NATURAL PEST REPELLENTS

Having a wonderful garden helps to soothe your soul, but along with that comes responsibility for our environment. Whenever we can use a natural approach to maintaining our yard and garden, we all benefit.

Some natural pest repellents to consider that are safer alternatives to commercial pesticides:

Ants: Sprinkle cinnamon, bay leaves, cayenne pepper or baby powder in problem areas and along baseboards and windowsills. Use boiling water over mound. Do not stir the mound.

Cockroaches: Sprinkle equal parts of baking soda and confectioners’ sugar in problem areas. You can also use essential oils to repel cockroaches. Mix 10 drops peppermint and 5 drops cypress essential oils in a cup of salt water. Shake well and spray where roaches live.

Mosquitoes: Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water placed on your deck or balcony or dab lavender oil on your wrists and elbows.

Essential oils can very effective in repelling mosquitoes.

Mosquito repellent: Lemon, peppermint, Eucalyptus, lemongrass, clove, tea tree and cedar wood essential oils.
Citronella is the best known essential oil for repelling bugs. Most people think of the "citronella candle" (that is usually
stinky and toxic - because it is usually petrochemical based,
not natural and organic), they don't know that citronella is
a natural essential oil.

Natural citronella is found in Young Living's blend Purification
(which is great for bugs in general - and great for skin too!)
If you want to make your own mosquito repellent lotion, mix 2 oz. each of water and vegetable oil and add 120 drops of essential oil or oils. To use as a spray, use rubbing alcohol or 10 oz vodka to 1oz olive oil and 120 drops of essential oil in a spray bottle.

Flies: Small sachets of crushed mint placed around the home will discourage flies. So will a potted sweet basil plant. Horse-fly repellent: Idaho tansy floral water

Mice: Place cotton dipped in peppermint oil near problem areas.
Used kitty litter is another repellent.

Essential oils have outstanding antiseptic and oil-soluble properties. Because of this, essential oils are ideal for treating most kinds of insect bites. Lavender and peppermint are popular oils to reduce insect bite induced itching.

Bee stings: Flick or scrape the stinger out with a credit card or knife, being careful not to squeeze the venom sack. Apply Lavender 2-3 times a day until redness subsides. Peppermint can be used for pain or infection.

Moths repellent: Patchouli oil

Essential oils can also be diffused or put on cotton balls or cedar chips(for use in closets or drawers)

Reference: Young Living Essential Oils Desk Reference

PRECAUTIONS: Always test a small area as some people may have an allergic skin reaction to some oils. Remember that essential oils are very concentrated and a small amount goes a long way.

Sign up for our free newsletter and also listen to a relaxing meditation
http://www.SynergisticCenter.com

Author's Bio: 

Sue uses her love for nature and the environment through her garden decor site which emphasizes healing with nature. She has always been a proponent of using natural methods whenever possible. So, when the opportunity became available to use natural therapeutic therapies to help individuals achieve a return to wholeness, she pursued this path and became certified as a Healing Touch Practitioner. Sue has published many self-care articles and ideas for creating your own backyard sanctuary on-line. Sue teaches Care for Self and Subtle Body Energy classes at a local career College and has helped conduct workshops with local hospitals and hospice for caregivers. She is in private practice in Louisiana. She is available for distant healing sessions. For more information, articles and useful links about energy healing, please visit http://www.SynergisticCenter.com