Centaury, Derris, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Marigolds, Mints (especially Pennyroyal), Pyrethrum, Rue, Tansy, Wormwood (more details below)

"Fennel near the kennel" is a well-known cliche. Grow it nearby, spread it inside the kennel, rub it on your dog, use some to stuff bedding, make a large quantity of the tea and use it to bathe the dog. It works. I've also used lavender and basil and thyme with some success in much the same way. My own dog is allergic to fleas. I've tried all the above except centaury which I don't have, depending on quantities available, and I've even used mixtures.My dog has smelled pretty at times!Just about any strong-smelling herbs does the trick. I'm lucky, my dog is very small, for larger dogs try rubbing fresh leaves (on a biggish branch!) over the coat, or make a strong tea and use a pump-action spray bottle to squirt the liquid over, and rub it in. You have to keep repeating the treatment on a regular basis of course.

Flea treatments:
* ON DOGS:
Feed 2 large teaspoons powdered yeast daily for large dogs.
OR
* Feed 2 cloves garlic per day for large dogs, added to the usual food.
OR
* Put DRIED bracken ferns under the dog's blanket.
OR
o Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water in which the dog is washed to kill fleas.

* TO DETER:
Take a 'tea' of lemon peels and water, by steeping overnight, then sponge it over the dog's coat.
OR
* Bathe dog in eucalyptus wool wash solution.
OR
* Dust some derris powder (from garden suppliers) through the animal's coat, leave for half an hour, then comb or brush it out over some newspaper. Do not allow the pet to swim in creeks or ponds, as derris is deadly to fish, but it breaks down in sunlight after a few days.

* FROM CARPETS:
Vacuum regularly, remembering to do areas like under beds, around skirting boards and window sills.(speaking of vacuuming, I've even run the nozzle over the dog while the machine is running, gave her a thrill or two she didn't mind!But some dogs mightn't like it)

* Sprinkle with borax and leave for 48 hours, then vacuum. Keep pets and children away during treatment.
OR
* Wet pieces of newspaper with oil of cedar, scatter these over the floor, under beds or on rugs, and leave overnight. Fleas will gather on the newspaper, and you can put them, newspaper and all, into plastic bags and dispose of them in the garbage bin.

* FROM MATTRESSES:
Place some sprigs of mint under mattresses.
OR
* Dissolve 3 blocks of camphor in 2 cups methylated spirits, and rub onto the mattress and nearby furniture.
* TO TREAT BITES:
Rub over with tea-tree oil.

On Cats: Put some chamomile flowers into the cat's bedding.
Regards and good luck. Annette

In the order of effectiveness, they are wormwood and tansy. Tansy is on the forbidden plants list in some US states, because it has killed cattle. You may, however, not even be allowed to grow them where no cattle are ever found, so inquire first. I prefer wormwood, because it is easier to pull out where it is not wanted.

I know of other herbs, but none are as effective as those two. Of the remedies mentioned above, I will vouch for the nutritional yeast. Do not buy brewer's yeast, because it is bitter from the hops used in brewing beer. I have never seen an animal who will eat it. I just put the yeast in a separate dish rather than on top of other food. Animals, especially cats, do not like their food tampered with. I have heard of animals not wanting the yeast. You can buy tablets instead or rub the yeast into the fur. The most popular yeast in my house is Torula flakes, and they don't fly like powders.

I have read about Guinea hens as sensational for clearing out fleas and ticks from your yard, and also being loud "watchdogs." They sound a little hard to control, though. Has anyone tried them?

Weve used flea powders on her and spot on, weve treated the carpet with powder and used a flea bomb, ive tried sticky tape on white cardboard and soapy water in a pan with a light. Have I got industrial strength fleas or am i being impatient, how long does it take to get rid of them? Ive been bitten all over and am now taking vitamin B complex on reccomendation and they have slowed their feasting of me a bit. PLEASE HELP A FRUSTRATED RABBIT OWNER (if you can!!!!!!)

I'm here to learn about the herbs, I don't have any advice, but I did want to jump in about Advantage - Hemnancy - my vet has told me to NEVER use the dog product on cats. To be honest, I don't know why, but he was very emphatic about it. The packaging also says this.

Just want to help keep your kitty safe!

Also - these garlic and yeast pills for cats... they like them? Do you just rest them on top of their food and they eat them?

Good luck to everyone,
~Onion

As for why Advantage is bad/good, the link below also has lots of different perspectives on that...

~Onion

"There seems to be no consistent way to determine the difference between bed bugs and flea bites. Pets, birds, rats or mice may help support bed bug populations. These pests are also common in poultry houses and occasionally infest areas where animals are kept. Bed bugs closely resemble bat and swallow bugs which exhibit similar behavior."

"Bed bugs usually feed at night, but very hungry bed bugs are less likely to wait for darkness. Bed bugs inject a fluid into their host to help them get their blood meal. This fluid makes some people sensitive to bites, causing irritation, itching and inflammation. Other people can live with bed bugs and not be aware of their presence. In spite of their feeding habits, bed bugs are not known to carry diseases."

One of my cats is VERY sensitive to fleas and breaks out with sores when he's bitten, even just once, and I live in a region that is notorious for fleas, so I can attest that this method is effective. They are indoor cats, so that helps, as well.

I reccomend NEVER using Frontline or Advantage or the like, because I have heard way too many stories of animals, cats and dogs alike, being affected negatively. When I used to use it on my own cats, they would develop bald spots that were very irritated in the exact place the medicine was applied, and it didn't even really stop the sensitive cat's itching and scratching anyway.

I know lots of people that put a few droplets of ACV in their pet's food or water, but mine won't touch it, and I also know a few people, and have heard many times, that brewers's yeast and garlic work in similar fashion, basically making the animals smell so bad, though only to the fleas/ticks/etc, that they steer clear!

It's virtually guaranteed that none will do any good if there isn't a comprehensive program to also treat the yard, the house (including keeping it vacuumed) and limiting pet exposure to fleas (i.e. keeping cats indoors). Re brewer's yeast - I've seen it mentioned that this is actually used as a food for fleas raised for scientific research. Apple cider vinegar (even when its Magical Properties are compounded through "organic"
preparations which contain "the mother", is another waste of time, unless possibly if you constantly spray it on your pet, who will no doubt be very unhappy as a result (if you wanted to try this, ordinary vinegar would work just as well as apple cider vinegar, which has no special properties of its own).

Commercial over-the-counter products including flea collars don't work all that well either. If good hygiene and preventative practices aren't getting the job done and there's a persistent infestation, herbal remedies won't solve the problem. A spraying program will be needed to eliminate fleas from the home for starters.