Quotes about Deet from the world's top natural health / natural living authors
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| "According to the British medical journal Lancet, exposure to deet has been reported to cause brain disorders, slurred speech, difficulty walking, tremors, and even death. Consumer Reports has documented at least a dozen cases of acute neurotoxicity in children who had been exposed to or accidentally swallowed DEET; some of the children died.
While everyone who uses a DEET-based insect tepellent obviously won't suffer these effects, it makes you think twice, especially since almost 10 percent of the deet applied to the surface of your skin can be absorbed within twelve hours." - Debra Lynn Dadd, Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise (Get the book.) |
 "Never apply a product that has more than 35 percent deet to the skin. Children are especially at risk for problems due to this potentially hazardous chemical, so their skin exposure to it should be strictly limited. To be safe, apply deet to clothing and use it sparingly, if at all, on the skin.
Q If you spend much time outdoors, you may want to purchase a vacuum pump called the Lil' Sucker from Terra Tech to extract the poison from insect bites. This pump is painless to use, and in one study, 94 percent of participants who used it had either no reaction or a minor one to an insect bite."- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.) "Do not use excessive amounts of deet. Follow product label directions carefully, and wash the repellent off as soon as you go indoors. Caution: deet is extremely toxic and can be deadly if ingested. Be extremely careful when using it, especially if you are around small children. Do not use it on clothing or other items containing plastic or synthetics such as nylon or polyester, as it can permanently damage such materials (it can even dissolve certain types of paint and nail polish)." - Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.) |
 "Then, while no civilians were looking, during the Gulf War in 1991, these "safe" chemicals (such as deet and Roundup) morphed into battle-hardened warriors once again. In the late 1990s, advertisers shifted their tactics once more and began selling their chemicals as "environmentally friendly." Such doublethink opportunism punctuates the history of farm-chemical advertising and explains why it is so successful.
Farm magazines today still occasionally laud DDT and lament its loss."- Will Allen, The War on Bugs (Get the book.) |
| "Consumer Reports has documented at least a dozen cases of acute neurotoxicity in children who had been exposed to or accidentally swallowed DEET; some of the children died.
While everyone who uses a DEET-based insect tepellent obviously won't suffer these effects, it makes you think twice, especially since almost 10 percent of the deet applied to the surface of your skin can be absorbed within twelve hours.
HOMEMADE ALTERNATIVES The quickest and easiest repellent: splash a little vinegar on exposed skin, or dab it on with a cotton ball." - Debra Lynn Dadd, Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise (Get the book.) "The most commonly used pesticide in insect repellents is deet. According to the British medical journal Lancet, exposure to deet has been reported to cause brain disorders, slurred speech, difficulty walking, tremors, and even death. Consumer Reports has documented at least a dozen cases of acute neurotoxicity in children who had been exposed to or accidentally swallowed DEET; some of the children died." - Debra Lynn Dadd, Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise (Get the book.) |
 "DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), but leaves skin vulnerable to UVA damage because it lacks the UVA-protecting ingredients of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone, Tinosorb, or Mexoryl SX. coppertone kids products
© Kids Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF 50 ($9.99'for 6ounces) differs from the "adult" version reviewed above and includes avobenzone for UVA protection. However, the alcohol content is still extremely high, and makes this sunscreen too irritating for children's skin.
© Kids Sunblock Lotion Spray SPF 45 ($9."- Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition (Get the book.) |
| "Caution: deet is extremely toxic and can be deadly if ingested. Be extremely careful when using it, especially if you are around small children. Do not use it on clothing or other items containing plastic or synthetics such as nylon or polyester, as it can permanently damage such materials (it can even dissolve certain types of paint and nail polish).
