Ticks and Aromatics
by Melissa McLaughlin
Winter is receding and Spring emerging. It means more time outdoors–time spent picking wildflower bouquets, time hiking in the fresh green of Spring. For the lavender, it is a time to weed all of the opportunistic weeds and grasses that have grown up under the freeze cloth, which means wading through fields of tall grasses.
It is also a time when tick nymphs emerge and are especially plentiful.
Because ticks are the carrier of numerous diseases, it is important to do all we can to protect ourselves when we are in high tick areas.
In addition to doing regular tick checks, wearing light clothing (with pants tucked in and tight wrist closures), herbal aromatics can help discourage ticks from biting us.
We found this natural Tick Repellent in Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home by Kasey Schwartz and have been dousing ourselves in it before going outside.
Shwartz’s recipe for Tick Be Gone:
¼ cup witch hazel
1 cup distilled water
10 drops Biodynamic lavender essential oil
10 drops lemongrass oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
To Make: Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well.
To Use: Spray over hair, clothes, pant cuffs, and shoes. Repeat every couple of hours.
To Store: Store indefinitely in spray bottle.
If you know you’ll be in tall grasses or wooded underbrush, please protect yourselves and consider using organic essential oils as added precaution. If you are bitten by a tick, please be careful to remove the tick properly and submit the tick for Lyme testing, if it is available in your region.
By taking certain safety precautions, we can stay safe and enjoy the beauty of Springtime.