Organic Remedies for Bites
ByOrganic living means avoiding pest sprays on your food. So why on earth would you want to spray them on your skin? Millions of people do just that, however, in an attempt to keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay.
Ironically, the result of this spraying is that the pests themselves are becoming more resistant, and humans are required to cover themselves in ever stronger chemicals to counteract it. Every generation of pesticides has produced pests with greater resistance.
What’s more, some “personal pesticides” appear to have some very unpleasant effects. DEET (diethyl toluamide), which was developed for and tested by American troops in the Vietnam War, has triggered adverse reactions in consumers, and there’s even a suggestion of a link with infant deaths. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a consumer bulletin in response to several reports of headaches, convulsions, .and unconsciousness in people who had used DEET. The bulletin advised people never to use it on irritated or cut skin, to keep it away from the eyes and mouth, and to wash exposed skin with soap and water.
Instinctively, many of us understand that there is absolutely no need to resort to this chemical weaponry against creepy-crawlies. Natural essential oils can help keep them at bay instead. In addition, the oils don’t actually kill the bugs – they just keep them away from us. For those of us who believe in an ecosystem in which nature’s balance is to be maintained, that’s a more acceptable approach.
Lavender, geranium, lemon, lemon grass, and citronella essential oils all help repel insects. Vaporize any of them in a burner where you’re sitting or sleeping. Alternatively, lavender can be applied undiluted to the skin; the other oils can be diluted in a carrier oil, such as jojoba or grapeseed: to each tablespoon of base oil, add 12 drops of essential oils, and apply to vulnerable areas, especially ankles and wrists.
Neem oil (from the Indian tree Azadirachta indica) is said to provide significant protection from mosquitoes for up to 12 hours. Dr. Hauschka makes an oil based on neem.
If indoor bugs are a problem, try hanging strips of cotton cloth that have been clotted with drops of essential oils around the house. In addition to being environmentally friendly, this is also a healthy alternative to chemically treated commercial no-pest strips, some of which have been linked to cancer.
A lavender- or cedar-scented handkerchief, laid in a drawer or tied around a coat hanger, will help keep moths away.
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