Natural Mosquito Repellent

The first day of summer is upon us. We know what that means…..those pesky mosquito’s will be out in force- bugging us! Instead of choosing one  of the chemical-ridden choices in the drug store, make your own! It’s easy!

Outsmart mosquitoes with this homemade, Earth-friendly solution.

Herbal Insect Repellent

If you are making large amounts of mosquito repellent, a good rule of thumb is to mix the repellent so it’s 5-10% essential oil, so mix 1 part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol.

For a smaller batch use:

•    10-25 drops (total) of essential oils
•    2 tablespoons of a carrier oil or alcohol

Other essential oils that work well against biting insects (mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas) are:

•    cinnamon oil (mosquitoes)
•    lemon eucalyptus or regular eucalyptus oil (mosquitoes, ticks, and lice)
•    citronella oil (mosquitoes and biting flies)
•    castor oil (mosquitoes)
•    orange oil (fleas)
•    rose geranium (ticks and lice)

OR

Safe carrier oils and alcohols include:
•    olive oil
•    sunflower oil
•    any other cooking oil
•    witch hazel
•    vodka

Place ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Transfer to small bottles for storage. To use, rub a small amount on any exposed skin (test first to be sure your skin will not be adversely affected by the repellent) or dab it on clothing.

Experiment a little to find which essential oils work best with your body chemistry. If you’re lucky, you also will like the way they smell; otherwise, add a few drops of peppermint oil to fine-tune the fragrance.

If you are bitten, follow this advice from James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy. Plantain (Plantago, various species) is one of the best herbs to treat bug bites.

Some anti-itch drugstore medicines to use include Calamine lotion or cortisone creams. Doctors generally recommend pain relievers, ice packs and meat tenderizer to treat insect bites and stings. Promptly applying a dab of commercial meat tenderizer directly to a sting can neutralize the allergen.

Enjoy your summer!