After spending time outdoors, check yourself carefully for any small raised bumps and for pinpoint-sized specks on clothing. Do this right away; the longer a tick is attached, the greater the risk of Lyme disease." - Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.) "To be safe, apply deet to clothing and use it sparingly, if at all, on the skin. Q If you spend much time outdoors, you may want to purchase a vacuum pump called the Lil' Sucker from Terra Tech to extract the poison from insect bites. This pump is painless to use, and in one study, 94 percent of participants who used it had either no reaction or a minor one to an insect bite. (See Manufacturer and Distributor Information in the Appendix." - Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements (Get the book.) |
 "Lad, neem contains a compound called salannin that repels insects as effectively as the synthetic chemical DEETbut without DEET's toxic effects on humans. Do not use pure neem tree oil, he cautions, since it's too strong for this use.
You can also soothe insect bites by drinking fresh cilantro juice and applying the cilantro pulp to the skin, says Dr. Lad. Here's how he says to prepare the juice and pulp: Chop 1 cup of fresh cilantro leaves and mix with XA cup of water in a blender. Strain this mixture through cheesecloth, saving the pulp to apply directly to the affected area of the skin."- Bill Gottlieb, New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine (Get the book.) |
 "A psychedelic plant for cats (has nepatalactone isomers similarto valepotriates sedatives in Valerian); and CatnipNepelalactone is ten times a better repellant against the 200 species of mosquitos than commercial deet, according to researchers at Iowa State University. Has high Iron, Selenium, Vitamins A and C, Potassium, Manganese; Magnesium, Phosphorus; B-Vitamins, Calcium, Sodium, andSilicon."- Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.) |
 "The EPA says it is illegal to label such products "safe for children" but it is possible for lower percentages of deet containing products to be legally sold in stores and labeled as safe. It has been reported that under certain circumstances some products with old labels, which are not considered to be safe for children, can be sold for four additional years because the manufacturer was given a special "grace" period.301" Again, read all labels and keep asking why.30ad
What Are Safe Mosquito Control Measures to Discourage Mosquitos Inside and Around Your Home?"- Doris J. Rapp, M.D., Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) "Combined exposure to deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and permethrin: pharmacokinetics and toxicological effects," J. Toxicol Environ Health. B Crit Rev., Jan-Feb 2003:6(1 ):41-53. 131 Abdel-Rahman, A., et al. "Disruption of the Blood-brain Barrier and Neuronal Cell Death in Cingulate Cortex, Dentate Byrus, Thalamus, and Hypothalamus in a Rat Model of Gulf-War Syndrome," Neurobiol. Dis., 2002 Aug: 10(3) 306-26. 132 Ben-Nathan, D., "CNS Penetration by Noninvasive Viruses Following Inhalational Anesthetics," Ann NY Acad Sci, 2000: 917, 944-50. 133 Contact Joel Kupferman, 917.414.1983." - Doris J. Rapp, M.D., Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) |
 "The chemicals they used were pyridostigmine, the ubiquitous anti-nerve gas tablets, and the pesticides deet and per-methrin. deet is an insect repellent used by the military since 1946, and by the general public since 1957. It's applied directly to the skin. Permethrin, an insecticide, is also applied to the skin.
At first the researchers set out to determine how much of each chemical the animals could stand without becoming ill. The resulting doses were at least three times as much as the soldiers most likely received."- Peter Radetsky, Allergic to the Twentieth Century: The Explosion in Environmental Allergies--From Sick Buildings to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (Get the book.) |
| "Chemical Watch Fact Sheet, deet," Pesticides and You,
Summer 2002:22 (2) 9-10. 31a NCAMP, Tech. Report, December 2000:15 (12) 4. www.chem-tox.com.
31b "West Nile Moves Bird to Bird in Lab," USGS Researchers: October 25, 2000. 703.648.4732.
32 Edmon, Dr. John, Center for Vector-Borne Disease, Research School of Veterinary Medicine, U of Calif., Davis, CA 95616.
33 NCAMP, Tech. Report, December 2000:15 (12), 4. 34a www.usgs.gov.
34b www.unmesc.usgs.gov/http_data/nwhc/news/westnil2.html. 35a Technical Report, NCAMP, Vol. 16, No. 7, July 2001. 35b Vol. 16, No. 3, March 2001.
