OK, there must be oils for this and of course, there are quite a few that will keep you from becoming lunch for these hungry flying pests. Now that we are in a wooded area right on a lake, my husband and I are particularly interested in bug bite protection.
Some people are literally a mosquito magnet. Don’t take this flying menace for granted—depending on the variety in your area, they may carry various viruses like Zika, yellow fever, dengue, malaria, West Nile, and other diseases. Best to not get bitten at all. I didn’t use any protection one of the times I was in Ecuador and got bitten—4 days later I had dengue fever and now that virus is harbored in my body ready to pounce again if I get bitten by a mosquito carrying that virus. I am most careful now when I visit Ecuador!
Here is a list of essential oils known to be helpful for warding off mosquitoes: Peppermint, Lemon Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Melissa, Roman chamomile, Lavender, Cinnamon Bark, Thyme, Citronella, Geranium, Myrrh, Sacred Frankincense, Frankincense, Idaho Balsam Fir, Idaho Tansy, Palo Santo, Rosemary, Lemon, Patchouli, Lemongrass. Here are some great Young Living blends I recommend: Purification, Melrose, Thieves, R.C., The Gift.
So, what can you do if you are already bitten by these pesky mosquitoes? Essential oils are absolutely ideal for treating most kinds of insect bites because of their outstanding antiseptic and oil-soluble properties. Oils like Lavender and Peppermint reduce insect itching and infection. These 2 oils are actually the best but there are other worthy oils as well to try: Citronella, Eucalyptus globulus, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Copaiba, and Dorado Azul.
How to Use these Oils in a Spray:
You can apply any of these oils directly to your ankles and wrists, but I recommend that you create a spray to cover more area. Besides, some of the oils are hot oils and might not be a wise choice for direct application.
Choose a small spray bottle, preferably made of glass or very hard plastic. Use approximately 2 ounces of water, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, 1 teaspoon of pure grain alcohol. Then add about 20 drops of oil—your choice from the list.
To Soothe Mosquito Bite Itching:
I just use LavaDerm Cooling Mist from Young Living. It has Lavender, Black Spruce and Helichrysum essential oils in it.
Enjoy the outdoors and be safe! Let me know if you need more recipes.
Linda Smith
720-201-9377