Excerpted from Health Canada pulling last of citronella-based bug sprays: Health Canada ban confuses scientists who found citronella 'basically safe'

By Sophia Harris, CBC News Posted: Aug 31, 2014 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 01, 2014 12:37 AM ET

DIY bug spray

Tracey TieF made and sold a natural bug spray with essential oils including lavender and rosemary for seven years before Health Canada shut her down recently.

The problem was that she hadn’t registered her product and done any safety studies.

“I can’t afford to run my own trial,” says the certified health practitioner. “I feel afraid and I feel sick about it, actually, because for me, this is a passion.”

TieF now puts that passion into teaching others how to make natural bug sprays. In a tiny room at Karma Co-op in Toronto, she passes out bottles, essential oils and recipes. “I’ll teach people until [Health Canada] stops me,” she vows.

Aimee Alabaster says she joined the class because she wants a natural bug spray for her children. “Everything out there for the most part contains DEET, and I don’t want to put DEET on my kids.”

Research has suggested DEET could be harmful to the central nervous system. But Health Canada states on its website that “registered insect repellents containing DEET can be used safely when applied as directed.”

Read the full article here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/health-canada-pulling-last-of-citronella...