Natural Insect Repellent

During the beginning of the summer, the mosquitos are out in abundance. It’s always a good idea to have insect repellent with you, but sometimes you forget. (Side note: if you’re using DEET, there’s really no reason to use more than 20-30% DEET as the higher percentage does not actually provide MORE protection, just longer protection. That’s enough for all day protection. If you only want a couple of hours, 7-10% is sufficient). So what’s a hiker to do? I have gathered up some plants that you’ll most likely find somewhere on your hike to help you out. A fair warning: you will have to use the applications more often than a lot of commercial products. So here are 8 Alaskan plants you’ll want to use as a natural insect repellent.

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Elderberry leaves.

The leaves of elderberry are famous for smelling bad. They’re bad enough to repel mosquitoes. If you’re hiking and you forgot your bug spray, you can place a sprig behind your ear. If you want it to smell better, you can put something nice smelling like yarrow or sweet gale next to it.

Bonus: infuse the leaves into water and spray on leaves to repel aphids. Be sure to wash the leaves if you spray on food to make sure that you don’t ingest any of the hydrocyanic acid. It’s the same with any pesticide – natural or not. Wash your food before eating.

Plantain

Plantain rubbed on the skin can be a moderately effective mosquito repellent. However, I prefer to use it after the effect as a spit poultice is extremely effective for curing the itching that happens afterwards.

Wormwood

Wormwood is also known as stinkweed. This is my go to for repelling mosquitoes if I forget my bug spray while hiking. I take the leaves, crush and rub them between my hands to get the juices coming out. Then I rub the juices over all of my exposed skin to keep those pesky bugs away. This seems to last at least an hour. 

Sweet Gale

Like wormwood, you can crush the leaves and rub the juices all over exposed skin. However, it lasts only 15 minutes or so.

Shepherd’s Purse seeds

I really need to buy some of the seeds and see if it affects the mosquito population around my house. Shepherd’s Purse seeds are said to kill mosquito larvae!

Pineapple weed

This is actually a nice smelling one! Rub the pineapple weed on exposed skin to also repel those pesky pests!

Onions

You can crush the onion, chives, or bulbs on your skin to repel those pesky mosquitoes.

Yarrow

Rub your skin and your clothing with yarrow and it will help keep insects away. Burn some in a fire while camping and it the area will be free of mosquitoes.

Thank you for reading! Now you know how to stave off any mosquitoes if you find yourself without bug spray with natural insect repellent plants!