36 Kahn, E." - Doris J. Rapp, M.D., Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) "Locomotor and Sensorimotor Performance Deficit in Rats Following Exposure to Pyridostigmine Bromide, deet, and Permefhrin, Alone and in Combination," Toxicology Science,, April 2000: 60(2) 305-14. 55 Thomas, Karen, "Behavioral Drugs Should Be Researched First," USA Today, July 14, 2002. 56 Snowbeck, Christopher, "Children on Prozac," Post-Gazette Staff Writer, March 3, 1998. 57 Journal of Pesticide Reform, Summer 1986. 58 Zoltani, C.K. and B.J.Baskin, "Simulation of Acetylcholine Cardiac Overload Caused by Soman, a Cholinesterase Inhibitor." http:// cinc.mit.edu/Program/s52-4." - Doris J. Rapp, M.D., Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) |
| "Insecticidal extract of the bitter leaf and seeds has Salannin compound that inhibits biting insects better than deadly synthetic DEET; extract has 15-25% Liminoids, pest insects are unable to maintain genetic insecticide-resistance to Neem oil; and it is biodegradable." - Joseph E. Mario, Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health (Get the book.) |
 "It is safe when used this way and is highly effective at repelling insects and ticks. deet (diethyl toluamide) is generally an effective tick repellent as well, although it is potentially quite toxic. If enough of this chemical is absorbed through the skin, it can cause headaches and other problems. Read and follow package directions carefully, and be aware that some formulas containing deet may not be safe for children.
¦ After walking, hiking, or otherwise spending time in a wooded or high-grass area, check your body, hair, and clothing thoroughly. Keep in mind that deer ticks are very tiny."- Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND, Smart Medicine for Healthier Living : Practical A-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Adults (Get the book.) |
| "Called plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), it acts like a scavenger and culls out foreign invaders such as deet and permethrin. But there's only so much BuChE in the bloodstream. An exposure to deet or permethrin alone causes no problems there's enough BuChE to inactivate any one chemical. Not so with multiple doses they simply overwhelm the BuChE supply. The result is an accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream that make their way to the brain and nervous system. And the consequence of that is the myriad symptoms experienced by the chickens and, by extension, the Persian Gulf vets." - Peter Radetsky, Allergic to the Twentieth Century: The Explosion in Environmental Allergies--From Sick Buildings to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (Get the book.) |
 "Take the time to inspect for ticks regularly, no matter how time consuming or difficult it seems.
deet containing tick repellents are potentially carcinogenic. If possible, use natural tick repellents. However, it may be necessary to maintain a can or two of commercial tick repellent in case all else fails. Premethrin is a less toxic alternative to deet. However, this is applied to the clothing rather than the skin. One application lasts about two weeks to keep the ticks away.
Malaria
Once exclusively a tropical disease, malaria has invaded temperate regions: through travelers."- Dr. Cass Ingram, Dr. Cass Ingram's Lifesaving Cures (Get the book.) |
| "While everyone who uses a DEET-based insect tepellent obviously won't suffer these effects, it makes you think twice, especially since almost 10 percent of the deet applied to the surface of your skin can be absorbed within twelve hours.
HOMEMADE ALTERNATIVES The quickest and easiest repellent: splash a little vinegar on exposed skin, or dab it on with a cotton ball.
