THE feature about flies (The Evening Post, Jan 19) did not mention successful herbal methods of dealing with them, and the dangers of using fly sprays and of pyrethroids in particular.

Many herbs help deter flies and other flying insects, such as any of the mints, lavender, thyme, rosemary, basil, lemon verbena, tansy, chamomile, rue, elder, sweet woodruff and southernwood.

They can be planted outside near doorways and windows and inside in pots, or simply placed in some water on the kitchen windowsill. They can be dried and put in muslin or hessian sachets and hung around the house, or their essential oils can be used to spray around or on the body, or burnt.

Burning insect-repellent candles, such as citronella, eucalyptus and lavender, around your barbecue and outdoor living areas can keep the flying insects away.

Asthmatics and other sensitive people can react to flysprays. They also leave a residue which can be a risk to toddlers and pets.

Permethrin and cypermethrin are labelled possible human carcinogens by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Also of concern is independent, peer-reviewed research which shows that permethrin and other synthetic pyrethroids can disrupt hormonal levels at very low levels.

Hormonal disruptors have been found to affect children's ability to learn, to fend off disease and to reproduce - the foetus in the womb and young children are at particular risk.

From Yahoo.co.uk