哪种精油驱虫效果最好！（译文）

夏天我们常会受到蚊虫问题的困扰。

（下为翻译文字）

最近的一篇文章中，昆虫学家们找到了有效驱蚊的方法。哈佛大学昆虫学家Richard Pollack博士和美国蚊虫控制协会顾问、昆虫学家Joseph M. Conlon在接受网站采访时都证实，某些精油对于驱赶蚊虫是有效的。

如果你有兴趣花点儿时间在网上搜索“最好的驱蚊精油”，大概会得到上百万个结果，但却几乎没有信息是来自相关领域的专家，这也就让这些昆虫学家的观点尤为重要。

精油来自植物的花朵或植株，为了自身生存的需要（不被昆虫吃掉）会具一定的驱虫特性，可以说，植物是天然的驱虫剂。我们就是需要确定哪些精油对于驱赶蚊虫是有效的。

专家们鉴定为具有驱虫特质的精油有：

大西洋雪松

香茅

柠檬尤加利

柠檬香茅

迷迭香

有趣的是，我发现柠檬香茅和香茅精油效果相当，它们可以在配方中交替使用。在古代香茅就已经被用于驱蚊，我们现在只不过是保持传统而已。

橙汁补充：用精油驱虫的方法

用精油来驱虫，有两个非常方便的方法。

一是熏香，熏香炉、扩香仪等均可（如使用扩香石、手帕等需随身携带），以醛类为主的香茅、柠檬尤加利、柠檬香茅这三款精油的气味都算不上是好闻的。（可以想下古时和前些年农村地区的烟熏）

二是做成喷雾，喷瓶里加入少量酒精滴入要使用的精油，再加满水，尽管有酒精做溶剂（现在可买到的多数是75%的酒精）精油还是无法完全溶解，每次使用前请摇匀，旅行喷身体周围、夏季喷家庭卫生死角，亲测有效。

延伸阅读：香茅精油（翻译文字）

香茅精油是一种强有力的肺炎链球菌抑制剂，同时也具有广谱抗真菌作用，可对抗包括白色念珠菌在内的多种真菌。

香茅精油的抗菌及抗病毒作用使得它可用在治疗感冒、流感及其它病菌感染等问题上。以基础油稀释后使用也可有效的减轻关节炎、神经痛、风湿病等各类肌肉关节疼痛。

肌肤护理方面，香茅精油较适合油性肌肤，能平衡过于油腻的头皮。与丝柏精油混合可减少过度排汗。神经系统方面，香茅精油具有提振、清新和清洁的功效，可缓解紧张、焦虑及压力。

调香时，香茅精油一般作为香水的中调。适合与香茅精油混合的精油包括：佛手柑、维吉尼亚雪松、丝柏、欧洲冷杉、乳香、天竺葵、薰衣草、柠檬、苦橙、欧洲赤松、檀香、岩兰草。

有效的驱虫配方：香茅+柠檬尤加利+柠檬香茅+大西洋雪松。

橙汁补充：

因具有肌肤刺激性，香茅精油（包括柠檬香茅、柠檬尤加利等）要低剂量使用，肌肉关节问题用这类精油效果是很明显的。神经系统方面，这几个精油使用剂量不同，效果截然相反（低剂量，镇静；高剂量，提振），请一定注意。

附：英文原文

The Best Insect Repellent Essential Oils ToKeep Bugs Away

If you are confused by all the conflictinginformation regarding the most effective essential oils to use as insectrepellants, you may find the opinions of two respected entomologists(scientists who study insects) highly enlightening.

In a recent article, the entomologistsseparated fact from fiction and identified the most effective ways to keepthose pesky biting bugs at bay.

Dr. Richard Pollack, an entomologist atHarvard University, and Joseph M. Conlon, a retired Navy entomologist who isnow an advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association were bothinterviewed by Today.com. Their comments make very interesting reading for bothhome enthusiast and qualified aromatherapist.

As well as debunking some of the common mythsthat are found all over the internet, these experts unequivocally confirm whataromatherapists have been preaching for years; certain essential oils areeffective at keeping mosquitoes and other biting bugs at bay.

You only have to spend a few seconds on theinternet searching for ‘the best insect repellent essential oils’ and you willreturn about half a million search results. Drill down into these and you willfind just about as many opinions as to the most effective essential oils torepel the bugs! The problem is that virtually none of the information on thesesites comes from experts in their field. That’s what makes the opinions ofthese entomologists so important.

Essential oils are natures very own ‘insectrepellents’, produced by flowers and plants as a self defence mechanism againstwould-be predators. Millions of years ago plants evolved tiny oil producingglands within the leaves to avoid being eaten alive by insects, and theirsurvival shows it’s been a highly effective strategy. The challenge today hasbeen identifying which are the most effective insect repellent essential oils.

So here are the essential oils that thebug-loving experts agree have demonstrated insect repellent activity:-

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus)

Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora)

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Interestingly, in trials I found thatlemongrass and citronella oils performed equally well and could be usedinterchangeably in formulations. In fact, for over 10 years I switched betweenthe two as the principal active ingredient in our insect repellent products. Ieventually settled on citronella oil because, since ancient times wherever theplant grew and mosquitoes were prevalent, the grass would be utilised to helpkeep them at bay. It just felt right to keep with the traditional use.

Citronella essential oil

Citronella essential oil is known to be astrong inhibitor of Streptococcus pneumoniae,which apart from being responsible for pneumonia also causes meningitis, septicarthritis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis and brain abscesses. Similarly, it isquite effective in inhibiting a wide range of human pathogenic fungi, including Candidaalbicans, Aspergillus niger, Sporothrix schenckii and M. gypseum.

This antibacterial and antiviral action makescitronella oil extremely useful in treating colds, flu and other bacterialinfections, and when used in massage it effectively eases arthritis, neuralgia,rheumatism and all types of aching muscles.

When used in skin care citronella essentialoil can help with excessively oily skin, and in the same way it conditions andbalances greasy hair too. Included in personal care products, citronella helpsto reduce excessive perspiration, particularly when blended with cypress oil.On the nervous system, citronella oil is uplifting, refreshing and cleansing,which makes it helpful with lethargy and more severe emotional conditions suchas anxiety, stress and tension.

In aromatherapy, citronella essential oil canbe used as a middle to top note when blending with other oils; try it withbergamot, cedarwood virginian, cedarwood atlas, cypress, fir silver,frankincense, geranium lavender, lemon, orange bitter, pine, sandalwood andvetiver.

For extra protection against a wider range ofbugs, mix citronella essential oil with eucalyptus citriodora, lemongrass andcedarwood atlas, since these oils also offer protection against several speciesof flying beasties.

文章由头条号“橙汁护肤芳疗笔记”翻译！