Dilute oil of citronella or oil of pennyroyal with vodka or vegetable oil (a few drops to one ounce of either) and then apply at strategic points (like perfume)." - Debra Lynn Dadd, Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise (Get the book.) |
 "An end to Japanese aloofness came not from Europeans, now involved in trades of all sorts in the Orient; but from the American North Pacific whaling deet. In 182324, eighty-six American whaling ships had passed within sight of Japan's most northerly island, Yezo. American whaling schooners were shipwrecked from time to time and the survivors sent to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies by the single Dutch ship allowed to trade with Japan. Japanese fishermen and sailors turned up in California or Oregon in the 1840s, driven 6000 miles across the Pacific by bad weather."- Henry Hobhouse, Seeds of Change: Six Plants That Transformed Mankind (Get the book.) |
 "The knock on citronella is that its protection wears off faster than DEET's. In one experiment, citronella oil repelled the mosquito that carries yellow fever for only a little over an hour, so maybe you should use deet if you live in an exotic area where yellow fever is still a problem. But for American backyards, citronella works reasonably well.
A while ago, I received a most welcome letter from a high school student, Rachel Smith."- James A. Duke, Ph.D., The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs (Get the book.) "For this reason, it seems to me that any citrus-scented essential oils, including those of citrus leaves themselves, would be better for the user than deet. After all, our ancestors were exposed to citrus fruits as they evolved. You sure can't say the same thing about deet. If you want to try citrus essential oils, you'll have to dilute them first by adding several drops to a vegetable oil base. You can experiment with using a Outwitting Bugs Since I spend a lot of time in the jungle, I've always paid special attention to keeping creepy crawly-critters off me in the first place." - James A. Duke, Ph.D., The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs (Get the book.) "At the Amazonian Center for Environmental Education and Research camp on the Napo River of Peru where I conduct some of my workshops, for example, they prohibit any use of deet. This has nothing to do with its effect on people. They've banned the chemical because it speeds the deterioration of the synthetic fibers that hold up the canopy walkway that meanders through the tree branches, sometimes 100 feet above the forest floor. Green Pharmacy for Repelling Insects Of course, while I don't care much for deet, I don't care much for bugs either." - James A. Duke, Ph.D., The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs (Get the book.) "In some circumstances and in some places, deet is banned altogether. At the Amazonian Center for Environmental Education and Research camp on the Napo River of Peru where I conduct some of my workshops, for example, they prohibit any use of deet. This has nothing to do with its effect on people. They've banned the chemical because it speeds the deterioration of the synthetic fibers that hold up the canopy walkway that meanders through the tree branches, sometimes 100 feet above the forest floor." - James A. Duke, Ph.D., The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs (Get the book.) |
| "Health Canada to Ban Some deet Products," Pesticides and You, Summer 2002: 22 (2), 9.
30d "Chemical Watch Fact Sheet, deet," Pesticides and You,
Summer 2002:22 (2) 9-10. 31a NCAMP, Tech. Report, December 2000:15 (12) 4. www.chem-tox.com.
31b "West Nile Moves Bird to Bird in Lab," USGS Researchers: October 25, 2000. 703.648.4732.
32 Edmon, Dr. John, Center for Vector-Borne Disease, Research School of Veterinary Medicine, U of Calif, Davis, CA 95616.
33 NCAMP, Tech. Report, December 2000:15 (12), 4. 34a www.usgs.gov.
34b www.unmesc.usgs.gov/http_data/nwhc/news/westnil2.html." - Doris Rapp, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) "Caution: Do not use products that contain deet as repellents in concentrations over 30% because they have been reported to cause very serious illness in some children.30ad,83 The EPA says it is illegal to label such products "safe for children" but it is possible for lower percentages of deet containing products to be legally sold in stores and labeled as safe. It has been reported that under certain circumstances some products with old labels, which are not considered to be safe for children, can be sold for four additional years because the manufacturer was given a special "grace" period." - Doris Rapp, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (Get the book.) |
 "But again it's not just people who work with chemicals who are in the firing line, as the simple act of self-medication with an insect repellent solvent commonly known as deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can trigger manic depression.
Many prescription drugs made of synthetic chemicals are known to cause imbalances in the brain's happy hormones."- Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, Toxic Overload: A Doctor's Plan for Combating the Illnesses Caused by Chemicals in Our Foods, Our Homes, and Our Medicine Cabinets (Get the book.) |
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