Eco-Friendly Friday Tips 96 – Dealing with Insects
June 11th’s Tip
Dealing with Insects: If you spend time outside, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get bit by some mosquitoes, and a smaller but still real chance you may pick up a tick. Minimizing exposure to these insects, especially ticks, can be important, but sometimes the bug spray we use to reduce our chances of being bitten is bad for our health, as well. Many of the common insect sprays contain DEET, which, with heavy exposure, may cause memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle and join pain, tremors, and shortness of breath.
If you insist on using a DEET spray, use it sparingly and for short periods of time. Be very careful not to overdo it!
A number of essential oils are said to work well for repelling mosquitoes. Clove oil is one of these, but be sure to dilute it, as it is a skin irritant. More oils include lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, and peppermint, among others. Before using any oils, though, it is a good idea to test on a small patch of skin to be sure you don’t have any allergies to it. Dilution is also an option, so do your research on the oil you choose to learn more about it.
An essential oil said to work well for ticks is rose geranium. Use the same precaution here as with any essential oils – research it, dilute it, skin patch test it, etc.
Important note: Be very cautious with the use of essential oils around cats – they can potentially be very dangerous. For more information, visit The Lavendar Cat. If concerned, speak with your vet before you use essential oils.
For a good selection of natural insect repellents you can purchase, check out The Daily Green’s list. Be sure to read the comments, as well, as the readers have recommended more options!
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