Natural Oil Insect Repellent

If you have concerns about mosquito bites and mosquito borne diseases like the West Nile Virus then you are probably considering using a chemical based insect repellent. These insect repellants contain the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). 

However you don't absolutely have to resort to using this type of insect repellent if you don't want to or if you are concerned that your kids might be developing environmental sensitivities as a result.  Try making your own insect repellent out of natural essential oils. T

here are several essential oils that can be used as insect repellents. Clove oil and citronella also known as (rose geranium) are the most effective against mosquitoes.  However you need to use clove oil carefully and sparsely as it can irritate delicate skin.

Other essential oils that can be used as insect repellents include peppermint, castor oil, lemon grass, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, cedar and lavender. You can buy cedar oil in spray-on bottles at your local pet store for spraying on furniture and pets to keep them away. Both citronella and garlic oil are supposed to be the most effective for keeping bugs away. Unfortunately garlic oil really smells awful so it is not used in these preparations. When using essential oils be sure to store them safely away.  They come in blue and brown bottles that kids might find attractive. These oils must not be used internally. They are only effective when used on garments, skins or furniture.

You should not apply the oils directly onto your pet as that is toxic. If you are worried about an allergic reaction you can test the oil on a small patch of your skin or your child's skin to see what happens before you make the decision to use it widely on your body. You can make your own insect repellant sprays by combining rubbing alcohol (or witch hazel, vodka, or olive oil) any of ht essential oils listed in this blog. The ratios should be about ten drops of alcohol to one drop of essential oil. Be sure to shake this homemade concoction well before each use. 

You can also concoct your own lotion out of two ounces olive oil, two ounces distilled water and about 120 drops of essential oil. You put the water in a bowl and using a wire whip beat the olive oil into it.  After the oil is mixed thoroughly with the distilled water stir in your choice of essential oil. You can also add a few drops of your choice of insect- repelling essential oils to your shampoo or liquid soap for added protection.  Keep in mind that on hot days that these oils will evaporate fast so you will need to apply it more often then a chemical DEET based insect repellent. Sweat, rain, wind and jumping into a pool for a swim can also emanate the protective essential oil from your skin.

Tips on Buying Bottled Water

There has been some controversy lately about buying bottled water because of plastic leeching from the bottles into the water.. First off not all bottled water can be considered to fine or premium bottle waters.

Still you and your kids have to drink water. If. Not drinking enough water often causes the feelings of illness that many people experience when they are first beginning a diet or exercise program. These symptoms can include dry itchy skin, headaches, stress, mental fogginess, weakness, sleepiness, bloating and constipation

Here are some tips on buying bottled water that is of a healthy and of a high quality because the last thing we want to do is lower the life quality for our children any more than we already have.

The first tip is 'don't believe the pictures that you see on bottled waters'. One of the biggest scams going when it comes to bottled water is for the manufacturer to package it with pictures of mountains or clear flowing crystal springs on the labels. You would think from looking at the labels on these waters that you are buying a product that is packaged right at the source. Nothing could be further than the truth. There are several very big manufacturers of bottled water that are simply reselling tap water from the Great Lakes and other sources are not that pure. In essence, what you are buying, despite that picture of the Majestic Mountain or big iceberg on the label, is simply tap water made from municipal sources.

The second tip is to never buy a bottle that has been scratched. You can often see a scratch in a bottle if you hold it up to the light. If you see a scratch it means that the product may be contaminated with chemicals from the glass or plastic leaching into the water. This is because plastic is made from layers and not all of the plastic used to manufacture a plastic bottle is that hard.

The third tip is to never buy a plastic bottle of water that a bit warped or looks like it is melted a bit. This can mean that the bottle melted a bit from heat exposure. When plastic bottles are heated up the chemicals in the plastic can leach into the water as well. This is also why you should avoid drinking bottled water that you know has been sitting in the back of a hot car trunk or in direct sunlight. It is possible that the ultraviolet rays from the sun have degraded the plastic and caused the beverage to become toxic.

The fourth tip is to always check the cap on any bottled water that you buy. If it is loose, open or appears tampered with in any way due not consume the water's content. Anything can happen in this day and age. The water could be tampered with or contaminated with bacteria. If the bottled water container appears fat or swollen this is definitely a sign that the water has gone off or is contaminated with bacteria so don't drink it!