Natural Insect Repellent + After Bite
This week is my exam for a course in aromatherapy that I have been taking over the past 9 months. I have absolutely loved learning about essential oils and how to use them to help and heal. It’s unbelievable to me that these oils are capable of helping out with so many problems from jet lag, skin problems, digestive problems, headaches, sore muscles and joints, and so on. The list is really endless, and when I say “problems”, I’m using such a broad term because essential oils can cover the most specific of problems and it would really be too much to list. In a time where the use of antibiotics for every little problem is the normal thing, it’s just so confusing to me that people wouldn’t want to try something like essential oils first. Natural is better!
Summer is almost here and I do quite a bit of camping with Rhys. One thing I cannot stand about camping is the bugs…and maybe even worse is the bug spray to go along with it. The toxic smell of it is just awful, and I know it can’t be healthy to be breathing in and putting on my skin. Quite a few essential oils are natural insect repellants, so I wanted to put together a little spray to take a long with me this summer.
You can select from quite a few different essential oils, so feel free to use any listed. I’ll also provide the exact mix that I did. Essential oils should be stored in dark, glass bottles in a cool place. Like…a cold place…not just a funky space 😉
You can purchase essential oils online through places like Mountain Rose Herbs, or you can find them at your local health and wellness store.
Check with your doctor first to see if essential oils are okay for you, or your family to use. Some essential oils should not be used while pregnant, and different concentrations may need to be used for elderly people.
After-bite care is simple. Just mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of witch hazel with either a drop of tea tree oil or lavender oil directly to the sting or bite.
Natural Insect Repellent
Use any of the following oils: citronella, clove, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, sandalwood. I used lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemon.
Ingredients:
Witch Hazel – scant 1/2 cup
Distilled Water – scant 1/2 cup
30-60 – drops of essential oils
Instructions:
Combine the witch hazel and water in an 8oz spray bottle. Add the essential oils. The easiest way is to add an equal number of drops of each different oil. You can use 30-60 drops total in this recipe. I recommend starting with 30. See how you react to this amount, add more if necessary.
