[Looking at history and why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.]
Recent articles have covered a range of topics from drugs to education to ancient practices. They all fit together. We recently had a group out to the ranch. Since nature is an environment unfamiliar, significant trepidation invades many suburban and city dwellers, except for many kids.
What are common questions? Are there snakes? Unfortunately, the reptiles cursed to their belly are denizens of all areas with food without much disturbance, which describes nature and even neighborhoods. Their enmity with humans means they largely get out of the way. We very seldom see them. Keep where you can see them and enjoy the day.
Eliminate their food source and they will leave. Chickens are the best natural shoo-away. Chickens peck everything on the ground, including virtually all bugs. That eliminates food for frogs and mice which are food sources for the belly-winders.
Another question, are there ticks? Unfortunately, they thrive on warm human and animal, whether in town or in nature. Since they are not readily visible, but are more likely felt, that is a different problem. Like all vermin they carry risk, but it is seldom a dramatic problem. However, the media hype would have you believe otherwise.
How do you keep ticks under control in a yard in town with dogs next door? Hello, is this the exterminator?
The same applies in rural areas, except we do not.
Having observed our allergic reaction to most pesticides and herbicides, we have opted to go natural.
Diatomaceous earth is a very fine white powder from ground up diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is anathema to most insects, and very effective in your garden. Its other uses include water filtration as well as toothpaste.
Some plants are effective repellents including rosemary, garlic of course, lavender, and mint. Natural rue on the side of one hill is excellent. Chrysanthemums are the natural form of the insecticide permethrin. Common geraniums work. Marigolds add color, aroma, and exclude vermin.
What if you are hiking through the forest away from your garden? Since we avoid toxic chemicals, if possible, we looked at natural insect repellents. Being a research scientist, we developed a blend of three essential oils.
Clove, cedarwood, and orange in equal parts is a powerful insecticide, liquid soap, sanitizer, and antifungal spray. Dilute with water and coconut or castile soap adjuvant for different purposes.
These formulations are based on chemical compounding, biological analysis, and field testing. This is not a feel-good, woo-woo magic potion, but a scientifically derived formulation of better chemicals. Test a small quantity, before use. Be aware, this is a very potent serotonin stimulating compound.
What are the biological reasons the chemicals work against pests, with low risk to humans?
Orange has a monoterpene limonene, which dissolves the waxy coating on the insect exoskeleton, causing dehydration and asphyxiation. Limonene destroys the pheromone trail, so other insects cannot navigate a previous trail.
Cedar has sesquiterpenes to disrupt the octopamine neurotransmitter of invertebrates, which regulates heart rate, movement, and behavior. Mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians have little octopamine, but it functions for cell survival.
Clove has a strong phenol called eugenol which kills parasites. The compound is similar to the original Lysol formula. Clove is one of strongest antioxidants, so the oil also reduces deterioration.
The oils are orders of magnitude safer than synthetic petroleum-based substitutes.
Having worked in the petrochemical industry as a scientist for a long lifetime, to my recollection all petroleum distillates are toxic. The crude-oil raw-material is not an environmental toxin. First, as a matter of principle, crude oil is a benign cleanser allowing no microbes to exist, think petroleum jelly only better.
Second, as a fuel, nothing is simpler, cleaner than natural gas (methane, CH4). Nothing. Burning CH4 means adding oxygen. The products are pure water and carbon dioxide. Trees convert the carbon dioxide back to fresh oxygen and carbon for structure. The carbon combines with hydrogen to make hydrocarbons, like petroleum. It is a self-cleaning process. Isn’t nature grand?
What is so difficult about that? The science is simple. Less population concentration and more green resolves a multitude of problems.
Third, however, the fractionalization of petroleum does create hazardous chemicals. That fractionalization is the basis of plastics, synthetic fabrics, and most medicines. “Ultimately, most drugs are organic molecules made using petrochemical polymer.” Oops.
Essential oils are safe in moderation, although individual components, if isolated, and in large quantities may pose limited risks. But as a synergistic compound of nature, think similar to fruit juice or tea.
Now the standard caveats. Understand plants and their effect in your environment, your animals, and you.
Essential oils are a powerful, complex recipe from plants. Available published documents we have researched show no serious or fatal poisonings as a result from normal use of essential oils. These are our experiences and are not medical advice. Be aware of their effects on you.
Think about your perception of Grandmothers’ and Native American practice of using natural plant sources for all biological and chemical needs? Was it effective? Absolutely. Why did society abandon a simple, scientifically valid, inexpensive, generally-regarded-as-safe (GRAS) treatment for disease, discomfort, vermin, preventatives, and cleansing? Grandma was right after all. To your good health.
Send us your histories, stories, and traditions including memories or twists. We would like to bring them along. (Excerpts from our book, “The Science and Theology of Essential Oils.”)