As we see the warmer weather coming in, so do we see more bugs! Ticks and mosquitos are two of the worst and arguably the most dangerous in terms of carrying diseases and causing bad reactions. So today we want to share a couple of natural tricks that will keep you safe from these nasties and help you enjoy summer in the bush, at the beach, amongst the rainforest, lying in the grass or camping by the river.
Many plants and herbs have fantastic bug repelling qualities and can be planted around the garden or used in pots by the doorway or even by the campsite. These include basils, citronella, eucalyptus, fennel, lemon-scented myrtle, mints, southernwood, tansy and wormwood.
Scent is our biggest weapon against these critters. Ticks especially operate almost solely on their sense of smell. They don’t jump or fall from trees; instead, they do something called “questing.” That is, they climb to the top of a blade of grass or plant and stick their front legs up in the air, waiting for the scent of a victim to walk by. Thankfully, they are not big fans of rose geranium essential oil. All you need is one drop on each ankle and both wrists, a little behind the knees and the back of the neck. This oil can also be used on your dog, however go easy as they are have very sensitive sniffers. One drop behind each shoulder blade and at the top of the base of the tail, should do the trick.
Other essential oils such as lavender, lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, and cedar wood have all been found to be helpful in repelling these unwanted guests as well.
The best essential oil to diffuse or apply to your skin to prevent the dreaded mosquito invasion include, peppermint, lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, thyme, geranium, clove, sage, cinnamon, rosemary. You might like to use a combination of a couple of your favourites and diffuse in an oil burner or dilute in a spray bottle to apply to skin and clothes.
Enjoy summer where-ever you may be!
