Green Living

Here is a handy lis of some plants and herbs known for their mosquito-repelling properties:

Lavender (Lavandula spp.): Lavender not only has a pleasant fragrance but also repels mosquitoes. Plant it in sunny areas and enjoy its aromatic blooms.

Citronella (Cymbopogon spp.): Citronella is a well-known mosquito repellent. You can find citronella-scented candles, but growing citronella grass in your garden can be even more effective.

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita): Peppermint’s strong scent repels mosquitoes. It’s also a versatile herb for culinary and medicinal uses.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Lemon balm has a citrusy scent that mosquitoes dislike. It’s also a great herb for teas and culinary uses.

Marigold (Tagetes spp.): Marigolds contain pyrethrum, a compound often used in insect repellents. Their vibrant colors can add beauty to your garden while keeping mosquitoes away.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary’s aromatic fragrance can deter mosquitoes. It’s a hardy herb that can be grown in a variety of climates.

Basil (Ocimum spp.): Basil emits a strong aroma that mosquitoes dislike. Plus, you can use it in cooking!

Catnip (Nepeta cataria):Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone that repels mosquitoes. Be aware that if you have cats, they might be attracted to this plant.

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.): Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrin, a natural insect repellent often used in mosquito sprays. Their flowers come in various colors and sizes.

Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora): The essential oil from lemon eucalyptus has been found to be effective in repelling mosquitoes. You can grow the plant or use the essential oil.

Garlic (Allium sativum): While it’s typically consumed as a food, the scent of garlic can also help deter mosquitoes. Planting garlic around your garden can be beneficial.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus): Lemongrass has a lemony scent that mosquitoes dislike. It’s often used in Asian cuisine and can be grown as an ornamental plant.

Keep in mind that while these plants can help reduce mosquito populations, they might not offer complete protection. Combining these natural repellents with other mosquito control methods, like removing standing water, using screens, and wearing protective clothing, can help create a more effective defense against mosquitoes.

Here’s another reason why I would never use any other household products but those from my
Wellness Store:

For an in-home presentation i did in June of 2010, I put a squirt of Melapower and water into a clear eight-ounce Mason jar & fastened the lid. I always had a Mason jar with Melapower & water and a second separate Mason jar with Tide and water for in-home or a product training events. Thes jars allowed me to demonstrate how Tide was full of chemicals and Melapower was chemical free. You were able to see with your own eyes the difference between the two products and how Melapower is definitely chemical free!

I always labeled and dated the bottles to show that no matter how long the Melapower was in the bottle, nothing changed—unlike the Tide bottle.

Imagine my surprise when I found that Melapower Mason jar on Saturday! It was tucked in on the back of a shelf in my office. The water has a slight blueish tinge to it, but nothing else. I haven’t opened it and I am not going to. Fifteen years in the bottle and there isn’t any scum, or bacteria growing in that jar. There isn’t any mold growth either, as there always was with the Mason jar that contained Tide and water. Often, the metal lid of the Tide jar would have rusted through. The label and the metal lid on the jar with Melapower are still intact. The best product wins!

Last month, February 2025, I put a scoop of powdered Tide and water in an eight ounce Mason jar to show the difference between Tide and MelaPower when I am doing either an overview or a product training.

On Thursday March 6, 2025, I was doing an overview and showed the prospective customer the 15-year bottle of MelaPower and it didn’t look any different than it did a few months ago, However the Mason jar that I prepared with powdered Tide in February was already scummy, foamy, and moldy. The metal Mason jar lid was already starting to rust and had holes from the chemicals eating through the metal lid.

Which would you want to use on your clothes that touch your skin?

I often get asked what I do to look younger than my age and while it’s a great compliment to hear, there’s no short answer to the question. For some, it’s genetics, but that’s not my case. So here’s a list I happen to follow to fight the aging process:

1. Consume a lot of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts and seeds
2. Choose supplements carefully to prevent deficiencies (vitamin K2/D3, magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, etc). Most people are nutritionally deficient even if they eat healthy; and remember: Look for proof of cellular absorption and proof of performance. 
3. Avoid sugary foods and drinks—especially those carbonated drinks!
4. Avoid trans fats
5. Significantly reduce your intake of omega-6 foods, like corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, margarine, sesame oil, mayonnaise and most salad dressings 
6. Consume more healthy fats, especially omega-3 fats, by consuming more walnuts, olives, olive oil, avocados, flax seed, chia seed, fatty fish, etc
7. Reduce processed red meat such as sausages, salami, bacon, ham, hot dogs, etc
8. Consume anti-aging foods like green leafy vegetables (broccoli, spinach, kale), blueberries, dark chocolate, salmon, walnuts, pomegranate, etc
9. Avoid milk; it accelerates aging.
10. Minimize alcohol
11. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day—that’s eight glasses per day. Drink it often, the more the better.. 
12. Fast regularly. Eat within a 12-hour period, so your body can fast for 12 hours. 
13. Exercise moderately (ex: walking) for at least 20 minutes each day and intensely for at least an additional 20 minutes three times per week. 
14. Optimize your sleep. Make sure you sleep enough and go to bed around the same time each evening.
15. Consider taking melatonin. Besides improving sleep, melatonin can also extend lifespan and slow down aging
16. Slow down skin aging by protect your skin against the sun’s rays: (always wear strong sunscreen, and a hat when going outside in the sun)
17. Brush and floss! Good oral health slows aging and reduces heart disease and Alzheimer’s
18. Consider nutrition to treat health concerns instead of medication. People often underestimate the side effects of medication. Also, most medications treat the symptoms, not the root cause. 
19. Use high quality skincare (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, etc) but be aware that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive skin care.
20. Keep your protein up! Try to eat protein within an hour of waking up each day. We need more protein as we age and our bones need strong muscles to support them.

As always, if you need direction on any of these, just ask!