catnip - good for more than a cat high

a madcatter came in to the store the other day looking for catnip spray. the reason? her doctor suggested she use it as a natural mosquito repellent. jigga wha?

i told her that was the craziest thing i'd ever heard, so i did a little research. turns out, she was right. hit the jump for more info!
apparently, nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives it that unmistakable odor, is ten times more effective at repelling insects than DEET. the scientist quoted in that article says that while they're not really sure why it works, it should repel all types of mosquitoes.

but before you take away your cat's buds and start rubbing them all over your body, catnip spray is a better option - the leaves themselves can be a skin irritant. you can make your own or pick up one of the many herbal remedies on the market.  just don't get pulled while applying a bag of the green stuff.  the cops may not believe it, either.