Summer brings hot, humid days. It’s the perfect weather for flowers to bloom and bugs to come out of hiding.
Mosquitoes, stinging ants and ticks lurk in the soft green grass. Your stings can harbor infectious diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, malaria, and Lyme disease.
Your best bet this summer is essential oil bug spray.
N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, better known as DEET, is the current gold standard among insect repellants, and this protection comes at a price.
First tested in the Everglades in the 1980s, the researchers found that 25 percent of DEET users had immediate side effects such as rashes and skin irritation, numb or burning lips, headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion and insomnia.
According to Duke University pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia, rats exposed to long-term DEET had diffuse brain death and behavioral changes. Abou-Donia recommends avoiding products containing DEET.
You can learn how to make bug spray using essential oils.
They are a welcome alternative to commercial insecticides.
In 2005, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved lemon eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus citriodora) as an insect repellent.
Citrus essential oils – like lemon, orange, and bergamot – are also good insect repellants, but can cause sun sensitivity or, in the case of bergamot, even skin cancer.
Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) is an effective and safe alternative to citrus essential oils.
And juniper essential oil (Juniperus communis) is almost as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes.
The combination of the following essential oils was just as effective at a concentration of five percent as DEET at a concentration of 20 percent, making it four times more potent than DEET at repelling mosquitoes:
Holy basil (Origanum sanctum essential oil)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita essential oil)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil)
Mexican mint (Plectranthus amboinicus essential oil)
This is exciting news if you want to repel insects and avoid big brand bug sprays!
However, before running to the store to buy the essential oils, be sure to mix and use them safely, both for adults and children.
One drop of essential oil is roughly equivalent to 30 cups of tea! Essential oils are so concentrated that they border a synthetic substance.
Often people think, “Oh, a little is good. A lot has to be much better!” This is not the case with essential oils.
Here is an easy-to-follow recipe for bug spray with essential oil for adults (ages 16+):
30 drops of holy basil essential oil (Origanum sanctum)
30 drops of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
30 drops of Mexican mint essential oil (Plectranthus amboinicus)
Use a 4 ounce glass bottle with a spray nozzle.
If you’re using up the bug spray quickly, a plastic bottle will work too. Be careful – if essential oils are left in contact with plastic for a long time, they will eat their way through the plastic.
Fill the bottle half full with water (2 ounces) and half full with high proof alcohol (2 ounces), ideally Everclear or the highest proof vodka you can buy.
Add the essential oils and count the drops carefully.
To apply: Shake the bottle to mix thoroughly and spray with your eyes closed. Cover exposed skin and clothing.
Reapply every 2 hours as needed. Use a maximum of 5 times a day. Use caution when used in children and the elderly as their bodies are more sensitive to essential oils.
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Remember that nothing can be effective against mosquitoes in a swamp! So use your common sense.
Use it a maximum of 2 weeks before taking a 2-week break.
You can alternate the above mixture every two weeks with the combination of 60 drops of juniper essential oil (Juniperus communis) leaf oil and 60 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus citriodora).
Follow the same directions and add the essential oils to a combination of 2 ounces of water and 2 ounces of high proof alcohol.
Using homemade bug spray with essential oils provides highly effective insect repellants that can rival DEET’s effectiveness.
Use them respectfully, however, with the understanding that “natural” bug sprays can be just as toxic as chemical ones if misused.
Your essential oil bug spray, if used correctly, can help you and your family enjoy the outdoors naturally.
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Dr. Judith Boice is a naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, and a member of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine! Take part in Dr. Boice part.
This article was originally published on drjudithboice.com. Reprinted with the permission of the author.
