{"id":10764,"date":"2015-08-17T12:24:41","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T11:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/?p=10764"},"modified":"2015-09-11T14:37:48","modified_gmt":"2015-09-11T13:37:48","slug":"natural-insect-repellents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingy.com\/magazine\/natural-insect-repellents\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural insect repellents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer may be nice, but, alas, it is also the favored season of the Earth\u2019s multitude of creepies-crawlies. This army of insects is just itching to stick, poke, bite, sting, and scratch you. Even for those committed to using only natural skin and health products, it can be tempting to bring out the big guns.\u00a0But before you reach for the DEET, you should know that there is an alternative. That\u2019s right\u2014it\u2019s possible to be both bug and chemical-free.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why use a natural insect repellent?<\/h2>\n

Since the 1950s, synthetic repellents like DEET and picaridin have been standard ingredients in mass-market bug sprays. It\u2019s cheap, easy to manufacture, and effective. However, despite its widespread use, questions persist about the chemical\u2019s safety. Now, to be clear, the use of synthetic repellents like DEET is surely safer than risking malaria, yellow fever, or one of the other dangerous diseases that are potentially carried by mosquitos in tropical areas. If these diseases are present near you, it\u2019s best to consult with an expert before deciding to use alternative repellents.<\/p>\n

For those of us living in more temperate climes, however, a potent chemical like DEET might be overkill. What\u2019s more\u2014there\u2019s evidence that extended exposure to DEET \u201ccan impair functioning in parts of the brain and could result in problems with muscle coordination, muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition<\/a>\u201d. So, the next time you go camping somewhere where you don\u2019t need to worry about contracting West Nile virus, why not try one of these natural alternatives?<\/p>\n

Lemon Eucalyptus oil<\/h2>\n

One of the best natural ways to keep the bugs off is to use essential oils and the best for this purpose is Lemon Eucalyptus Oil. This isn\u2019t just your mama\u2019s natural remedy: LEO is approved by the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention for use as an insect repellent, and scientific studies<\/a> have demonstrated its efficacy.<\/p>\n

Create your own Lemon Eucalyptus Oil repellent by mixing one part LEO with ten parts neutral oil or witch hazel (we recommend you use organic oils or witch hazel<\/a>, of course) to make a bug spray. Which neutral oil you decide upon is up to you and your specific tastes: jojoba oil<\/a>, coconut oil<\/a>, rapeseed, or even plain old olive oil can do the trick, as all four have extra nourishing properties for the skin. An important note: it\u2019s not recommended to use this ingredient on small children under 3 years of age,\u00a0as they can have severe allergic reactions to LEO, including difficulty breathing.<\/p>\n

Other natural essential oils<\/h2>\n

While Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is the best of the bunch, many natural essential oils have insect repelling properties. This is because the plants themselves often evolved to produce the oils as a way of protecting themselves from insects. Each of the oils has its own advantages and applications, and you can even experiment with a mixture of oils.\u00a0These oils include:<\/p>\n