The Bugs Are Back!

The sun is shining and the bugs are biting. I'm the kind of person that loves to have the windows and doors open in the summer. The down side is that it makes it easier for bugs to get inside. I live in the mountains where insects abound, keeping them out is a tough task. We try not to use chemical bug repellent. So, I thought I would share with you some of the things we do to keep the little bitters at bay.

Essential oils are useful for many things. They can lift your mood and help detour insects. You can create your own bug repellent with essential oils. The essential oils that I have found that work best are Lavender, Thyme, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Geranium, Eucalyptus, and Citronella. Lavender is one of the best all around essential oils and should be in everyones first aid kit. Lavender can be applied neat to insect bites. You can mix these oils together to make your own synergistic blend. You don't need to use more than 5 drops of any one oil. Play around with different blends and find one that you don't mind wearing and helps keep the bugs away. Before you wear your blend you need to dilute it. To dilute your essential oils, mix 2 drops of your blend into 2 teaspoons of vegetables oil. You can also make a spray by mixing 5 drops of your oil blend with 1 tablespoon of witch hazel and 4 tablespoons of water. Remember to shake it well before using. Now if you don't want to wear your essential oil blend you can add drops of it to cotton balls or paper strips and place them around your home or patio. For more ideas and information I recommend reading the book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood. If you are not into making your own blends, check out your local health food store for ready to go blends. Remember your pets don't like bug bites either. You can place a few drops of your essential oil blend on their collar.

This next idea may be something of an old wives tale, but my grandma swears by it. Every summer she takes dryer sheets and hangs them around her yard and patio. She claims that they keep the bees away. She even brings dryer sheets to picnics and camping. Now how well this truly works I can't say. I do know that my grandma doesn't have bees.