Protect Yourself Against Ticks This Season

  1. Guard your skin

All exposed skin should have tick repellent when playing outdoors, especially on children who tend to play closer to the ground.

Repellents with DEET are the most commonly sold and prescribed method of warding ticks off, but there is caution to be used when putting this pesticide on your skin.

Natural Living Ideas shares some of the warnings with the widespread chemical:

From 1961 to 2002, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reported eight deaths related to DEET exposure. While three of the fatalities resulted from deliberate ingestion, five occurred following DEET exposure to the skin in both adults and children.

In children, the most frequently reported symptoms of DEET toxicity reported to poison control centers including headaches, tremors, lethargy, seizures, involuntary movements, and convulsions. Experts also say that frequent and long-term use of this chemical, especially in combination with other chemicals or medications, could cause brain deficits in vulnerable populations, especially children.”

If these concerns worry you, you are not alone. Many mothers have resorted to natural repellents that are just as effective.

Common Sense Home has compiled some of the most potent herbs to keep ticks at bay:

  • Tick repelling herbs include:
  • Rose Geranium 
  • Sweetgrass
  • Pennyroyal
  • Rosemary
  • Rue
  • Wormwood
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass
  • Citronella
  • Eucalyptus