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| Structural Formula for DEET |
“The EPA says that if used as directed, bug sprays containing DEET are not harmful to us, although long-term exposure is. When you spray it on your skin, it gets absorbed and eventually enters the bloodstream. It pumps through your nervous system and has been proven to kill brain cells, causing neurological damage. If you have heavy exposure to DEET, you may experience memory loss, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and shortness of breath.”
“DEET could be considered a poison, but the EPA feels that small doses are OK for us.” – uh really?
I read stuff like this and think, you’ve got to be kidding me. Help me to understand why on this earth I would expose my children to Deet or anyone for that matter.
Let’s take a page from history, before consumerism and a chemically charged world started replacing what worked and didn’t alter our DNA in the process.
Make your own bug spray recipe
I’ve tested this on our family along with our neighbor who gardens and really gets eaten up if she’s not wearing anything and it works great. The only difference is that I have to be mindful and reapply about every 3 – 4 hours (oh yeah, and it doesn't cause brain cell death).
I used the 50/50 witch hazel distilled h2o combo along with Citronella (about 30 drops), Cinnamon (about 10 drops), Lavender (about 20 drops), Peppermint (about 5 drops) and a good teaspoon of Jojoba Oil. Whole Foods sells 8oz bottles and spray tops along with the oils which I’m sure you can find at a coop too.
Now, go smell good and repel some bugs while keeping a healthy neurological system! :)
