My family and I have a nice new playground, in the middle of the woods in West Virginia. Yes, that is where I backed into the tree (see past two posts). Since we have been exploring our new digs we have realized that there is one tiny (literally) problem. Ticks.
Since I have been on the East Coast I have never met so many people in one place that have or have had Lyme disease. I have talked to many of these people and treated many in my clinic for various aches and pains. This new found realization about Lyme is making me ultra paranoid. So I decided that instead of being paranoid, I am going to research and figure out some ways to prevent the ticks from getting their greedy little blood sucking teeth into me and my family, and my dogs…
So of course we all know about the sprays you can buy – but I am not sure what I am more paranoid about, giving my kids (and dogs) cancer from spraying Deep Woods Off on them every day, or them getting Lyme. There just has to be a better way.
I recently posed this question to a friend of mine, Susan Brady, who has a doctorate in integrative nutrition, and has recently had to go through hell since her son has suffered with Lyme disease. She emailed me the following information on some natural tick repellents. Thank you Susan! I am going to mix some up and try them out. I envision myself walking happily through the woods with a spray bottle in my holster.
Here is an article that I came across about the subject: http://www.nihadc.com/health-programs/lyme-disease.html
And here are the natural repellent recipes:
Natural Tick Repellents
Here are a few natural tick repellents you can make at home for yourself and for your pets. You should get a spray bottle (one that holds at least 16 oz) for some of these combinations.
- In a small container or bowl, combine 4 tablespoons vegetable oil or almond oil, 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel, and 30 to 40 drops geranium essential oil. Mix it well and use an eye dropper to apply the mixture to your skin and rub it in. You can also apply two to three drops to your dog’s collar to repel ticks.
- Make the same combination but use lavender essential oil instead of geranium. You can also use half geranium and half lavender essential oils.
- Combine 1 cup water, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, and 6 to 10 drops of geranium or lavender essential oil in a spray bottle. This tick repellent can be sprayed on clothing, your pet’s fur, your skin, and your lawn.
- Neem oil is an effective tick repellent for both humans and dogs, but you must use the mixture within 8 hours of preparing it, because the neem oil will lose its potency. First combine 16 ounces of warm water with 2 ml of mild detergent. Slowly add 5 ml of neem oil and stir vigorously. Use the mixture in a spray bottle. This tick repellent can be applied to the skin and to a dog’s fur.
- Another way to use neem is to bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add ½ cup dried neem leaves to the water. Steep the leaves for one hour, then strain off the liquid into a spray bottle. This neem water can be used on clothing, skin, and pets (rub into their fur). Avoid contact with the eyes or ears on pets and yourself.
- Ticks are not fond of citrus, so you can make a citrus tick repellent. Boil 2 cups of water and add any combination of 2 sliced citrus fruits: lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit. Allow the mixture to boil for about a minute, then simmer for one hour. Remove the fruit and put the liquid through a strainer. Pour into a spray bottle and use on your skin, your pet’s fur, and on your lawn.
- Combine 16 ounces of water and 20 to 25 crops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle and spritz onto clothing, your dog’s fur, and your lawn.
Natural Tick Repellent
Mix together:
3 Tablespoons Almond oil
2 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel
1 Teaspoon Neem oil (if you can find it)
20 drops of Lavender essential oil
20 drops of Grapefruit seed extract
A few drops each of Lemon Eucalyptus, Citronella, Rose Geranium, Tea Tree, Peppermint essential oils. Shake well to mix.
Shake well prior to each use. Rub on before tick exposure.
Natural Tick Repellent
Mix together in a clean empty shampoo bottle, preferably a travel size:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon of aloe vera gel, shake vigorously for one minute to mix
Add 25 drops of rose geranium essential oil
Add 25 drops of lavender essential oil
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds to mix. Rub on your body before tick exposure. Squeeze a dime-size amount of the repellent into your hands and rub on any exposed area of your body, including your hands, arms, ankles and neck.
COMMENTS
Thanks for the tip! Tics worry me too but even more worrisome are the chemical sprays used to combat them. I’d prefer to check and pluck regularly than spray and contaminate over a lifetime.
I know that ticks are not a subject that you relish talking about! I’m sorry to hear about this, as I’m sure it was an awful revelation. I think it’s great that you shared your repellent recipes and hopefully others will share their success stories, too!
Happy to report that the natural repellents seemed to work. We did see a tick or two, but that was down from a dozen or so from the last time. The spray actually smells really good, and the one that you rub on, with the aloe in it, is lovely for your skin!
