It’s late-spring. The sun is shining. You feel happy and refreshed and thankful that the ridiculously long winter has come to an end. You decide to celebrate this momentous occasion by doing something special, something that has been denied to you by cold Canadian winter weather for what seems like years. You decide to enjoy the sun and commemorate the beauty of this moment with a truly unforgettable experience: a calm walk in the woods!
So you go for your walk. It is absolutely wonderful, and you enjoy yourself at every moment, listening to the sound of birds chirping and soaking in the rays of afternoon sun. Everything is calm and quiet, and you are at peace.
But then.
Upon returning to your home, you notice something: a very small dot on your arm that was not there before. You inspect it, curious as to whether it is a new freckle or perhaps a fleck of dirt. But then you realize the truth. The horrid, horrid truth.
There is an evil tick from the depths of hell that has implanted itself into the skin on your helpless arm.
What can be done?! What can rectify this situation?! Who can save you now?!
Okay okay, so I’m being a little melodramatic. I know. But I honestly cannot help it. This is one of my greatest outdoor fears. Being someone who enjoys the beauty of nature and loves the challenge of a long hike in the conservation area near my country home, ticks—and all other carnivorous insects, for that matter—are an ever-present concern. One of the first things I do after returning from a hike is check my entire body for ticks. While they are small, they can be more than just a minor nuisance. For example, ticks are the primary transmitters of Lyme disease, making them quite dangerous in certain locations.
There are a number of extremely important safety tips that people need to know about protecting themselves against ticks, including: wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants; checking your clothing for ticks and tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing; and showering/checking your body for ticks after being outdoor.
Now, one of the most common recommendations is using an insect repellent with DEET and using products containing permethrin to treat your boots, clothing, camping gear, etc.. My dilemma is that, while I hate ticks, I also hate chemicals and the negative side-effects they have on me and my family.
So here’s the deal:
There are so amazing essential oils that do wonders as insect repellants, and I would highly recommend that you check some of them out/purchase some of them before you go on another outdoor adventure in a woody or grassy area. I won’t go through all of the essential oils for repelling insects—which include Arborvitae, Cedar, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clove, Spearmint, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Thyme—but here are a few of the top ones that you can use to seriously tick-off some ticks!!
Essential Oils - Nature’s Insects Repellants
1. Geranium
Geranium oil comes in handy when unwanted insects begin to invade your personal space. Because of the chemical components found within Geranium oil, Geranium is a natural insect repellant. Try wearing Geranium essential oil to keep insects away when you are going outside, whether into the garden or into the woods. You can also add a drop of Geranium oil to a cotton ball and place it in the corners of different rooms in your house where insets are likely to be found. This should help ensure that insects—including ticks—stay outside and away from your safety sanctuary: home.
2. Lemongrass
Lemongrass essential oil contains aldehydes, which are incredibly useful and make Lemongrass a natural insect repellant. Diffusing Lemongrass oil or even using it topically can help keep bugs away. Diffuse Lemongrass essential oil inside or outside on your porch or patio to keep away mosquitos and other unwanted critters. If you are worried about keeping bugs off of your body, rub some Lemongrass oil on your skin before going outside. You can even add it to a spray bottle to keep with you during your trip, just in case you need to reapply it.
3. Arborvitae
As we’ve already mentioned, bugs and ticks especially can turn an outdoor adventure into an uncomfortable—and extremely stressful—situation. So if you want to avoid any discomforts that irritating insects can bring, consider packing Arborvitae essential oil for your next outing. Arborvitae is great for hiking and camping because of its chemical components, which are called tropolones. Tropolones have chemical properties that act as a natural insect repellant Because Arborvitae essential oil is rich with these organic chemicals, Arborvitae helps reveal bugs and ticks. So if you want to increase your chances of having an insect-bite-free adventure, apply Arborvitae essential oil to your wrists and ankles.
4. Cedarwood
Cedar oil’s chemical makeup makes it extremely effective at repelling insects. If you are going to be working outside or in your garden, consider adding Cedarwood essential oil to your mulch or topsoil—this should help keep insects at bay. You can also create your very own natural insect repellant by combining dōTERRA’s Fractionated Coconut Oil and Cedarwood essential oil. Add these two ingredients to a glass spray bottle, and voila! You now have your very own natural insect repellant that you can apply to your body before going outside and even bring with you for reapplication later in the day.
5. TerraShield
Suppose you are like me and you want to be extra, extra sure that you are protected from ticks and all other creatures that enjoy tormenting innocent outdoor explorers. In that case, TerraShield is legitimately going to make your summer so much better! TerraShield is most commonly known for its ability to act as a natural insect repellant by creating an effective barrier to protect against outdoor threats. These protecting effects are a result of Cedarwood, Arborvitae, and catnip plant essential oils which contain natural repellant properties (as I mentioned above).
NOTE: doTERRA has been super considerate and created a pre-made TerraShield Spray, making it super easy to use and transport!
It is incredibly easy to use these essential oils I’ve listed above to create a natural insect repellant for yourself and your family. So don’t wait until it’s too late! Get a small glass bottle, get some fractionated coconut oil, and start ticking off some ticks! And if you want more information about the essential oils that I mentioned above, just let me know!
Stay safe, everyone!
5. TerraShield
If you are like me and you want to be extra, extra sure that you are protected from ticks and all othercreatures that enjoy tormenting innocent outdoor explorers, then TerraShield is legitimately going to make your summer so much better! TerraShield is most commonly known for its ability to act as a natural insect repellant by creating an effective barrier to protect against outdoor threats. These protecting effects are a result of Cedarwood, Arborvitae, and catnip plant essential oils which contain natural repellant properties (as I mentioned above).
NOTE: doTERRA has been super considerate and created a pre-made TerraShield Spray, making it super easy to use and transport! Learn More.
It is incredibly easy to use these essential oils that I’ve listed above to create a natural insect repellant to use for yourself and your family. So don’t wait until it’s too late! Get a small glass bottle, get some fractionated coconut oil, and start ticking off some ticks! And if you want more information about the essential oils that I mentioned above, just let me know!
Stay safe, everyone!
Read More: Ticking off the Ticks Part 2
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