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NEWS*BITES<br />
BY VERA TWEED<br />
HOW TO USE<br />
ESSENTIAL OIL<br />
SPRAYS<br />
TO WARD OFF TICKS<br />
In many areas of the country, ticks are a hazard to reckon with while enjoying the<br />
outdoors. They attach to your skin, feed on your blood, and can transmit Lyme<br />
disease or other infections in the process. Chemical repellents, such as DEET,<br />
are effective, but toxic. Luckily, they aren’t the only choice.<br />
“Essential oil sprays can be helpful,” says Drew Sinatra, ND, a naturopath<br />
in Northern California who treats many patients with Lyme disease and other<br />
tick-borne infections. While essential oils aren’t always enough, he adds,<br />
“They’re certainly less toxic.”<br />
When Essential Oils Work Best<br />
Essential oils work best where the vegetation is not too dense. “If people are going<br />
out hiking on trails and they’re not in tall grass or the bushes—where they’re<br />
touching a lot of the plant matter—I think they’ll<br />
be safe,” says Sinatra. But a chemical repellent<br />
may be more prudent when you’re heading<br />
into dense wilderness.<br />
Other Essential Precautions<br />
Regardless of the type of repellent, Sinatra<br />
emphasizes one basic step: “You have to be<br />
doing regular tick checks.” When hiking<br />
in dense vegetation, wear light-colored<br />
clothing, tuck pants into boots, and look<br />
for ticks—often. Watch out for ticks in<br />
decaying leaves on the ground, as well.<br />
Essential Oils<br />
to Look For<br />
Ticks can tell that<br />
you’re coming by detecting<br />
breath, body odors, body<br />
heat, moisture, and vibrations.<br />
Essential oils (and chemical<br />
bug sprays) interfere with the<br />
ticks’ senses, making you less<br />
desirable as a host. When added<br />
to a carrier oil, such as coconut<br />
oil, these are some of the main<br />
essential oils that repel ticks<br />
and other insects:<br />
* Geranium<br />
* Cedarwood<br />
* Peppermint<br />
* Rosemary<br />
* Thyme<br />
* Castor<br />
* Citronella<br />
* Clove bud<br />
* Lemongrass<br />
* Soybean<br />
Many of these oils can be found<br />
in natural bug sprays and balms<br />
for people and pets. Apply every<br />
30–60 minutes.<br />
Illustration: adobestock.com<br />
6 • AUGUST <strong>2020</strong>
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