With the warm temperatures we have, there is also the anxiety of letting our dog go out in the garden. The tick season is coming back and you will be worried to see your dog coming home with a tick in its skin and maybe you don't know what to do.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to keep ticks away from us and our pets, a bit like the tricks to keep ants, fleas and mosquitoes away, it's possible to prepare a mixtyre that can repel ticks and even kill them. And these homemade formulas are made with natural ingredients. An ideal solution when you have children, to avoid the use of chemicals.
Did you know that one of the best ways to keep ticks away is to use cedar? Indeed, cedar is not only used to repel mites, it is also very effective against ticks. In the United States, cedar is produced from three types of trees: Juniper, Cedrus and Thuja.
Several studies have revealed that the essential oils of juniper and alaskan cedar are really useful to get rid of ticks.
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How it works:
It is a compound in some species of cedar that kills or repels ticks. This compound is called "nootkatone". It dries and dehydrates the insect. There’s also death by emulsification, turning bodily fats into liquid.
Cedar disrupts the production of pheromones, slowing the metabolism, feeding and reproduction of ticks. Cedar kills the tick and takes care of all of its life cycles. Cedar is the insect's enemy.
How to use it:
1) As an essential oil, you can apply cedarwood to your clothing before heading outdoors to an area that is heavily populated with ticks.
2) For a skin repellent:
Mix 80 ml (1/3 cup) of distilled water, 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of witch hazel and 20 drops of cedar essential oil, 20 drops of rose geranium essential oil. Transfer the mixture into a 250 ml (1 cup) spray bottle
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An alternative for pets or humans:
Mix 250 ml (1 cup) of water, add 500 ml (2 cups) white vinegar, add 10 to 20 drops of cedar essential oil. IMPORTANT NOTE: Be careful not to spray near the face.
Source: fr.fotolia.com
In the garden:
1) Use cedar mulch to decorate the flower beds in your garden. Cedar will repel ticks.
2) Or buy cedar oil on the Internet or in garden centers and hardware stores to water plants and lawns with a natural repellent.
Mix 500 ml of water with 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of dish soap, 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 teaspoons) of cedar essential oil and 10 to 15 g (1 to 2 tsp. (30 ml) Epsom salt. Spray the mixture on the lawn and plants affected by ticks.
A tick repellent:
Mix 250 ml (1 cup) white vinegar, 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 teaspoons) cedar oil. Spray directly on the tick.
WARNING:
Pregnant or lactating women should avoid using cedar oil and its derivatives unless cleared by their physician.
According to the CDC, nearly 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year. It is estimated that the real number is closer to 300,000 cases. Using prevention strategies to repel ticks with natural alternatives can only be a good thing.
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