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summertime, and mosquitos are feeding

By on July 10, 2013
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Natural options from Kathi Casey.

Summer is lovely here at the lake. There is almost always a breeze, my flowers are beautiful, and the sunsets are amazing. But when the sun goes down, those pesky mosquitoes come out to dine! Some very dear friends recently introduced me to a cedar oil bug spray. It’s all natural, contains no DEET, and best of all, it worked great to keep those pesky little vampires away! Here’s a link to some if you’d like to try it. Or you can make your own with this recipe I found in Mother Earth News:

-2 1/2 teaspoons total of any combination of the following essential oils (available at health food stores): cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, or geranium

-1 cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available in liquor stores)

Place ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Transfer to small bottles for storage. To use, rub a small amount on any exposed skin (test first to be sure your skin will not be adversely affected by the repellent) or dab it on clothing.

Citronella candles look pretty when lit and can help a little. But I have not found that they keep all of the mosquitoes away – we grow a rather hardy version here in The Berkshires. So I recommend using everything that you can to keep those nasty little bugs away, I’ll set up the Tiki torches filled with Citronella, the cedar oil bug spray, and light the campfire – you bring the marshmallows!

mosquito

But what about after you’ve been bitten?

After all, it seems impossible to avoid ALL of those pesky little vampire bugs.

Here’s some information for you on what I have found works for me and doesn’t contain chemicals or steroids.

There are many “after bite” creams and sprays on the market. Some contain Hydrocortisone (a steroid), others calamine. Hydrocortisone, like all steroids is used to reduce inflammation; however, it can also cause skin irritation, so the side effects may not be worth the effort of using it for bug bites. On the other hand, if I ran into some poison ivy, I would run to get my prescription form of hydrocortisone to stop the itch ASAP!

Calamine lotion is a topical treatment that combines zinc oxide and iron oxide and is often used to reduce itching from various skin conditions like bites and poison ivy. When I was a youngster, I remember seeing my older brothers covered in the pink stuff when they got into some poison ivy. This one also can have inactive ingredients which may affect those with allergies and has been known to cause skin rashes in some people.

If you are looking for natural relief for the itching from your bug bite, try Neem oil. It’s available from Neem Tree Farms or you can pick some up at your local whole foods or health foods store. When I rub a tiny bit of this essential oil on my affected skin, the itching stops within a minute or so and I also find that the redness goes away much quicker as well. As with any plant, however, you should always test a small area first to make sure that you will not have an allergic reaction.

Neem oil is also recommended by veterinarians as a natural tick repellent for your pets, so if you’d like a little added protection for Fido, try some out! I will warn you that it does not smell like roses. You may want to consider a scented version!

 

New pic for other uses April 2010 smaller for web siteKathi Casey, “The Healthy Boomer Body Expert” is a renowned health coach, Amazon bestselling author, popular speaker and radio show guest; has appeared on Fox 23, ABC-8 Evening News, and produces her own TV show, “To Your Health.” Casey is a columnist, founder of The Healthy Boomer Body Center, and much more. Get to know her more at www.HealthyBoomerBody.com

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