There's news out that catnip can be as effective or more effective than DEET based mosquito repellent. I spent a month in a country (just before I turned 16) where you have to take anti-malarials if you're visiting from the west. They still recommend you use repellent.
One of my teammates got malaria from her time there so me soaking myself in DEET spray seems pretty rational in hindsight.
However, that stuff is nasty and I have permanent scarring on my body from DEET bubbling out of my skin.
So I never want to use DEET again.
I'm still well-beloved by mosquitoes nearly 30 years later and, thanks to climate change and a government perpetually disinterested in doing its job, I have more reason than ever to want to avoid mosquitoes.
So, the catnip news is potentially great news.
Trying to find a reasonable and affordable way to use that information is pretty terrible right now, though.
#catnip #DEET #mosquito #malaria
