Mosquito Repellent

How many of you cringe at the thought of putting mosquito repellent all over your body?  It definitely works, but have you stopped and thought of what your skin is absorbing into your bloodstream?  Ew is right. 

DEET is a member of the toluene chemical family which is a common solvent that is used in rubber and plastic cements and also paint removers. It is absorbed through the skin and then into the bloodstream and intestinal tract.

People do get skin irritations and rashes from it.  Other side effects include damage to brain cells, a negative effect on the central nervous system, loss of memory, headaches, fatigue, respiratory problems and more.  It is not safe for babies less than 2 months old.  The use of DEET on children can be even more dangerous because their nervous systems are still developing.  If you have to use DEET on small children, use a small percentage of DEET in the repellent.  Make sure that you wash it off (no pun intended) as soon as you will be indoors.

Did you know that DEET was developed by the US Army for use in jungle warfare? 

Did you know that when you apply sunscreen and DEET that the DEET makes the sunscreen less effective?


What essential oils can we use for mosquito repellent? 
Purification, Palo Santo oil, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, palmarosa, cedar, geranium and others.  Since the essential oils are of a high concentration, they must be diluted before applying them directly to the skin.

Purification is a Young Living Essential Oils (YLEO) blend of therapeutic grade essential oils, no carrier oils added. It is a blend of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Melaleuca alternifolia and Myrtle. The Purification blend cleanses the air and neutralizes odors when diffused. It disinfects and cleanses cuts and scrapes and alleviates itching and redness from insect bites including spiders, bees, hornets and wasps. The sooner you can apply Purification to a bite the smaller the reaction will be. The essential oils draw out the sting toxins and keep them from spreading through the body. In the case of an allergic reaction to a sting, apply Purification neat (without diluting) to the site of sting every 10 minutes while you are on the way to seek medical attention.

Here's a great website from Seventh Generation about natural mosquito repellant:  http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/natural-mosquito-repellent.html

Sources and Resources:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/insect-repellent-skin.htm
http://www.ivillage.com/insect-repellent-safe-babies-and-toddlers/6-n-136820
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/ask-heidi/insect-repellent.aspx
http://www.ecolife.com/parenting/organic-baby-body/natural-insect-repellent.html
http://www.family-essential-oils.com/natural-insect-repellent.html
http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/purification-essential-oil.html
http://aromatherapyliving.com/palo_santo_essential_oil.html
http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/palo-santo-oil.html
http://webdeb.com/oils/bug-spray/
http://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/insectrepellent.asp

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity. The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information. The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

For more information:www.oilsforhealthyliving.net