BUGS, BUGS, BUGS! MOSQUITOS!

by Penny Keay

Warmer weather and bugs. They go hand in hand and more!

We are often asked this time of year for recipes for repelling bugs.

Several essential oils are excellent at repelling insects. The most common insect we wish to repel - The pesky Mosquito! In several US States - they like to call them the "State Bird"!! Minnesota included.

One of the active ingredients often times listed in natural or botanical repellents is Lemon Eucalyptus.

If you wish to use Eucalyptus Lemon we recommend no more than a 2-3% dilution. You can mix it with plain distilled water, shake well, and spray on your skin and around your ankles, wrists, neck etc. Anywhere you know those pesty little bugs like to attack you!

Don't forget you can also mix Eucalyptus Lemon with any lotion so you can apply it to and soften your skin at the same time.

Some people prefer to mix with carrier oils - Sweet almond and Sunflower oils are excellent light oils to use. As is Fractionated coconut oil or MCT Oil . Fractionated coconut oil and MCT oil are known for the ease in being able to be washed out of clothing.

Many other essential oils are known to be great at repelling insects. Lavender, Geranium, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Pennyroyal. For another recipe for repelling more insects see our recipe section in this issue.

We now have available premixed our world traveled 'Bug Off Spray' (available on our shopping site). This insect repellent is found to be very effective.

Bug Repellent

Thyme - 4 drops
Lemongrass- 8 drops
Lavender - 4 drops
Peppermint - 4 drops

Blend all essential oils in an amber bottle.

This mixture can be placed (a couple drops)on a tissue and placed near your bedside or other area you wish to have the bugs leave you alone.

You can also mix 2 drops per teaspoon of a light carrier oil or blend and apply as a body rub.

Or add 5 drops to 2 teaspoons of vodka, once well blended add to 2 ounces distilled water and use as a spray.

(Recipe Adapted from "The Complete Book of Essential oils & Aromatherapy" by Valerie Ann Worwood.)

In The Garden Insect Help!

Last month we talked about using essential oils to keep bugs and insects away and off of you and your loved ones.

This month we are talking about keeping them away from your plants. Since essential oils come from plants they are all natural and will not harm your flowers or vegetables.

They will help to keep those nasty little pests away from your plants though and do no harm to the environment.

If you house or garden plants are infested with insects and you wish to deter them naturally. There are several essential oils that will work.

Sandalwood, Thyme, Lavender, Fennel, Peppermint, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Coriander and Clove bud.

All of these oils will not harm your plants and will actually help strengthen them according to Carol and David Schiller. In their book 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy, they recommend making some misting sprays to be used a few days apart to rid your plants of insect infestations. Do not soak the leaves, just mist them lightly.

One simple blend to spray on your plants is

Sage - 45 drops
Thyme - 45 drops and
4 ounces distilled water.

Shake well and spray on your infected plants.

Another blend is

Lavender - 50 drops and
Fennel - 40 drops again in
4 ounces of water.

Shake well and spray.

Helpful Hint:

To keep bugs and other insects that crawl from entering your home, remember to spray a mixture of Peppermint essential oil and distilled water around windows and screens and on the threshold of your door entrances.

Peppermint will also deter those little furry creatures mice and moles from entering the home.

All the products listed in the article are available at our Shopping Site - see link below.

© 2005, 2013, 2015, 2017 Penny Keay All rights reserved Worldwide.
Please do not use my information without my permission.

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