The essential oils of ginger repel cockroaches naturally

Cockroaches: they’re as resilient as they are undesirable. Their incredible durability has given rise to repellents that contain toxic ingredients that can harm both cockroaches and human beings and in some cases, have little to no effect on their intended targets. Fortunately, nature is more than happy to provide us with cockroach repellents that combine efficacy with low toxicity. As demonstrated by one study published in the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, ginger just so happens to be one of them.

For their study, the research team extracted ginger essential oil from white ginger through supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and Soxhlet extraction (SE). The purpose of using two different extraction methods was to assess which produced a yield of better quantity and quality.

In terms of quantity, SE supplied more ginger essential oil. However, SFE was found to be the better method overall because of a number of factors. SFE yielded an essential oil that did not require filtration and had fewer undesirable components than what was generated using SE. Additionally, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed 66 identifiable components in the SFE oil and just 35 in the SE oil. Of the components pinpointed, citral and geraniol, substances believed to be harmful to cockroaches, were found in greater concentrations in the SFE oil. (Related: There are more than 115 phytochemical components in ginger – no wonder it’s considered a top superfood.)

In the repellent test, the researchers used pure SFE oil and in concentrations of 10, 30, and 50 percent. These were sprayed into choice boxes.

As for the cockroaches, the researchers utilized German cockroaches, the species most commonly found in residential areas. About 150 male and female adult cockroaches were purchased and bred until a second generation was produced. Only the healthiest cockroaches were put through the repellent test, where the animals were made to enter either treated or untreated boxes and observed over a 48-hour period.

By the end of the experiment, the researchers found all concentrations of ginger essential oil to be effective at repelling cockroaches, albeit with varying results. The lowest concentration (10) had a repellency of 30 percent after 48 hours. In contrast, pure ginger essential oil “showed excellent repellency” at 100 percent. Its efficacy was comparable to that of naphthalene, an organic compound most commonly used in mothballs.

The researchers stated that ginger essential oil has the potential to be a highly effective and safe cockroach repellent. Moreover, the SFE method is the ideal for extracting ginger essential oil.

Other ways to keep your home cockroach-free

• Maintain a clean home: Leaving food residue on any surface of your home is a guaranteed way of attracting cockroaches. Make a daily habit of sweeping floors, wiping down surfaces, and washing dishes as soon as possible. Tedious as it may seem, it’s much easier to clean your home daily than it is to get rid of cockroaches quickly.
• Keep your home dry: Just like with food residue, water will ensure that cockroaches find their way into your home. As per MNN.com, water is absolutely essential to cockroaches since they can only survive for a few days without it, so cutting off their access to water is a surefire method of repelling them. Repair any leaks, avoid letting water stand in your sink, and make sure that your indoor plants only receive as much water as needed.
• Seal any and all cracks: Check every nook and cranny of your home for cracks and holes. If you spot any, seal them up with caulk immediately. Even the smallest hole can serve as an entryway for enterprising cockroaches.

Find out how ginger essential oil can benefit your family and your home by going to EssentialOils.news today.

Sources include:

Science.news

AJBASWeb.com^[PDF]

MNN.com