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The summer season is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors and ramble in woods and fields. Unfortunately, mosquitos, biting flies, swarming gnats, and that sneaky vine poison ivy are all out there too, waiting to get you. Since most commercial bug repellents contain toxic chemicals that you may not want on your skin, we've collected a few herbal concoctions to help you stay bug and itch free.
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First off, it should be heartening to know that most herbs are bug repelling, including chamomile, geranium, lavender, artemisia, pennyroyal, and many more. To make an herbal bug repellent, we use essential oils which are highly concentrated.
This herbal mixture relies on two stronger repellents: eucalyptus and citronella, to which you can add other essential oils as you wish. Since both citronella and eucalyptus are on the smelly side, you may want to add lavender, geranium, or other essential oils to improve the fragrance.
You will need a tight-closing glass container to store your bug repellent.
For a base: 2 oz. of vodka (a food quality alcohol) or 2 oz. of an oil such as grapeseed or almond oil
Add:
1/4 tsp. citronella
1/4 tsp. eucalyptus
1/8 tsp. each of up to three additional oils, such as pennyroyal, geranium, lavender, or cedar
Shake the mixture thoroughly, and store the container in a cool, dark place. To use, just saturate a cotton ball and apply to exposed skin. I often put a saturated cotton ball of the stuff into a plastic sandwich bag, to carry on walks in the woods or to outdoor events, in case I need it.
The oils can be pricey, but both citronella and eucalyptus are in the $3-5 range for a small bottle. You should be able to make enough bug repellent to last the summer from one purchase of essential oils as a little goes a long way.
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If you do get bit by a mosquito, try rubbing witch hazel on your bite to relieve swelling and itching.
To improve on this simple remedy, I've taken a page from Pliny the Elder, who swears that basil takes the itch out of bug bites and stings. Just add fresh chopped basil to 2 oz. of witch hazel, and let steep in an air-tight, glass container. After a week or so, strain off the basil, and you will have a cheap and effective mosquito bite remedy. Adding basil does seem to enhance the itch-relieving properties.
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The supreme herb for poison ivy is jewelweed, which grows in moist areas much loved by poison ivy itself. If you know you have poison ivy around, and you can find jewelweed, this is the lotion to have on hand.
Jewelweed can prevent poison ivy, if applied within 4 hours of exposure to the plant. Or you can rub it on affected areas to relieve the symptoms after you already have poison ivy.
To make the lotion, get a bunch of jewelweed and put in a pot. Add water to cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Since jewelweed doesn't keep very well, you'll want to strain off the herb, pour the jewelweed decoction into ice cube trays, and freeze. Store jewelweed cubes in freezer bags in your freezer, and use as needed either as a preventative or treatment.
Of course the best way to avoid poison ivy is to know the plant, and stay away from it
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