It's that wonderful time of year when we all want to be outside. It's also that awful time of year when we don't want to deal with all the bug bites. Not only are they uncomfortable, but they can cause some serious health risks such as West Nile and Lyme disease. Sometimes it seems like we're stuck between a rock and a hard place because we don't want to put our children, out pets and ourselves at risk for these diseases, but we also don't want to expose them and ourselves to the chemicals in store-bought bug repellent. Deet is easily as scary as any of the diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks. So here is a healthy and effective way to fight off the buggy blues. Essential oils mixed with vinegar or witch hazel (I prefer witch hazel because I prefer not to smell like a salad). I use them for myself, my daughter, my pets and my horses and goats as well. They are totally safe and if you use witch hazel, it's good for the skin too. (ok, so is vinegar)Here is a very simple recipe:
All Natural Bug Repellant
3/4 cup witch hazel or vinegar
1/4 cup water
20 drops each of the essential oil of:
Lemongrass* - repels mosquitos, fleas, flies, chiggers
Citronella - repels, mosquitos, bees, fleas
lavender - repels mosquitos, gnats, ticks, flies, fleas
Geranium - repels ticks and fleas
Put into a small spray bottle (glass or ceramic is preferable) and make sure to shake well before each application.You can also use this same mixture of essential oils in an unfragranced lotion if you want to put it directly on your skin.
*If you have sensitive skin, you might want to consider replacing the lemongrass oil with eucalyptus oil as lemongrass can cause skin irritation in some people. Stay tuned for other healthy seasonal ideas. Don't forget to like, subscribe and share! Enjoy this wonderful weather!Love and light everyone!