medicine and for the skin. Clove contains a chemical called eugenol that may help to decrease pain and fight infections and is used in some toothpaste and some topical toothache remedies. Current studies also suggest that clove oil may relieve itchy rashes.
*Any medical information on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Reference
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021, February 12). DEET. In epa.gov. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet
Poulson MDA RDN CD CDE, B., & Horowitz MD, D. (2021). Health Encyclopedia- St. John's Wort. In University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY.
What are the best natural mosquito repellents? (2021). In Medicalnewstoday.com. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325337