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Protect Yourself This Summer!
The hot weather has arrived and with it, so have those pesky insects. You know them all, mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, sand flies, and a multitude of others. But before you grab your insect repellent and spray it on your skin be careful! Make sure you read the product label very thoroughly. Many insect repellants off the supermarket shelves can often contain harmful
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ingredients, the most controversial ingredient being DEET.
DEET, also known as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, is the active ingredient in many insect repellant products but it is known to have some very harmful side effects. DEET problems include and have been linked with skin reactions, breathing problems, nerve damage and even seizures. But don’t worry; there are many natural alternatives to toxic bug sprays available at Goodness Me!
There are several natural options to choose from when selecting the right insect repellant for you and your family. Buzz Away by Quantum is a leading natural mosquito repellant. Using it will provide you with a long lasting, effective chemical-free way to repel mosquitoes, ticks, flies and others. It is available in sprays and easy to use towelettes that are great for children and traveling. Buzz Away contains only natural ingredients like citronella, cedarwood, eucalyptus and is 100% DEET free!
Another popular choice is Country Comfort by St. Francis Herb Farm. This is a perfect outdoor product that’s extremely popular. Besides being highly effective, non-greasy, and non-toxic, it alleviates the swelling and skin irritations that arise from insect bites. The certified organic combination of Calendula, Sweet Almond oil, Citronella oil, Revensera oil and others help to keep away the bugs and are also great for your complexion.
Besides using combination products specifically for this time of year, you may have some items in your home already that you could use to repel those annoying insects. When you go camping try burning the essential oil of Rose Geranium. A study out of the University of Guelph has found that Rose Geranium oil is 97% effective against mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. Also, oil of Lavender, Citronella, Eucalyptus, and Tea Tree just to name a few are effective when used in a burner or put on pulse points on your body. We think that they smell great, bugs don’t seem to agree!
If you have a garden, grow the herb Tansy and hang it up to dry near your doors to repel insects. Bugs also don’t like the scent of Marigolds so if you grow them in your garden or potted plants they should help to keep the bugs at bay. Mosquitoes love bananas; peanuts; peanut butter and chocolate so don’t eat them if you plan to go camping. These items cause your body to secrete scents that attract mosquitoes. Increased levels of thiamine or Vitamin B1 (taking 50-100mg, 2 to 3 times daily) may repel insects such as mosquitoes or fleas as they dislike the thiamine odour that is expelled through the skin, although undetectable by the human nose. Other B Vitamins should be taken along with the B1 to prevent imbalances. Daily doses of odourless garlic capsules (such as Kyolic Garlic) can also help in repelling mosquitoes.
It is inevitable that a few insects will get through each summer there are effective natural alternatives to alleviate itch and pain; there is no need to suffer! Apply Apis Stick (available at Goodness Me!) to the bites to reduce itchiness, rub an onion slice on bites, apply baking soda or water with sea salt to the bite. Traumeel is also helpful in treating insect stings and bites.
Katie Wouters
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