People who have neem tree in abundance hardly know they can use neem as mosquito repellent.
The neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is an amazing medicinal plant. It symbolises the wonders or nature.
Basically, every part of the neem tree has been extensively used as traditional medicine for household remedy against various human ailments.
In India, for instance, people refer to neem as the “village pharmacy”. This is because it plays a key role in Ayurvedic medicine and agriculture.
If you live in Africa and you are regularly treating malaria, neem is one plant to look to.
We know you may not like to drink the water after boiling the leaf for malaria treatment.
So, we have a different way of using it to keep malaria away.
Interestingly, neem does not leave toxins that your body will begin to fight after using it as mosquito repellent.
Neem As Mosquito Repellent
How does neem work as mosquito repellent?
Indeed, different studies have amazing reports on the effectiveness of neem as mosquito repellent.
A study says “neem oil, derived from neem seeds has been proved to be an excellent candidate against a wide range of vectors of medical and veterinary importance including mosquitoes” (1).
Another study evaluated the repellent action of neem oil against different mosquito species.
Researchers used 2% neem oil mixed in coconut oil. At the end of the study, they reported that this per cent provided 96-100% protection from anophelines.
Also, it offered 85% from Aedes, 37.5% from Armigeres whereas it showed wide range of efficacy from 61-94% against Culex spp (2).
Anopheles mosquitos are the ones that inflict the burden of malaria on people in Nigeria and Africa.
Due to the efficacy of neem as mosquito repellent, the researches say you can apply neem oil as a personal protection measure against mosquito bites.
Most importantly, neem is also environment-friendly, and target-specific at the same time.
A study says the The active ingredients of neem oil include limonoids like azadirachtin A, nimbin, salannin and numerous other substances that are still waiting to be discovered (3).
Again the study says that when added to natural breeding habitat waters Neem exerts mosquitocidal effects.
This it does by acting as ovicides, larvicides, pupicides and/or oviposition repellents.
Neem impairs the physiological pathways of the immature stages of mosquitoes or directly by causing physical deformities that impede their development (4).
How To Prepare
All you need to do is get neem powder (seed or leaf) and get your oil base, preferably coconut oil.
Add the powder in the oil and allow some days to enable it infuse effectively.
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Afterwards, take out some of the oil and add in a small container where you can take it each time.
Apply few drops in your palm and rub it on your skin, especially the areas that could get exposed to mosquito bite.
You can use it any time of the day.
Interestingly, the neem oil will not just repel mosquitos, but also offer your skin some benefits.
According to a study, neem oil could treat acne, fungal infections, warts, or moles.
Research shows that the phytochemical compounds in neem may help fight skin infections, promote wound healing, and combat signs of skin aging (5) (6).
It is important to note that neem often does not have a pleasant odour.
You see, you get a double effect from neem oil when you apply it on your skin.