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Scaring the Bugs Away with Essential Oils
Now that summer has officially arrived, nature is calling us outside. Whether our summer plans include baseball games and patio parties or strenuous hikes and rugged camping trips, we will certainly come into contact with one of the season's more annoying features: insects. While our flying buddies certainly have their places in our ecosystems, mosquitoes, flies and ticks can be a real nuisance when it comes to lapping up the sunshine and warm breezes of summer. Luckily, we have an aromatherapy arsenal to ward off the most common bugs of the season.
It used to be in years past that our only saving grace in the battle against insects was a DEET-based repellent. This chemically-dubious product has earned a mixed reputation; it is not recommended for young children and pregnant women, yet it is still widely used by adults because it is highly effective in warding off bugs over long periods of time. Our understanding of pest management through essential oils, however, may give us the opportunity to chuck the DEET, and its overbearing scent and mysterious side-effects, completely.
To begin with, let's consider a handful of the most powerful essential oils for warding off bugs. What's the first one that comes to mind? Citronella, of course! This oil's reputation truly precedes it. We've smelled it in patio candles and tiki torches, but the oil of this tropical grass can be mixed with other oils and applied to the skin as well. Its lemony smell rekindles memories of past summers, and insects detest it.
Citronella's magical powers are heightened when it is mixed with other aromatic oils. In fact, it's not best when used alone. If we blend it with lemongrass, its relative, geranium, peppermint or cedar, we allow it to work its charm. Remember grandma's cedar chest? Cedar has always had a good reputation for repelling bugs, and its woody scent takes the edge off of citronella's sharp scent. Or maybe you're a peppermint fan. A mixture of peppermint and citronella will ensure your home smells bright and tangy, and insects will steer clear.
If you ask a gardener the number one plant to put in the garden to ward off flying insects, especially mosquitoes, the winner will most likely be the geranium. The geranium is tough, pretty and it smells great, but insects happen to dislike it. If you like the floral note of geranium, mix that with citronella. They are such perfect companions that a special species of plant, the citronella geranium, exists. Put that in your garden, and you can smell it from feet away!
Essential oils can be applied as a bug-control mechanism in one of two ways: atmospherically or topically. A diffuser or nebulizer is the most effective way to get these oils circulating in the air, ensuring insects don't come near. One or more of the oils listed above can be atomized, providing you and your family the uplifting benefits of aromatherapy while simultaneously protecting you in a no-fly zone. Additionally, if you do not have a diffuser, simply take twenty drops of essential oil in a small bottle, fill the rest with water, and manually mist the area.
Occasionally, especially if you're traipsing around outdoors, a topical application of essential oils becomes important. This recipe, which combines the best oils listed above, can be mixed and then put in a sunscreen, mister or a lotion: 0.5 milliliters of both geranium and lemongrass, 0.75 milliliters of cedar, 1 milliliter of peppermint and 3 milliliters of citronella. If you want to use this blend on pre-teens, divide the concentration in half before placing in a carrier. Cut this blend in half once more and leave out the peppermint if you are using it on toddlers. For infants, use a 1% concentration of lemongrass and/or citronella alone. As with all essential oils, the skin should be tested prior to extensive use on the body. If your body responds well, enjoy! Also, adding witch hazel, a naturally-occurring preservative, adds a cooling quality to your misting blend.
Dealing with insects has been a part of human civilization for as long as we've wished to sit outside at night and watch the sun set. Luckily, the pest management field is brimming with new approaches and insights into how we can minimize our chances of getting bitten. A group of researchers at Seoul National University in Korea has found that fennel oil may discourage mosquitoes, too. For some people, fennel is a delightful scent, making citronella seem too strong. There is another surprising essential oil that has been found to irritate mosquitoes: clove. Scientists in Thailand discovered that using undiluted clove oil gave a 100% effective barrier against mosquitoes for up to four hours. In addition, these researches learned that patchouli oil offered two hours of safety when used full-strength.
One oil that comes out way ahead of the pack in terms of effectiveness in fighting insects is catnip. A recent study by the DuPont Company found that this plant, also known as catmint, is the best essential oil defense out there in the struggle with insects. If used in a 15% concentration in a carrier, catnip can fight insects for 4 to 8 hours. Research has even demonstrated that catnip beats DEET in its ability to ward off bugs. The punch line, though, is this: catnip oil is pricey. If you want to see it at work, try it in small doses and confirm that your insect neighbors hate it and that your calico doesn't lick your arm off.
Your chances of skating through the summer months without a single mosquito bite are slim, even if you are diligently using your preventative blends. Should you find yourself with an insatiably itchy bite, don't fret. Lavender and blue tansy oils are well-known anti-itch medicines. Lavender can be applied directly to the skin and provides instant relief. Blue tansy should be diluted to a 2% concentration in a lotion or carrier oil and then massaged into the skin. Both of these oils smell good to many people, providing a nice change from the pink calamine lotion many of us endured as children.
This summer, expand your horizons. If you're not a fan of citronella, mix it with an oil you love and enjoy the benefits of research into something as mundane, and important, as learning to live with insects. By combining what we're learning about aromatherapy with the vast array of applications available, your summer has the potential to be relatively bug-free. And DEET-free as well. So make plans to be outdoors, grab your essential oils and keep singing the praises of summer.
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