Green Ways to Eliminate Bed Bugs

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Green Ways to Eliminate Bed Bugs

Green Ways to Eliminate Bed Bugs

The Unavoidable Truth

Fact:  Insecticides, toxins and poisons have a long history of unforeseen medical effects virtually all of which are considered detrimental and harmful.  While it is true that insecticides benefit mankind by allowing greatly improved food and crop production, that doesn't mean you should use them in your house or worse yet, in your bed!

A 'Green' Mission

Every single thing a consumer does has an impact on the planet - good or bad. Thankfully, individuals have the power to control most choices and, therefore, the impact created. There are a great number of things that can be done to help preserve our well being and our planet - riding bikes instead of driving cars, recycling or repurposing materials, reducing packaging to conserve energy use and landfill space, and of course by reducing our usage of poisons and toxins harmful to our species.

All of these things are part of a growing movement to support and promote a 'Green' lifestyle.  Embracing a greener lifestyle isn't just about protecting the environment;  it also means improving our health and overall quality of life.  It is vitally important to protect human bodies from chemicals that are detrimental to good health and well being.

AWS Health, Inc. was founded on that premise.  We focus on Green approaches for our products and solutions.  When beginning to research methods to control and eliminate the growing infestations of bed bugs in America, a close look was taken at the active ingredients in some of the most popular products being promoted and sold for this purpose.  Many of these products contain harmful and unnecessary ingredients that humans will live and sleep with if used.

Common Insecticides Used For Bed Bug Control

Popular products common to bed bug control contain the following chemicals, poisons and toxins:

Allethrin is slightly toxic by dermal absorption and ingestion.  Short-term dermal exposure may cause itching, burning, tingling, and numbness in the fingers or affected areas.  While almost non-toxic to birds, Allethrin is toxic to virtually all fish.

 

Deltamethrin is a neurotoxin that can attack the nervous system.  Skin contact can lead to redness, and, if taken in through the eyes or mouth, a common symptom is facial paraesthesia (itching burning, tingling).

 

Pyrethrin is an insecticide poison.  Its toxicity symptoms in humans include asthmatic breathing, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, headache, nausea, in-coordination, tremors, convulsions and more.   Pyrethrin is considered one of the 'safer' poisons since it decomposes rapidly, but the poisonous symptoms listed above are common before this breakdown occurs.

 

Malathion is widely used in pest control programs such as mosquito eradication. Malathion itself is of low toxicity, but absorption or ingestion into the human body readily results in its metabolism to malaoxon, which is substantially more toxic.

Additional Insecticide Facts…

There are new findings from entomologists at Ohio State University indicating that bed bugs are quickly adapting to withstand the pesticides used to combat them.   Laboratory tests show that today's bed bugs can survive levels of exposure much greater than those used a decade ago.  Research by scientists at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute indicates that genetic mutations in bed bugs might be giving them tougher shells which keep chemicals from passing through their exoskeletons.

There is no evidence that bed bugs spread disease.  It doesn't hurt when they bite, but the itching can be intense.  Since no serious infectious disease is spread, there is little government funding available to research new control measures.  The biggest damage caused by these unwelcome guests is psychological and emotional as well as the scarring that occurs from the constant and intense scratching that accompanies a round of bed bug bites.

Alternative Approaches – Alcohol and Steam as Insecticides

Many expensive treatments can be found in home centers and on the internet, but very few people know that common rubbing alcohol is an equally powerful insecticide for stopping bed bugs dead in their tracks!  Of course this is not promoted, as rubbing alcohol is inexpensive and readily available; a gallon of the stuff costs as little as .50!  By mixing tap water and rubbing alcohol (70% concentration or greater), a powerful insecticide is created that can be applied using a common spray bottle. This solution should be sprayed in bedrooms or other affected areas by 'misting' the carpet or floor, the floorboards, any furniture legs and of course, the mattress and bedding.  You should be sure to use a spray bottle that creates a fine mist – too coarse a mist will greatly lessen the effectiveness of the application.  For the initial application you can lay it on thick, but don't 'soak' the fabrics and carpet.  Make sure to have the room well ventilated and/or to only spray portions of the room at a time.  Also remember that alcohol is flammable – do not smoke nearby!  IMPORTANT NOTE:  If the alcohol makes you feel light headed, stop your application for 30 to 60 minutes.  Voila!  Non-toxic insecticide.  You may have to apply a treatment 2 or 3 times initially, but your environment will soon be pest and toxin free.  Health conscious and medical professionals agree that this small amount of extra work far outweighs the possibility of pesticide poisoning or even cancer.

Mattresses – A Bed Bug Paradise!

Mattresses are the 'all inclusive hotels' for bed bugs!  It has been shown that over a million bed bugs can live in one heavily infested mattress.  A mattress is a perfect breeding ground for the insects as it allows them to readily travel freely between the interior and topside of the mattress where you remain the food of choice!  The internal area of a mattress forms a protective home for the bed bug where they can either thrive or lay dormant for up to 18 months before once again becoming active.  Your mattress is enemy number one!

People should take immediate preventative measures to be sure bed bugs don't have this ready-made habitat.  A relatively low cost protective step is the installation of mattress protectors.  Quite often the mattress and box spring are the most significant investment in a bedroom.  By enclosing the bed in a cover made of bed bug proof fabric, no bugs will be able to set up house inside your mattress.  If you suspect you already have bed bugs in your mattress, the protectors will prevent them from leaving their safe haven to feed and eventually they will die.

You should inspect your mattress carefully for signs of bed bugs.  Check the seams and any handles.   It's at these points that evidence of bed bugs entering and exiting can be found.   Bed bugs shed dead skin that will look like a hollow bug.  Also, bed bugs will frequently lay eggs, which resemble miniature grains of rice.  Bed bugs also excrete an oily substance with a smell similar to that of coriander. If the odor is detectable, it typically indicates a heavy infestation.  Tiny reddish brown excrement specks can often be found on the mattress, bedding, or walls adjacent to the bed.

It's Your Choice

Hopefully the information you've read helps you better understand your choices.  We at AWS are committed to helping eliminate bug and mite problems in the healthiest way possible.  Please review our website, as it has additional information and methods to remove these pests from your environment as quickly as possible.

Please visit the AWS website for additional and up to date information.

Useful Links

AWS  website and education                            http://bit.ly/gApqGT

 

David Thomas is one of the founders of The Bed Bug Registry, and is considered to be one of the foremost experts on the recent spread of the bed bug epidemic.

Article from articlesbase.com

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