At the Kandanga Farm Store we don’t see weeds, just plants, and we consider them allies not foes. Plants cover soil surface, protecting it. They photosynthesise, converting energy from the sun to food for soil life and soil life underpins all life. Plants provide habitat and a food source. Through a complex synergy they contribute to ecosystems where diversity and abundance are achieved through the constant jostle of complex interactions. Plant and animal relationships are continually evolving. Plants contribute to the small water cycle increasing moisture at soil level. And, plants, especially the wild ones, can have medicinal benefits.
Heidi Merika is a local herbalist, naturopath and author. She has spent her career researching the properties and benefits of plants.
Here is a recipe, taken with permission from Heidi’s new book ‘From the Wild’.
Natural Insect Repellent
Ingredients
Lantana Lantana camara
Lantana Spp have traditionally been used in Africa as a mosquito repellant.[i]
Extracts from the leaves of L.camara were tested and found to possess antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal and nematicidal activity according to geographic origin of the plants.[ii]
A South African study on cattle ticks found a 40% concentration of L. camara to have a 57% efficacy rate against cattle ticks. [iii]
Blue top Ageratum conyzoides
Blue top is used for fevers, tick and insect bites. Crushing the leaves and rubbing on the bite helps rapidly reduces pain and swelling.
Fleabane Conyza canadensis
Fleabane has demonstrated some insecticidal activity against insects. [iv]
Lemon Eucalyptus Eucalyptus citriodora or Corymbia citriodora
This is the only essential oil that has consistently passed scientific tests for its ability to ward off mosquitos for any length of time. Protection at 30% is said to last up to 7 hours whereas citronella only showed ½ an hour protection. [v]
Ingredients
½ cup Fresh or ¼ cup dried of the following herbs
Lantana
Blue Top
Fleabane
30mls Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil
1 cup of water
Method
- Make a strong infusion of the herbs by steeping for 6-8 hours
- Add Eucalyptus essential oil
- Store in a glass bottle with a spay top
- Label and store safely in a dark cupboard
To Use
Spray onto bare skin. Avoid eyes or inhaling
Heidi has suggested that to make this recipe suitable for livestock use, omit the lemon eucalyptus oil and you’ll naturally need to increase the quantities. Thankfully lantana, fleabane and blue top are pretty abundant. Thank you, Mother Nature, for these gifts.
Heidi’s books ‘Wildcraft’ and ‘From The Wild’ available at The Farm Store
Sources:
[i] 12. Pavela R, Benelli G. Ethnobotanical knowledge on botanical repellents employed in the African region against mosquito vectors – A review. Exp Parasitol. 2016;167:103-108. doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2016.05.010.
[ii] S. Murugesan et al (2016) Chemical constituents and toxicity assessment of the leaf oil of Lantana camara Linn from Tamilnadu regions, Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2016, 6(3):32-42
[iii] Moyo B, et al. An in-vivo study of the efficacy and safety of ethno-veterinary remedies used to control cattle ticks by rural farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009;41(7):1569-1576. doi:10.1007/s11250-009-9348-1.
[iv]CABI Invasive species compendium Conyza canadensis (Canadian fleabane) https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/15251 accessed 4.11.18
[v] Treehugger CDC lists oil of lemon eucalyptus as comparable to DEET for mosquitoeshttps://www.treehugger.com/health/using-oil-lemon-eucalyptus-instead-deet-mosquitoes.html
