Summertime is here! What does that mean to you? For me, it means spending more time outdoors, walking in the woods that surround my house, and working in the garden. Unfortunately, along with outdoor activities come BUGS! To me, getting chomped on by a deer fly can ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening in the garden or hike through the woods.
This has happened to me a couple of times this spring. It was a 
biting reminder that I need to use the tools I have. I quickly went inside and got my oils out. First, I put a drop of Purification on the bite to neutralize the poisons from the bug bite and relieve itching. Then I grabbed a spray bottle, filled it with water, added 15 drops of Purification and a bit of Lavender Conditioner as an emlusifier and shook it up. I sprayed myself all over with it and went back to the garden. The insects checked me out then headed the other direction!
There are actually a lot of essential oils that will work as insect repellents. Instead of poisoning yourself with the toxic commercially available insect repellents, make your own Bug-Be-Gone sprays. Here are a few recipes sure to send those bugs ‘a-packin’:
- Combine 5 drops lavender, 5 drops lemongrass, 3 drops peppermint and 1 drop thyme. Put on feet or add to a little spray bottle filled with water, shake well, and spray on.
- Put 5 drops lemon and 5 drops Purification in a little spray bottle of water and mist on your skin to protect yourself against insects, flies, and mosquitoes.
Tick Bites: Mix thyme or oregano in a 50:50 dilution (with carrier oil) and apply 1 or 2 drops over the bite area and the tick. The phenols in these oils will usually cause them to let go to get away from the oil. After the tick is off, treat the bite topically with a drop of tea tree, peppermint, lavender, rosemary or Thieves a couple of times a day.
Have a Happy Summer!
