It is summer time and the biting insects are out and about. Homemade Insect Repellents are safe and natural ways to dissuade the insects from eating you! I am using herbs and essential oils for these recipes bit I also think it is important to understand the role of these biting insects in the wider environment - they are not just here to torment us! 😂 Midges and mosquitos are part of the food chain and help to sustain fish, reptiles, dragonflies, birds and bats. As for repelling them, let's find out what makes us so tasty in the first place. Breathing out CO2 - Sweating out CO2 - Getting hot and bothered - Blood Group O - Dark and bright clothing - Diet So we can avoid doing much heavy work or exercise in early morning and evening when these insects are busy and about. We an eat a healthy, natural diet instead of junk and processed food. We can take a good quality B-Complex vitamin supplement. We can wear pale, pastel or white clothing and be sensible in our movements in the early morning and evening. We can also call on herbs to repel insects as well as essential oils. If you would like to know more about using herbs to help yourself and your family, I have some herb courses just for you. https://www.danusirishherbgarden.com/product/an-introduction-to-herbal-medicine-a-6-month-digital-course__trashed/ and have a look at this special offer - https://www.danusirishherbgarden.com/product/herb-course-bundle-special-offer/ You might also consider the Wise Woman Way training https://www.danusirishherbgarden.com/wise-woman-way/ and do take a look in the shop -https://www.danusirishherbgarden.com/product-category/products/
Thanks to Lol for music, filming and editing. You can find him here - https://www.youtube.com/@lolhardiman5247 and this is his website - https://lolhardimanmusic.com/ There are several herbs that are very aromatic and that biting insects do not like. The most common and well known are Lavender, Rosemary, Peppermint, Wormwood and Tansy amongst others less well known, such as Herb Robert, Southernwood and Marsh Woundwort. Any of these herbs can be crushed until moist and rubbed over the skin.Garlic is also great at repelling everything from greenfly and black fly in the garden to midges, mosquitos and fleas as well as vampires! 😂 I have used cut Garlic rubbed over pulse points very successfully. The first repellent was made in the following way - Chop up Garlic and add cut herbs such as Tansy, Wormwood, Lavender, Rosemary, Herb Robert and Marsh Woundwort. Pound until all ingredients are crushed. Cover with vodka or with Witch Hazel and leave to steep for 3-6 weeks. Strain off into a spray bottle and spray your self, pet's bedding and along the spine of a dog or cat. You could also put these herbs into little muslin sachets and put in the pet's bed. Add the herbs to Lavender when making Lavender Bags for your drawers and linen closets. While waiting for that to infuse, you can quickly mix some essential oils in a carrier oil for instant insect repelling. Put some carrier oil into a spray bottle - I used Jojoba but you can use what you prefer. Depending on the amount of carrier oil, add about 10-15 drops of any of the following essential oils - Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Citronella, Patchouli. Choose the ones you like for a pleasant fragrance. Top up with some vodka or Witch Hazel and shake the bottle before use to combine the oil and vodka or Witch Hazel. If you are in an area with an intense affliction of midges, you might need to wear a hood or a net. I got mine for Christmas and it is by a company called www.smidgeup.com
