Together these plants make a powerful mosquito (and other insect) repellent. If you are woking outside or just sitting on your patio, pick a sprig of each of the following, chop or tear them up into small pieces, mix them together, and place in a container where you are going to be sitting. You will not see or be bothered by mosquitoes. You can also mix them up take a few pinches of the mixture and rub it on the exposed area, or make a tea of them and spray on yours. The scent of these mixed together is just wonderful. The repellant includes the following plants.
1. Catnip (not catmint). This herb has so many uses including as a wonderful tea for we humans - which settles our tummies and nerves. But it is also ten times more powerful than DEET when it comes to making mosquitoes avoid you. Of course you really should grow this plant in pots so that it does not spread all over your yard, as it is invasive in most climates. . . . . . 25 Seeds
2. Tulsi - Krishna or Vana - This is also an herb that is great as a tea for us with many medicinal properties (see the Tulsi - Krishna or Vana page). It is also very useful as a mosquito repellent. It has reduced the occurrence of malaria in the Far East and parts of Africa where malaria is a real difficulty to control as older meds no long work. . . . . . 25 Seeds
3. Mint - Peppermint - Mentha piperita - True Mint - Peppermint, extract, and tea from dried leaves, has shown, in different studies, to have strong antiviral activity against Newcastle disease (NDV), herpes simplex. It contains a tannin with an affinity for NDV and mumps virus and a non-tannin fraction with antiviral effects. It is one of the most widely consumed single ingredient herbal teas, or medicinal teas. Is so very effective in aiding digestion, and helping with GERD. . . . . . 50 Seeds
4. Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) This plant (along with the Tulsi) will perfume the air (towards dusk) with the most beautiful perfume. The flower heads are used to make beautiful wreathes. It is also a repellent of deer. So far in my gardens it is working well at keeping the deer away from my apple trees. . . . . . 50 Seeds
5. Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) What a wonderful lemon scent this plant has. It is also fabulous when cooking certain Asian dishes. It will need full sun and good drainage. It is an annual but the seed packet will explain how and when you harvest it for a cooking herb, and how you can save the seeds. . . . . . 30 Seeds
