Q. You’ve written about natural ways to repel bugs. I use basil, the strongest member of the mint family and one I grow in my yard. At home, I just brush the leaves on one of the plants and I have no trouble from bugs while eating outside. I take a couple of leaves to an outdoor concert and brush them on my arms and legs. I am bug-free for two or three hours of enjoyment.
A. Thanks for the suggestion. Thai scientists have tested herbal oils as mosquito repellents and found that basil oil is effective for about two and a half hours (Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, July, 2010).
