Are you worried about the ecology of your body and yard in your effort to combat these stinging summer spoilers? Light wearing and cooling to the skin blends of certain essential oils from plants repel biting flying insects. Diminish their nasty influence by making or buying natural insect repellent.
These recipes for natural repellants will repel mosquitoes and other biting flying insect s and are safe to use on plants, adults, babies and children, and will not harm pets. They are devoid of DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) which is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents but is toxic.
These essential oil blends will rid you of sand gnats, horseflies, deer flies, and mosquitoes without a drop of poison.
Some essential oils favored for their effectiveness as insect repellents are:
• Eucalyptus, recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Catnip oil, containing nepetalactone, which researchers at Iowa State University have found to be ten times stronger than DEET
• Citronella, long used as an insect repellent, and Lavender, Basil, Lemongrass, Thyme and Patchouli can provide other repellent qualities and delightful fragrances to make interesting blends.
Make a natural insect repellent by using a spray bottle that combines water and essential oils combined together, such as Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea Tree and Citronella. Another good blend combines Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Citronella. Both combinations work and smell good on the wearer.For example, use the Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citronella combination. Peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella all have especially potent properties that repel many flying, biting pests.
All you will need is a bottle and either a distilled water or a carrier oil.
Pour the oil or water into a 1ounce bottle. Adding 20-100 drops of each essential oil allows you to get the scent just right for you.
Shake each time you use the mixture to ensure the oils are mixed and distributed evenly before applying.
You might find that you need to reapply frequently for maximum effectiveness so reapply as necessary. Under normal outdoor conditions, the repellent will last an hour or more. You can safely mist as often as you like to suit variations in your biochemistry or a particular environment.
Spray it all over, even your face. Be careful not to spray it into your eyes. Peppermint is very irritating to soft mucous tissues like eyes.
Here is a link to a video showing the easy steps to making your own natural insect repellent:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4994300_make-natural-insect-repellent.html
Be sure to keep your mist close on hand and in keep some in your picnic or bicycle basket. To maximize effectiveness be sure your bath soap fragrance will not attract bugs and do not wear perfumes and colognes if you plan to be outside for any length of time mid spring through late autumn.
If making your own insect repellent is not going to make your ‘list of things to do’ there are several brands on the market that you can comparison shop before buying. Herbaria Citronella Mist has been featured in Vegetarian Times Magazine and claims that their lemon eucalyptus mist has been found by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be as effective against mosquitoes as popular brands containing small amounts of DEET.
Used as intended these hard working essential oil products effectively give relief from biting pests and do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.
Cathleen V. Carr, National Holistic Health Examiner, Examiner.com © 2009 All Rights Reserved.
Cathleen V. Carr is a licensed attorney, herbalist and published author who writes regularly for Natural Medicine Ink, Radient Life, the Best Natural Health Directory, eHealth Science, the National Diet Institute, Alternative Health Review, Examiner.com and numerous websites and blogs. Contact her through LinkedIn.com
