Did you know that mint plants repel mosquitoes? The leaves have a mild and generally soothing smell, so you can use the plant to help keep bugs at bay. It can also be crushed to produce essential oil, which you can then apply directly to the skin. You can also crush the plant’s stems and flowers to make a spray that you can use to yourself or your children.
What is Mint?
Mint is a perennial herb that grows in many parts of the world. It’s very popular, and has been used as a cooking ingredient for thousands of years. Mint plants are easy to grow from cuttings or seeds, but if you decide to purchase Mint at a nursery or garden center, choose varieties that have been treated with an insecticide called “Pyrethrum” which kills all insects, including mosquitoes. In addition to its uses in food and drink, Mint has many other functions outside the kitchen—you may have heard that it’s good for repelling bugs or keeping your breath fresh!
A 2013 study published in the journal Insect Science describes how scientists tested Mint in the field and found that it reduced damage from whiteflies by up to 76% over 13 days.
How do you make mint spray from mint leaves?
If you have extra mint growing in your garden, you may want to try making a mint spray out of your plant’s leaves. This spray will help keep bugs away from your plants and be used as an insect repellent for humans. The mint-based insect repellent is safe for children.
Here’s how to make your own mint-based insect repellent spray:
Materials
-Mint leaves (fresh or dried)
-Water (filtered or distilled)
-Container for mixing (plastic jar with lid)
1. Start by picking some fresh mint leaves from your garden. If you don’t have any flowers growing yet, pick some from a friend or neighbor who does have them blooming!
2. You’ll need about 20-30 leaves per cup of water, depending on how strong you want the flavor of your spray to be (the stronger it is, the less water you’ll need). More than 30 leaves per cup will make it bitter tasting though, so keep that in mind when deciding on how many to use!
3. Fill up one-gallon mason jars with water until they’re half full or so (you can add more later if needed) then place all.
What is the Alternative of Mint
Peppermint and lavender are great alternatives for bug repellents. The scent of both will leave you wanting to spend more time outdoors. The leaves and stems of these plants repel mosquitoes for 45 minutes, and the menthol they release will kill off the pests in your yard. Both types are natural, so you don’t have to deal with chemicals that can harm your plants. The dried versions of these herbs will keep bugs from bothering you while you’re gardening.
The lemongrass as mosquito repellent plant
Lemongrass is another mosquito repellent plant. It is a common ingredient in many natural insect repellents. Lemongrass oil is often used to deter mosquitoes and other biting insects. You can also use lemongrass as an insect repellent by rubbing it into your skin or adding it to a spray bottle with water. Lemongrass essential oil is also an effective mosquito repellent when used alone or with other essential oils.
Other Health Benefits of Mint
Mint was originally used by the ancient Greeks to keep food fresh, but now it’s also known as one of nature’s best insect repellents. Besides, there are lots of health benefits related to Mint. such as
- Mint is good for the digestive system. The fragrant scent of Mint can relieve nausea, motion sickness and digestive problems.
- Mint is good for your skin. A mixture of water and mint leaves can be used as a cooling face wash or toner to reduce acne and redness. Rubbing crushed fresh mint leaves on your feet will help relieve tired muscles after a long day at work!
- Mint makes delicious drinks! Add some mint leaves to your favorite smoothie recipe or make an aromatic iced tea with spearmint, peppermint or pineapple Mint.
Mint plants are awesome. Mint plants make a great addition to your garden because they don’t need much water or attention.
This perennial herb can be grown in your own garden or even on the windowsill. It is known for its strong scent and flavor. The strong scent of mint can help keep pests away from your plants and property.In addition to being a natural insect repellent, mint may also have other benefits for your health
The most effective mosquito repellents are DEET and picaridin. DEET works by disrupting the chemical receptors on mosquitoes’ antennae, which makes it hard for them to find you. Picaridin works in a similar way, though it uses a different mechanism than DEET.
Mint contains menthol, which can also repel mosquitoes. The oil in mint acts as a deterrent by interfering with their sense of smell and taste—they don’t like the way they taste or smell when they land on you!
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