Natural Pest Protection

Summer is finally here, which means nicer weather, BBQ’s and…ugh…bugs. If you want to spend time outside and enjoy the season without becoming a buffet for insects, and are concerned the safety of chemical insect repellent, read on!

Is Insect Repellent Important?

If you’re not every mosquito’s dream drink (they tend to favour blood type O) you may think a few bites here and there don’t matter. But insect repellent is still necessary to ward off all biting insects such as ticks which carry serious diseases such as Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Not to mention if you just get one bite from an infected mosquito you are at risk for West Nile Virus, Zika, and malaria. So, yes, using insect repellent is important to protect you from more than just bites. 

Is Insect Repellent safe?

Chemical repellents that contain DEET, do carry risks and Canada has banned products with a DEET concentration over 30%. According to the EPA and madesafe.org, DEET causes health and environmental issues. Large doses of DEET have been linked to:

• Skin blisters

• Seizures

• Memory loss

• Headaches

• Stiffness in the joints

• Shortness of breath

• Neurotoxicity that may lead to physiological and behavioral problems, especially with motor skills, and learning and memory dysfunction.

Yikes, that’s some list. The other problem with DEET is that although it is absorbed quickly through the skin it breaks down slowly in soil and can contaminate ground and drinking water. 

Other chemical based insect repellents cause similar side effects and can affect hormone balance. So, if you want to be safe and protect yourself from bug bites, what can you do?

Keep reading…

How do I protect myself naturally from bug bites?

There are things you can do to protect yourself from becoming the feast at your own picnic. They include:

1. Planting Pest Protection

Certain plants detract insects such as mosquitoes. Having them in your backyard can make outdoor seating areas pleasant once again. Here are 6 Plants that will ward off mosquitoes and other biting insects:

• Catnip- Mosquitoes don’t like catnip. In fact, the oil from the plant is more effective than DEET at providing bite protection! Planting some in your garden will ward them off.  

• Lavender- Try planting lavender in your garden or have potted plants around with it in it. Place these near where you sit and eat to discourage them from breeding there. As an added bonus, the scent promotes relaxation and will make any outdoor sitting area more Zen. The oil from the plant can also be rubbed on skin to soothe existing bites and prevent new ones.

• Basil- Not only does it taste amazing, basil leaves contain an oil called estragole that’s toxic to mosquito larvae, preventing them from laying eggs and controlling the mosquito population.

• Bee balm- Bee balm attracts the insects you may want such as bees and butterflies, but the scent repels the nasty ones you don’t such as mosquitos. 

• Lemon balm- This also attracts bees (you may want to plant it away from eating areas) but keep other pests away. 

• Floss Flower- These fuzzy flowers aren’t only beautiful to look at they also contain a chemical called coumarin that is used in many mosquito repellents. 

Other runner ups for plants that repel mosquitos include: rosemary, garlic, cadaga trees, cedars, clove, lemon scented geraniums, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lemon eucalyptus, lemon thyme, Mexican marigold, nodding onion, pineapple weed, wormwood, pitcher plant, mint, snowbrush, sweet fern, tansy, stone root, tea tree, wild bergamot, and vanilla leaf. Just be sure to research which are safe for pets to be around if you have a family member with fur.

Which plants attract mosquitos?

Just like some plants keep pests away, others attract them, which can spoil your outdoor fun faster than egg salad in the summer heat. You may want to avoid bamboo, taro, papyrus, water lilies, water hyacinths, and water lettuce. 

2. Essential Oils

Using the power of high-quality essential oils, you can make your own natural insect repellant by mixing a few drops with a carrier oil safe for skin such as almond or grapeseed oil. DoTerra is the way to go, because their products thoroughly tested by an third party tester, the Aromatic Plant Research Centre,

Here are some essential oils that are highly effective at preventing bug bites:

• Lemon Eucalyptus- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have approved eucalyptus oil as an effective ingredient in mosquito repellent. A recent study showed that a mixture of over 30 percent lemon eucalyptus oil provided more than 95 percent protection against mosquitoes for three hours!

