How To Naturally Avoid Being Eaten Alive By Vampires — I mean Mosquitoes

Did you know that mosquitoes are drawn to a specific blood type?

It’s true, they prefer the ‘O’ group which, unfortunately, happens to be mine.

So how do I prevent being eaten alive by these pests?

In this article, I’ll let you know just how I do it the natural way.

The Dangers of DEET
DIY Natural repellants
My Repellant Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need:
Disclaimer:

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The Dangers of DEET

Way back when I didn’t know any better, I used to bathe in a DEET filled repellent whenever I’d go hiking, to the park, or even to the beach.

Yes! I had no clue of the dangers that lurked in a generic bottle of repellant. If you’re unfamiliar with these dangers, allow me to enlighten you.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducted a research in 2004 which resulted in some disturbing findings.

The study found that there were no apparent signs of neurotoxicity in people who had been exposed to DEET, alone or in combination. However, the study did find that these people had significant neurobehavioral deficits and neuronal degeneration in their brains.

So, what exactly does that mean?

Well, it means that people who use DEET-based repellents are at a higher risk for developing neurological issues. That’s problems related to your nervous system, especially the brain and spinal cord.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather take my chances with a few mosquito bites than knowingly use something that will mess with my brain.

After reading that I knew I had to find a natural way to ward off these suckers.

I was curious about how many types of mosquitoes existed since most of the research I read was only done on three types, so I googled “How many types of mosquito are there?” The results sent my skin crawling.

There are more than 3,000 different types of mosquitoes living on the earth with us! That’s a scary thought.

During my research, I found three types of natural repellents that actually work. Some are more effective than others so to combine their strengths and ward off a wider range of bugs, I chose to mix them.

The choice is yours whether you want to use one, two, or all three.

DIY Natural repellants

#3: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang Ylang essential oil combined with a carrier oil like coconut oil will protect your skin from continuous bites for up to one and a half hours.

Even though the effectiveness doesn’t last as long as traditional DEET repellents it does a great job of keeping those suckers away from your blood.

Traditionally ylang ylang has also been used to treat malaria.

You may make a quick and simple homemade repellent by adding two to three drops of ylang ylang to one tablespoon of any carrier oil.

#2: Peppermint Essential Oil

Insects hate peppermint!

Not just mosquitoes but a wide array of bugs like spiders and ants hate the smell of peppermint according to the website Family Handyman, a website dedicated to improving homes, yards, and vehicles.

That makes this oil a perfect addition to our mixture.

It smells great, has a cooling effect when it comes in contact with your skin, and keeps bugs away. It’s a must-have ingredient for me.

When buying peppermint essential oil, make sure that the oil is not diluted with any other ingredient and is 100% pure.

Add one to two drops in one tablespoon of the carrier oil of your choice and you’ll have a quick homemade repellant that smells amazing.

#1: Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil

At number one we have the only essential oil approved by the CDC as being highly effective against mosquitoes.

Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil comes from a tall north-eastern Australian tree commonly known as lemon-scented gum or spotted gum.

With three hours of protection, you can go on a short hike and return without worrying about reapplying.

Just to be on the safe side, I advise preparing a portable mist to spray on open skin periodically because sweating does attract mosquitoes and the goal here is to not get bitten.

How to make the repellant?

Just like the two before, it’s as simple as adding three to four drops of lemon eucalyptus oil in one tablespoon of carrier oil.

You now have a potent mixture that will keep mosquitoes away for hours.

I advise doing a small patch test on your skin before use and if you have any reactions, stop using it immediately.

I know the agony of not being able to take in a breathtaking view with the wind rushing through my hair because I’m hopping from one leg to the next trying and failing miserably to get away from tiny vampires.