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As spring blossoms, so do flies, gnats, no-see-um's, mosquitoes and a host of other insects that think they have every right to dive-bomb your eyes, snuggle into your ears, tickle your mouth and feast on your blood. In case you'd
rather these annoying little pests went somewhere else, there are lots of natural, herbal solutions to this problem.
There are many, many herbs that have been used for insect repellents, to name a few:
bay laurel, basil, cedar wood, chamomile, clover flowers, feverfew, garlic, ginger, lavender, mint, onions, pennyroyal,
rue, sassafras, savory, southernwood, vetiver, wormwood
How to keep the annoying little critters away from you?
Basil and flies don't seem to mix. Take a bunch of basil leaves along with you on your outings and scatter them on the table. The flies shouldn't bother you.
Pennyroyal can be a great deterrent against mosquitoes, gnats, wood ticks and flies. You can brew a strong tea of the leaves, strain and put in a spray bottle, or use pennyroyal oil, dilute before applying to the skin. Mosquitoes seem to be particularly repelled by pennyroyal oil, so if you are going into an area that has a major infestation, apply the diluted oil to exposed skin before going out. Never use pennyroyal oil internally as it can be fatal, and if you're pregnant it's probably best to stay away from pennyroyal internally and externally altogether!
Pennyroyal and Rue can be strewn around your dog's sleeping area. This combination is quite good at repelling fleas. A strong tea of these two herbs can be used instead of a chemical dip to keep fleas and ticks off Bowser's coat.
Rosemary oil mixed with beer can be an effective insecticide. The proportions are ½ teaspoon rosemary oil to ½ pint beer. Combine, may be used as a spray,
or put into a lotion.
Many creepy crawlies don't like the smell of wild sage or plain old garden sage. Tie the herb in bunches and hang in frequently used areas, both inside and outdoors.
OK, you've been a dinner item, now what?
Chamomile flowers made into a poultice can be applied to mosquito and other insect bites, for it's soothing effect. Fresh bee balm (lemon balm), clary sage leaf, parsley and basil can be crushed and rubbed onto the affected area. The parsley leaf seems to neutralize the poison and stop the itching.
Granted this isn't an herbal cure, but equal parts of salt and baking soda, mixed with just enough water to make a paste may relieve pain and itching from spider bites.
Have a good time outdoors, and don't let the bugs bite!
Don't Let Bugs Bother You
My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
St.-John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum): Some herbalists recommend an infused St.-John's-wort oil to treat mild burns that are well on their way to healing, including those caused by radiation treatments, to keep the skin supple.
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