After a really cold winter, it finally feels like summer is here to stay.
With summer come all the usual suspects: enjoying the outdoors, going swimming, taking long walks, and simply soaking up the sun whenever and wherever possible.
But with summer also comes one classic nuisance: bugs. And while most insects can simply be annoying, some can be dangerous. Common ticks are a prime example.
Luckily, I’ve never personally been affected by a tick, but like many of us, I know many people first-hand that have.
Ticks are so small that it is often very difficult to spot them before it’s too late and suck themselves into our skin. And at that stage they’re difficult to get rid of.
In order for as many people as possible to avoid being bitten this summer, we’ve compiled a short list of tips that can be useful for all those outdoor outings you have planned this summer – especially when you’re out in more rural areas.
It may be useful to vaccinate yourself in order to protect yourself from Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), but you can also use essential oils to keep the little buggers at a safe distance.
Here are five essential oils that are known to be perfect to help deter ticks:
- Lavender: while lavender smells lovely to us, insects typically cannot stand the smell.
- Pennyroyal, a relative of the better known mint, is poisonous to insects
- Lemongrass gives off a wonder citrusy smell, and has the advantage of being able to be applied directly to the skin
- Eucalyptus is both good for keeping insects at a comfortable distance – and also relieves bites and itches.
- Lime: insects do not like the smell and will not come close if you rub some on your skin. You can even spray some on your clothes for even better protection.
In addition to the above tips, consider the following:
• If hiking, make sure you walk in the middle of the trail and avoid tall grass, especially in the mornings and in humid terrain.
• Wear full-length pants with your socks on the outside, as well as boots. Light-colored garments also make it easier to see and brush away any ticks.
• Thoroughly inspect yourself after being outdoors and quickly remove any ticks that you find. Most of the time, no infection is transmitted during the first few hours, so the earlier you remove them, the less the risk.
Please share this article with all your family and friends in order to help them also keep the little buggers as far away as possible this summer!
Published by Animal Bible, please like
