Summer has officially started in the Marrelli house and we could not be any more excited! We will be doing some traveling and the kids are going to be going to two different camps.
In my last blog, Here Comes The Sun: Skin Safety In The Summertime, I highlighted the importance of safety in the sun. Today I want to share with you an essential that my family uses – and that many of my clients use – during the summertime. It’s called BUG SPRAY. An essential for anyone living here in South Florida. Aka: The Swamp.
Mosquito Invasion Of Another Kind
As we all know, summertime in Miami = mosquito invasion. The thing is, I personally don’t want to have my skin saturated with chemicals. Why? Because 70% of what you put onto your skin gets absorbed right into the blood. This can affect a myriad of organs and can even disrupt hormone function.
DEET Dangers
One very well known chemical, called DEET, has been known to cause things like memory loss, headaches, skin blisters and other kinds of skin irritations, seizures, stiffness in the joints, and even shortness of breath. No bueno.
It has also been linked to neurotoxicity that may in fact lead to physiological and behavioral problems. Now, for all you animal lovers out there please don’t shoot me. In animal studies, DEET was found in the fetus and in newborns up to three months old after exposing the mother to the chemical. If it can cross the placenta of an animals baby, what about a human’s?! You can read more about the dangers of DEET on www.madesafe.org
Safe, Natural And Effective Alternatives
I have some alternatives that I use on myself and my family that I’d like to share with you here today.
The first one is a product called “TerraShield” from doTERRA. This repellent blend has been scientifically shown to repel insects more effectively than other synthetic insect repellents.
TerraShield has several essential oils in it like Ylang Ylang, Cedarwood, Catnip, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Litsea, Arborvitae, Tamanu, Nootka, and Vanilla Bean Absolute—all of which contain specific chemical compounds known to protect against environmental annoyances.
Which is REALLY good news – especially for families who like summertime camping or fishing at sunset. All you need to do is spray on any exposed skin or to apply openings in your clothing before outdoor activity. You can also diffuse it out on your patio. (The stuff really works!)
I would also like to give you a wonderful DIY bug spray that is 100% non-toxic.
Ingredients:
– 20-30 drops of doTERRA TerraShield
– 10 drops of Lemon oil
– 10 drops of Eucalyptus oil
Method:
Add the above 2-3 oils to a 4oz bottle of distilled water with a few drops of fractionated coconut oil for moisture and shake before use.
If you would like help getting any of the above essential oils, please email me at: Carolina@EquiBalanceHealth.com
Do you have a homemade bug spray recipe that you would like to share? Comment below!
