DIY Herbal Insect Repellents to Keep Mosquitoes and Ticks at Bay

Herbal therapy educator Erica Kuo explained to the Epoch Times “Health 1+1” program that aromatic herbs can help prevent insect bites, sharing how to make homemade mosquito repellent and first-aid essential oils.

(Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock）

For the first time in 20 years, a resurgence of malaria over the past two months in the United States has people reminded of the dangers tiny pests like ticks and mosquitoes can present. Herbal therapy educator Erica Kuo explained to the Epoch Times “Health 1+1” program that aromatic herbs can help prevent insect bites, sharing how to make homemade mosquito repellent and first-aid essential oils.

2 Hydrosols to Repel Insects and Relieve Itch

During summer, mosquito bites can cause redness, swelling, and itching that persists throughout the day and disrupts sleep at night, leaving one tired at work. If you scratch these, bacteria can enter your skin and cause cellulitis. Therefore, Ms. Kuo emphasized that relieving itching and reducing swelling immediately after a mosquito bite is important.

Some people crush Coleus (or Plectranthus) amboinicus, a relative of oregano, and apply it directly to the skin to relieve itching. However, Ms. Kuo emphasized that this is not advisable because Coleus amboinicus contains strong essential oil components that can be too harsh for direct application on wounded skin, resulting in severe skin ulcers.

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Ms. Kuo suggested using true lavender hydrosol and peppermint hydrosol to relieve itching. Both have scents that mosquitoes dislike and are effective in repelling insects and soothing itchiness. Hydrosols are the byproducts of plant essential oil extraction, containing approximately 0.02 percent of essential oil molecules. They are gentle and nonirritating, making them suitable for direct application on the skin.

Homemade Herbal Insect Repellent

When properly purified, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and eucalyptus essential oils contain a component called PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol) that is effective in repelling mosquitoes.

One important thing to note about oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE): It is not the same thing as lemon eucalyptus oil, despite the similar name. In contrast to lemon eucalyptus oil, OLE mostly comprises PMD, whereas the other is mainly citronella.

Ms. Kuo recommends purchasing OLE and eucalyptus essential oils and either using them separately or mixing them. Place a few drops on an essential oil patch and then attach the patch to your clothing to repel mosquitoes. You can reuse the patch for about a week.

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She added that other effective herbal repellents include Cymbopogon citratus, mint, lemongrass, cedarwood, clove, neem, patchouli, and geranium.

The Epoch Times

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For a natural insect repellent, prepare a 20-milliliter (0.67-fluid ounce) or 30-milliliter (1.01-fluid ounce) bottle and add 20 milliliters (0.67 fluid ounce) of true lavender hydrosol, 5 milliliters (0.16 fluid ounce) of neem oil, two drops of rosemary essential oil, three drops of lavender essential oil, three drops of oil of lemon eucalyptus, two drops of peppermint essential oil, and one drop of cinnamon essential oil. Spraying this mixture on clothing and reapplying every two hours is recommended.

Ms. Kuo advised that true hydrosols should be colorless, as opposed to some commercially available products that are simply water diluted with essential oils. When purchasing cinnamon essential oil, choose Ceylon cinnamon, as it is considered safer than cassia cinnamon.

Preventing Tick Bites

In June, a woman in Japan in her 70s died from Oz virus, the world’s first case of a death resulting from this infection transmitted by ticks.

Ticks are small parasites that feed on the blood of animals, especially deer and raccoons. Ticks carrying bacteria can transmit various diseases to humans and pets. Ms. Kuo cautioned people to be aware of deer or raccoons entering your yard, as ticks infesting these animals may bite people.

Patients have presented with varying symptoms caused by tick bites. These were often misdiagnosed as depression, psychiatric disorders, or heart diseases due to difficulty determining the cause.

Infection by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria carried by ticks can also lead to Lyme disease, causing abnormal symptoms in the skin, circulatory, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems.

A study published in the Antibiotics (Basel) journal in 2018 by a research team at Johns Hopkins University found that the following 10 essential oils and spices exhibited potent activity against stationary-phase cells of Borrelia burgdorferi, demonstrating their potential in preventing Lyme disease:

• Cinnamon.
• Garlic.
• Allspice.
• Cumin.
• Palmarosa.
• Myrrh.
• Hydecheium (a relative of ginger).
• Amyris balsamifera.
• Thyme.
• Litsea cubeba.
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE).

Herbal First Aid for the Outdoors

When venturing outdoors, Ms. Kuo recommends carrying tea tree essential oil and lavender essential oil as first-aid remedies for insect bites. Both have anti-swelling properties and are less likely to cause allergies even when undiluted.

Ms. Kuo said true lavender essential oil can also be used for first aid in case of burns or scalds. After flushing the affected area with water, applying true lavender essential oil and hydrosol can help prevent blisters. It’s best to use a freshly extracted tea tree essential oil product. Both oils are relatively gentle, but if you find them too strong for your skin, you can mix them with a carrier oil before use.

If you are without anti-itch remedies outdoors, Ms. Kuo suggests using yarrow, a common plant in the United States. Crush the leaves or flowers and apply them to the skin to relieve itching. This method is nonirritating and can help reduce swelling. If you experience fever or swelling after a mosquito bite, cut up yarrow leaves, soak them in boiling water, and drink about four cups a day to help reduce swelling.

Yarrow (Achillea) blooms in the wild among grasses. Orest lyzhechka/Shutterstock

Homemade Aromatic Insect Repellent for Building Anti-Mosquito Constitution

For summer insect bite prevention, Ms. Kuo recommends making aromatic insect repellent. You can use an aroma diffuser and add three drops of oil of lemon eucalyptus, two drops of lavender essential oil, and one drop of rose geranium essential oil. This formula not only repels mosquitoes but also has a pleasant fragrance. It can also improve sleep quality for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome or menopause.

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Ms. Kuo advises not using the diffuser continuously for several hours. It is recommended to use it for about an hour, then turn it off and open windows to increase air circulation. If you want to reuse the diffuser, add new essential oils before using it again.

Ms. Kuo herself used to be frequently bitten by mosquitoes. She noticed some changes after taking essential oil baths, using lotions containing essential oil components, and drinking herbal teas with essential oil components. Firstly, she didn’t have a strong odor even after sweating, and secondly, mosquitoes rarely bit her. She explained that the components of aromatic herbs enter the bloodstream, which has led to her developing resistance to mosquito bites.