Mix a high-quality lemon eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil (such as almond oil) that is safe for skin and spray on exposed areas. To apply to clothing make sure to dilute it with water or else it may stain.

• Lavender- As mentioned above, lavender smells great and deters mosquitos! Mix a high-quality essential lavender oil with a carrier oil safe for skin.

• Cinnamon Oil- They use this oil in Asia to repel mosquitoes, and they have one known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito! That sounds terrifying. It is used in Taiwan to kill eggs and prevent adult mosquitoes from biting. Mix 1/4 teaspoon (or 24 drops) of oil for every 4 ounces of water. You can spray the fluid onto your skin or clothing, around your home, and onto upholstery or plants. Just be careful when applying cinnamon oil, as a concentrated dose can irritate your skin.

• Thyme Oil- This oil is one of the best for malaria protection. Just five percent thyme oil provides over 90% protection from bites. You may also want to pack up some thyme leaves along with your smore ingredients the next time you plan to sit next to a campfire. That’s because research shows burning the leaves can provide up to 80 percent protection from mosquitoes for up to an hour and a half!

• I love to use Citronella in my portable Pilot diffuser (Choose between two mist settings: four hours continuous or up to eight hours of intermittent diffusion) or my Roam Diffuser in the backyard or when camping. We all know Citronella as a tried and true mosquito deterrent.

Other oils that can help include: Neem Oil and Tea tree Oil. If you want to keep it simple, Terrashielid is DoTerra’s proprietary blend. Want to keep it really simple, get this ready-made spray.

Other tips:

Avoid sitting outside at dusk when mosquitoes bite. Always be sure to clear any areas with still water which attract mosquitoes.

What are some ways to naturally repel ticks?

Ticks are another problem when enjoying the outdoors, posing health threats if bitten by an infected tick. To avoid tick bites the EPA suggests:

1. Avoid Tick Habitats- such as tall grass, and shrubs and walk in the centre of trails to avoid contact with vegetation.

2. Wear long-sleeved lightly coloured clothing, long pants and high boots. Tuck pants into socks to cover gaps when in tick area. 

3. Doing a check after being outdoors to ensure you haven’t picked up a tick.

4. Check pets to make sure they aren’t carrying any ticks.

5. Remove attached ticks without squeezing them, as this increases your chances of infection from a diseased tick.

Other ways to protect yourself from tick bites include using essential oils such as:

• Cedarwood Essential Oil- Mix a few drops of cedarwood oil with a carrier oil and make a homemade tick spray. It kills ticks on contact! If you use it on pets, be sure to only use 1 drop of essential oil to 1 ml of carrier oil (such as grapeseed oil) as they are sensitive. For more on which oils to use and how to keep your pets protected from fleas and ticks visit our Pet Pest Protection post.

• Lavender - It may make you smell like your grandmother but it does the trick! Ticks are repelled by this scent. Mix it with Cedarwood or another essential oil from our list above with your favourite carrier oil and you’ll have a powerful natural insect repellant.

Summer is short, and enjoying your time outside without worrying about bug bites or glowing in the dark after using chemical repellants is possible!

Simply use the tips above and show those bugs who’s boss!

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I’ve pulled together, what I believe to be the best oils and products to get your summer off to a great start!

Here’s a review of what and why:

• Deep Blue Rub: for tension in the body from summer activities, working at your dining room table or for your kids growing pains.

• Lemon: combine with lavender for seasonable support.

• Serenity: to calm your system for a deep sleep or to diffuse in your home for a calming vibe.

• On Guard: immune support is a necessity these days and this blend does not disappoint. You’ll see.

• Terrashield: bug protection for you and your pets!

• Pilot Diffuser with Midnight Forest: a diffuser is a must in the world of essential oils and this summer, we are loving this rechargeable version you can cart wherever you go

• Lavender Touch: sunburns, bug bits, boo boos, anxiety, calming pets during fireworks or nail cutting sessions, the list goes on!

*feel free to adjust any item in the following cart, this is just a suggestion (and you’ll get a welcome goodie bag, a free consult, and a free oil from me!)