Jun 6, 20215 min read

A Bug 🐛 Free Summer

There are many unwanted visitors during the summer—such as mosquitos, and other pests—that can ruin all the fun if you’re not prepared. Practicing safe ways to ward off these pesky creatures can be very effective for yourself and your family, and doTERRA has just what you need.[1]

TIPS FOR KEEPING PESTS AWAY:

Diffuse Cedarwood and Lemongrass indoors or outdoors to keep away mosquitoes and bug
Apply Citronella, Peppermint, or Spearmint to your wrists and ankles or add a few drops to a spray bottle with water and spray on your clothes and hands before heading to the woo
Dilute Clove with a carrier oil and apply generously to the skin when outdoors to combat ticks.

Essential Oils as a Natural Insect Repellent

There are many plants that contain vapors that act as a barrier protection from potential threats in their environment, such as insects. These plants also provide us with a unique and natural gift of defending ourselves in the same way. Essential oils that are particularly helpful include Citronella, Peppermint, Cedarwood, and Lemongrass. You can protect yourself, your home, and your garden with the bug repellent properties of Peppermint, Lemongrass, Rosemary, or Thyme oil. Diffusing these oils or putting a few drops directly on your skin can go a long way in protecting you from the creepy crawlies. You can also add it directly to mulch or soil as you garden. [1]

Protect Your Children from Insects with Essential Oils

Because children and babies need special protection but shouldn’t be exposed to certain chemicals found in insect repellents, Citronella or Lemongrass is an excellent natural substitution. Before heading outdoors, add Citronella or Lemongrass essential oil to a carrier oil or to a spray bottle and apply generously to their skin. The fragrance is not only pleasurable but also powerful. [1]

Did you know!

Choosing a bug spray repellent can be confusing. Not one repellent is 100% effective. A great majority of the bug sprays the stores sale are toxic chemicals. Again the reasoning is cheaper to manufacture for mass production and more money in the company's pockets. The EPA (Environmental Production Agency) recommends Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Eucalyptus Essential Oil (two different oils), as an equally effective alternative to DEET and the above-mentioned chemicals. Only brands that are registered with the EPA such as “Repel” and “Off Botanicals” are promoted on their website. Unfortunately, the Lemon Eucalyptus oil found in these brands is a synthetic copy of 1 chemical isolate, not a pure, whole-plant-based essential oil. We know that whole oils work better than their isolated constituents. Some essential oils are produced by plants specifically to repel pests and serve as their natural defense. Geraniums are a popular window box plant not only because they are pretty, but because they discourage bugs from entering the home. [2]

Registered insect repellent with synthetic chemicals

DEET – Known as a neurotoxin, (classified as category 3 by the EPA) mild to moderately toxic, children absorb more toxins in their body's. Continuous applications are not considered save for children. When combined with the common sunscreen, due to the ingredient oxybenzone, causes increased absorption of the toxin in the blood stream and nervous system.
Picaridin - known to kill fish, when applied on the body and then go in the water then you are putting the chemical into the water that kills the fish. Designed to mimic Terpene and Piperene which are the plants natural defense to repel pests.[3]
IR 3535 - is a synthetic substance that is considered “functionally identical” to beta-alanine, an amino acid. Although topical use of IR 3535 is considered safe, there have been reports of paresthesia in people who have taken high doses of beta-alanine. Paresthesia is tingling or prickling, “pins-and-needles” sensation; usually temporary, often occurs in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
2-undecanone - a synthetic version of ketones. Ketones is an oxygenated compound.
- doTERRA's pure ketones are found in dill, peppermint, rosemary, fennel, and lavender. The main health effects: improves the appearance of skin, some have calming properties, supports healthy respiratory function, promotes healthy digestion. [4]
“Repel” and “Off Botanicals” - Synthetic copy of eucalyptus

TerraShield – all natural

TerraShield Outdoor Blend is your ideal safe and natural outdoor companion. This blend includes Fractionated Coconut Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower, Tamanu Seed, Nootka Wood, Cedarwood Wood, Catnip Plant, Lemon Eucalyptus Leaf, Litsea Fruit, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Arborvitae Wood. doTERRA has the already made bug spray or you can get the essential oil.

The tamanu oil in this formulation helps bind the other components so that they work better together, and the vanilla bean absolute ensures long-lasting efficacy. Used in a base of fractionated coconut oil, the components of TerraShield® stay on the skin longer (3-6 hours), so re-applications are not needed as often as they are with other brands of “Natural” or “Organic” bug repellants (these have water or alcohol as their first ingredient, so they evaporate quickly from the skin). TerraShield® repels all kinds of biting insects including mosquitoes, ticks, no-see-ums, bees, and wasps.[2]

DIY TerraShield Spray

o 20-30 drops TerraShield Essential Oil in 1oz water in own spray bottle

For bug bites

o Lavender touch is great for bug bites and it's already in a convenient roll-on bottle

o Regular lavender with a few drops with Fractionated coconut oil

o Roman chamomile

o Swollen and out of control bites use copaiba in addition to lavender

Bugs and Insects

Repels mosquitos and gnats. Place in a weed killer pump spray and fill with warm water 1/3 of the way. Can spray the ground, the grass, the house, the cement, not the water

· 7 D TerraShield

· 7 D Citronella

· 7 D On Guard

· 7 D Peppermint

· 7 D Purify

· 3 D Black Pepper

· 2 TBS On Guard concentrate

You can also try this amazing recipe from The Herbal Academy for Homemade Calamine Lotion, to help soothe bug bites and even mild skin irritations.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon bentonite clay (remember not to use any metal when using bentonite clay, as this will react with the clay making it less effective.)
Water/witch hazel to form a paste (I often use witch hazel for its astringent properties as well as its ability to help relieve itching.)
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil
1 teaspoon carrier oil

Directions

Combine all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl.
In another bowl mix the essential oils with the carrier oil, if using.
Add the blend of essential oils and a carrier oil to the dry ingredients mixing well.
Slowly add in the water/witch hazel until smooth and creamy paste forms.
Apply to itchy bug bites, rashes, and more! *If using distilled water this may last in the fridge for longer than a week.