Tick season is upon us, and you may be wondering what the best tick deterrent is. Before going on that hike or spending time in your garden, you may be tempted to drench yourself in store-bought tick spray. However, using a chemically based tick spray is unlikely to help prevent ticks or tick-borne diseases. Believe it or not, you can use a completely natural tick deterrent instead. (1)

Why Ticks Are Dangerous

Many of us fear those disgusting little summer creatures called ticks, and for good reason. Ticks are tiny bugs that carry big health consequences. In fact, ticks can transmit more than twenty diseases. You may already realize that the most detrimental disease that ticks can spread is Lyme disease. On average, there are more than 30,000 new cases of Lyme disease reported every year. Shockingly, there may actually be closer to 300,000 cases of Lyme disease each year. (2)

Tickborne viral infections appear to be on the rise in the United States as tick populations soar. Tick diseases and infections spread most rapidly in the northeast and along the Mississippi River border because that’s where the highest populations of ticks live. Lyme disease, in particular, causes many unpleasant and dangerous side effects. Unfortunately, people with Lyme disease may experience migraines, fevers, and rashes, and if Lyme disease goes untreated, it can cause heart, joint, and nervous system problems. Usually, Lyme disease can be treated successfully with prescription antibiotics. (2, 3, 4)

Chemical Tick Sprays Don’t Help

It is so easy to simply purchase tick spray, douse yourself with it, and go outside. But is this really safe or effective? Recent studies show that the chemicals in some pesticides cause health problems for humans. In fact, people can have a wide range of reactions to these tick-killing chemicals, from skin rashes and diarrhea to nervous system damage and cancer. On top of this, some of the chemicals used to prevent ticks do not actually reduce the number of ticks and tick-borne diseases we are exposed to. (1, 5)

A Natural Tick Deterrent

Now, you may be wondering how you can safely and effectively prevent tick bites. For many generations, people all over the world have used plants and essential oils to keep ticks and other bugs at bay. People who are culturally connected to the earth understand that certain plants have naturally occurring chemical compounds that keep them safe from insect attacks, thereby helping plants to survive in the face of attacking insects or bugs. Therefore, when we distill the oils from these plants, we can create a form of bug repellent that works just as well for us humans. Although the Environmental Protection Agency does not officially approve of plants as a safe way to thwart tick bites, the following essential oils show great promise as tick and bug repellents:

• Citronella
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Witch Hazel
• Rosemary

Combine ten drops of each altogether in a spray bottle. This will create a delicious-smelling, all-natural insect repellant! Spray a small amount onto your clothing, sun visor, bag, even your skin if you are not too sensitive. (6)

More and more consumers are showing interest in choosing natural remedies over synthetic, chemical products. All over the world and for generations people have used safe plant-based bug repellants. Instead of running to the store to buy a tick spray that might be unsafe and unhelpful, give this blend of essential oils a shot. And if, for some reason, this natural tick deterrent doesn’t keep ticks at bay for you, then at least you’ll smell divine! (1, 6)

Just make sure to keep these homemade remedies away from pets. Many essential oils are toxic to pets, especially tea tree oil. (7, 8)