Chemical Free Tick Protection

May 30, 2017 Christina Mullin

If you are somebody that tends to spend a lot of time outdoors, you need to be able to effectively protect yourself from ticks. They are more than just a nuisance or a pest that makes us uncomfortable- they carry diseases, some of which are dangerous. The next time you’re out enjoying what the great outdoors has to offer, consider these toxin-free simple tricks and you can keep ticks from latching on and causing problems.

You’ll need a Lint”Sticky” Roller and a few Essential Oils.

The lint roller has handy adhesive layers. Take one with you when you’re going outside and roll it on your clothing every once in a while. You might be surprised with what you pick up in a very short amount of time. I used one and found ticks on my socks within 20 minutes of my hike.

By spraying essential oils on your clothing (shoes, socks and pant legs), it will also help to keep the ticks from climbing on you while you are outside. It also works for mosquitoes and black flies and is a good alternative to insect repellent, while reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals.

Here are 5 essential oils that repel bugs:

1. Lavender: Smells sweet to us but bugs absolutely hate it. It works on mosquitoes, flies and other insects.

2. Penny Royal: A member of the mint family and it is toxic to insects.

3. Lemongrass – Made from tropical lemongrass and has a citrusy sent. It is a natural flea and tick repellent and can be sprayed directly on the skin.

4. Eucalyptus: Use this alone or along with citronella oil to keep bugs away. According to the Journal of medical entomology, Eucalyptus extract can reduce tick bites and infections.

5. Lemon: This essential oil works against fleas and other bugs.

To create your own spray to use on your clothing:

1) Add 4 teaspoons of witch hazel to the spray bottle followed by 15 drops of lemon grass essential oil. You can also add cedar wood essential oil.

2) Fill the rest of the 8oz spray bottle with distilled water. Shake and ready to use.

To create spray to use on your skin, you will need to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, like jojoba, which is the best because it’s the most like the skins natural oils, helps to protect your skin, and has superior absorption.

In addition, from my friend Annie Kelly, I learned that

spraying your property with cedar oil three times a year is very effective, along with scattering “tick tubes” around the edge of lawns, wood piles and rock walls. According to Annie, “it needs a double approach as there is no point spraying if 5 minutes later a tick-laden mouse runs over the area. The tick tubes contain pesticide-loaded cotton wool for the mice to nest with. It doesn’t hurt them or their babies, but makes life happier for them as it kills any ticks hanging onto them. Also, ticks can’t survive after 4 hours in the sun, so lawns are safe especially after midday.”