It is all well and good to espouse herbal theory and to wax esoteric on the balance of nature. The true test of one’s commitment to the higher good of the universe over personal gain is not necessarily when it affects one’s bottom line; the true test comes when nature meanders willy-nilly across one’s threshold or pokes an antennaed head through a crack in one’s sacred domain.
There’s something about the sight of a bug that tends to make us scream "War!" Suddenly, the most extreme weapons seem feasible. This is, no doubt, the response that profits the pesticide biz. It also might be the very same impulse that funds our defense budget.
Pause. Count, at least to ten. Enumerate the ways in which your life reflects a respect for the earth. Then jump on your bike and pedal over to the health food store to stock up on essential oils and dried herbs. Swing by the garden center on your way home to pick up some potted plants as well. You can beat bugs without violence to the planet. Here’s how.
For general pest prevention, the mint family takes high honors. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) repels ants, mice, flies, lice and moths. Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium or Hedeoma pulegioides) wards off fleas, ants, gnats, lice, mosquitoes, ticks and moths. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is also effective against many of the same pests. Between them they form a good first line of defense against almost any nuisance. Mint may be grown near a doorway or window in an attempt to secure your abode from without. Because the mints can be invasive, you may want to grow them in a pot rather than in the ground, lest you have another nuisance on your hands. The mints are quite adaptable in their site requirements. Tolerant of sun or shade, you may even be able to coax them to grow on your screened porch. They prefer more moisture to less, so use a large enough pot to keep them happy.
Mint leaves can be used as a barrier to discourage all manner of multi-legged marauders. Chop the leaves to release their oils, then scatter them in doorways, on window sills and around any cracks or crevices that are suspected of serving as entryways. Try tucking bags of peppermint tea into the corners of cupboards. A drop or two of spearmint, peppermint or pennyroyal essential oil on a fabric square could be used similarly. The same essential oils can be used in wash water to wipe counters, shelves and floors. Ants seem to have an affinity for water, so you may want to apply a few drops of the oils to pipes where moisture collects. While the scent of mint is not unpleasant, it is strong, so use the oils sparingly at first and increase as necessary.
Pennyroyal is not hardy in the Chicago area, so overgrowth is not much of a concern. And fresh pennyroyal leaves offer vigorous protection. They may be rubbed on skin to ward off stings of all sorts. Be aware, however, that it is a very potent herb. Apply carefully to the face, avoiding lips, the entire eye area, and skin close to the nostrils. The stems of pennyroyal can be hard to bundle, so try setting out small dishes of pennyroyal to repel mosquitoes on porches or decks. Pennyroyal essential oil should be used with caution. It is toxic.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum), especially bush basil, is particularly effective in discouraging flies. Folklore holds that the culinary marriage of basil and tomatoes was inadvertently arranged by Italian cooks who used basil leaves to protect their freshly sliced tomatoes. Growing basil plants near the door facilitates harvesting, allows you to enjoy its pungent aroma and deters flies from entering your house or joining your outdoor dining experiences.
Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) essential oil is an old stand-by for keeping mosquitoes at bay. A few drops can be added to the melting wax of candles to permeate the air around outdoor activities. Aura Cacia suggests that the scent can be tempered, if desired, with another citrus oil, rose (Rosa centifolia or R. damascena) or lavender (Lavendula latifolia or L. intermedia) oil. Try misting liberally with Aura Cacia’s Outdoor Spray. Combine three drops of citronella, three drops lemon (Citrus limon), two drops rose otto (Rosa damascena), two drops lavender and two drops basil essential oils with two ounces of distilled water. Remember to shake thoroughly before spraying. Fewer insects around the entrance means fewer insects in the house.
A few drops of essential oil may be applied to the hems of curtains that will waft in the breeze. In addition to mints, basil, and citronella — cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), lavender, rue (Ruta graveolens), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oils are effective in deterring a wide variety of insects. (Rue should not be allowed to touch the skin, as it can be a severe irritant.) Valerie Worwood recommends dotting strips of paper or cotton ribbons with essential oils and hanging them in front of open windows. Bundles of herbs hung in strategic places can do more than add a touch of homespun charm. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) are particularly effective, though other varieties of Artemisia can also be beneficial. A bay leaf laid at the top of of each container of grain stored in your kitchen (inside the container) will protect against invasions of weevils.
Although we would like to think of moth-eaten as an adjective that appears only in mystery novels set in old England, the present passion for natural fabrics, combined with pesticide tolerance and less methodical household cleaning practices, are bringing the term back into current use. Clothing moths flourish in dark, damp conditions, where they feast on natural fabrics. Sweat and stains are delicious condiments. Old-fashioned habits such as airing seasonal clothes outside, making sure that clothes are clean before storing, and beating area rugs outdoors in the sunlight are all ways to deter clothing moths.
But herbs can help in this, as well. Lining drawers with scented liners and packing clothes with herbal sachets helps to discourage moths from finding a home among your belongings. Camphor basil (Ocimum kilimand-scharimum), cedar shavings, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), lavender, pennyroyal, painted daisies (Chrysaemum coccineum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus), tansy, and wormwood all provide suitable plant material for moth-be-gone sachets. Essential oils such as hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), lavender, lemongrass and rosemary may be added to the final rinse when washing clothes.
Aura Cacia recommends vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) essential oil to protect clothes in seasonal storage. You can, for example, soak blotting paper in vetiver oil and place it in closets, drawers, and chests.And indeed, vetiver has historically been used for such purposes. Russian furriers sewed vetiver sachets into their coats. Blades of vetiver grass were woven into mats and screens in India, the plant’s native habitat.
As you struggle to keep your house pest-free and to keep your quest in perspective, abandon your thoughts of war. Think, instead, about negotiating boundaries and fostering peace talks — communicating all the while via scent.
DISCLAIMER: Choosing a holistic approach to medicine means choosing personal responsibility for your health care. Herbs for Health offers a doorway through which to enter the realm of herbal healing, an invitation to further investigation on the part of the reader. It is in no way intended as a substitute for advice from a health care practitioner.