Why I also believe that Catnip Lotion can be as effective as Deet
Let me share a true story. Last year, at the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference in Wisconsin, a woman visited our boot and told me about her life in the muggy, mosquito-filled wilds of Florida. On a whim, she infused her fresh catnip into The Fat Lady Tallow, and to her amazement, it became her go-to shield against relentless mosquito bites. Her story sparked my curiosity and inspired me to plant catnip in my own herbal garden and embark on an experiment of my own this year.
I kept putting it off, waiting for the perfect moment—until a wasp stung me so badly I thought I might not make it, and my face ballooned for a week. The very next week, I stumbled upon an article in The Guardian revealing that Catnip Lotion is a proven powerhouse against mosquitoes. That was my wake-up call. No more waiting. Here’s what I did:
- I infused my fresh, organic catnip into The Fat Lady Tallow for several days, along with a little fresh rosemary, to extract the fat-soluble constituents.
- I then prepared a strong catnip decoction to extract the water-soluble constituents.
- I mixed the two ingredients with Organic Neem Oil, a blend of aromatic essential oils, emulsifiers, and a gentle preservative.
The result amazed me! I created a light Face and Body Bug-Repellent cream that not only keeps mosquitoes at bay, but is easy to reapply, smells wonderful, and leaves skin feeling nourished. One of the great things about this bug-repellent is that it can be used at night before bed, which is especially useful when you are camping or in an outdoor setting.
You can also create something similar: instead, make a simple salve by infusing Catnip into the Fat Lady Lard, and once it is done, add 10% beeswax and aromatic essential oils.