• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Catnip may help ward off West Nile Virus

Catnip may help ward off West Nile Virus

April 28, 2003 By admin

Some common garden plants could be the answer to warding off the West Nile virus. Researchers at Iowa State University found oil from catnip to be a successful repellent to the mosquitoes that caused yellow fever, and new research shows it also works against the biting insects that spread the West Nile Virus. Iowa State entomologist Joel Coats has been studying the catnip oil and says it could provide an alternative to DEET, the most common chemical used in commercial repellents. He says the safety record has been good, but regulatory agencies have been encouraging the use of lower does, especially on children.Coats says it appears the catnip repellent lasts about two hours, less than what DEET offers. He says it would be a rare alternative. He says there are a few other natural repellents on the market with limited success, mostly plant oils like the catnip. The I-S-U Research Foundation owns the rights to the catnip research and is seeking to acquire approval to sell the catnip repellent.He says the E-P-A approval process takes about a year to complete. If you’re thinking that planting catnip around your home might help, think again. He says most of the oil is “locked into” the leaves and stalk of the plant, so he says it wouldn’t do much good simply as a plant. Plus, Coats warns that pure catnip oil is too strong to put directly on skin. Catnip may not be the only plant to help repel mosquitoes and West Nile. Coats says they’re looking into the use of hedge apples too. He says they’re examining the chemicals in the hedge apples and are finding some good potent possibilities. He says the hedge apple repellents will still require a lot of research.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine Tagged With: Iowa State University

Featured Stories

ISU research finds health benefits for chickens watching virtual reality

Fish kill at Storm Lake linked to virus that impacts only carp

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Grinnell College football looks for more progress in rebuild

Iowa State’s Brock eyes expanded role

Iowa’s Jones adjusting to move to center

Iowa unranked to open the season

UNI’s Spencer Cuvelier bounces back from injury

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC