Fall is here and school is back in session and you might be wondering how to lessen the impact of using harsh chemicals in your insect arsenal. As soon as school is back so are the head lice. Yuck!!   Did you know that there are natural plant based oils that can also do a great job of deterring bugs!. You may have heard about citronella for mosquitos, but did you know there are several additional essential oils that can also be an effective bug repellant? Clove, Rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lavender, geranium and peppermint essential oils are also effective against an array of bugs.

Make your own Bugs-Be-Gone blend:

Create a blend using equal parts Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Citronella, Clove, Rosemary and Lavender essential oils in a dropper bottle or a bottle with an orifice reducer. Every morning massage one drop on the bottom of your feet. You can use it “neat” which is undiluted or you can dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or grape seed oil. For children under 4 years of age it is best to dilute with a carrier oil.

For added benefits rub a little along your hairline. The essential oils will be absorbed into your body and will act as a pheromone that will repel the bugs. You can find more recipes like this one in Jen O’Sullivan’s book: French Aromatherapy: Essential Oil Recipes and Usage Guide.

Don’t want to make your own blend?

I like using a blend called Purification by Young Living. This blend contains tea tree, citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, myrtle, and lavandin. All are repellants for both mosquitos and lice. Dilute with a carrier oil before application (grapeseed, almond oil, fractionated coconut oil are all good choices, most of which can be found in the cooking section at the grocery store).

Essential oils are powerful and should be treated with respect. While they are all natural, they can be harmful if not used appropriately.

As with starting any new regimen with essential oils, watch for any potential sensitivity. If a reaction occurs discontinue use until you can determine the source.

For more information on my favorite essential oils, you can visit www.CanadianMoms.ca or email me at [email protected]