Sufficient Self Forum

I have used Rose Geranium oil with success in the past.  We used to live on the edge of town and the lots next to and behind us were vacant and severely overgrown.  I was picking ticks off the dogs and kids daily.  The oil helped repel the ticks to a degree. 

I also second the guinea idea.  I have two that free range with my hens and unless the dogs/kids go trekking in the woods we haven't had many ticks.  I will also say that I bought my guineas as "teenagers" and kept them locked in the run for a week to learn that this is now their home and we've had no wandering off issues.

Are the ticks still bad?  Do you have a lot of leaves where you are?  I have found that raking the leaves and dumping them off the hillside far away from the house helps.  I have a big stand of oaks, and the ticks are terrible.  Apparently, the mouse population is down this year, and that is contributing to the rise in ticks attaching to people.

http://entomology.cornell.edu/cals/ento … r-Tick.pdf

You could try bathing with Bronners eucalyptus soap. I used to use it for camping and for washing the pets, and was happy with it.

Be Very careful about essential oils for the little ones. You need to read on on which ones are safe for kids.

You could also go to the drugstore and get a little powdered sulfur- probably from the pharmacy. I rub a tiny bit on my ankles when I expect to be in a high tick/flea/chiggers area.  Nothing wants to bite that stuff!
The catch is the stuff absorbs in from the skin and the smell comes out in all you pores after a little while. It wont smell good to humans either.

Just came upon this tick repellent recipe a couple of days ago but haven't tried it yet:

Here's a decent tick repellant recipe:

Two cups white vinegar
Two cups Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil
One cup water
One tablespoon eucalyptus oil

Mix it up in a spray bottle, let it sit, and then apply to your skin.


And another, using Neem oil.

There is a product by Young Living Essential Oils called Longevity that I have been told keeps bugs away when taken (it comes in a capsule), and thus far I think I've had pretty good success taking it, I've been taking it for almost a month now, and I think I'm less bothered by flies and flying bugs. I haven't tested it out in a very mosquito environment yet, but I'm sure I'll end up somewhere eventually. I usually get bit pretty bad by mosquitos.

If anyone wants more information, let me know.