Hello and welcome to my blog "Education In Essential Oils".  Since spring is upon us I will be talking about the use of essential oils in reducing the number of pests that surround our environment.  By pests I mean fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, spiders, and flies.  Most of these pests do not harm or hinder our enjoyment of our outside environment but in great numbers can be a pesky part of the spring and summer months for our pets as well as for us.  This article was written to introduce the use of essential oils in pest control during the spring and summer months.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pest control with essential oils

By Wayne McPherson Jr.  Research and Development Herbal Pharming

It is possible to use essential oils to deter pests from entering or staying in the living space. This means that a mass scale assault, killing all of the pests in the area, is no longer necessary, nor is the use of chemical spraying, that pollutes the air and endangers the health of family and friends are needed. This is a great advantage when health or the environment is a major concern.

Summer is coming and soon the windows will be open, insects flying through open windows, moving to the warm areas during the cool nights, or cool nooks and crannies during the summer heat. This can be disconcerting to some individuals. Not to mention the mosquitoes moving in on the evening Bar-B-Q; break out the bug spray. A better method might be to break out the essential oils.

The following is a list of oils and the pests they deter.

Cedarwood     Aphids, Lice, Slugs, Snails, Weevils

Citronella       Ants, Fleas, Flies, Gnats, Mosquitoes, Moths, Nematodes, Ticks

Garlic            Ants, Bean beetles, Slugs, Snails

Hyssop         Aphids, Cabbage white butterflies, Moths, Slugs

Lavender       Black flies, Flea beetles, Fleas, Flies, Greenfly, Mosquitoes, Moths, White flies

Lemongrass   Flea beetles, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Ticks

Patchouli       Gnats, Snails, Weevils, Woolly aphids

Pennyroyal    Ants, Caterpillars, Fleas, Gnats, Lice, Mosquitoes, Ticks

Peppermint    Ants, Aphids, Bean beetles, Cabbage white butterflies, Caterpillars, Flea beetles, Flies, Lice, Moths, Plant lice

Pine               Slugs, Snails, Woolly aphids

Rosemary      Cabbage white butterflies, Carrot flies,

Rue                Flea beetles, Fleas, Flies, Lice, Plant lice, Ticks, Weevils

Sage               Cabbage root flies, Cabbage white butterflies, Cutworms, Nematodes, Ticks, White flies

Sandalwood    Weevils, Woolly aphids

Sassafras          Mosquitoes, Slugs, Snails

Spearmint        Ants, Aphids, Caterpillars, Flea beetles, Fleas, Gnats, Lice, Moths, Plant lice,

Tagetes             Black flies, Carrot flies, Eel worms, Gnats, Greenfly, Nematodes, White flies

Tansy                Black flies, Carrot flies, Fleas, Flies, Greenfly, Mosquitoes, White flies (do not use if allergic to ragweed)

Thyme               Cabbage root flies, Cabbage white butterflies, Cut worm, Ticks

The appropriate application of the essential oils is dependent on the intended use. For flea care on a dog or cat, a deterrent at the Bar-B-Q, to keep the pests from flying through the window or as a repellent that one may put on the skin or clothing, there is a safe way to handle your essential oils.

Flea care on your favorite pet is reasonably easy. Choose a formula that will deter fleas add several drops to pure grain alcohol then soak the collar of your pet in the mixture allowing the mixture to completely soak into the collar. Your pet’s collar should last about a month before it would need to be treated again.  In the near future we will be adding pet collars to our product line that have already been enhanced with pest deterrent oils that come with a 1/2 ounce refresher oil.

As a deterrent at the family Bar-B-Q we have all heard about the citronella candles; but how well do they really work. Natural oils do little good when they are burned, they actually become toxic, and so a candle may not be the best idea. Instead try a formulation that will deter the flying pests and instead of heating or burning your oils, try putting a few drops on the table cloth or on a wind sock. If neither is available try to make your own. Take some strips of cloth to make a mobile tying them to a hanger, add oils to the strips of cloth and hang it close to the place where everyone is gathering.  If you want to dress it up a notch, use wide satin ribbon.  The small strips of cloth used at the Bar-B-Q can be hung in the window to keep the flying pest flying outside of the house instead of the living area.

Instead of the bug spray a blend of essential oils may be in order. Biting mosquitoes, annoying gnats, and irritating flies are often unwelcomed sights and the bug spray comes out to combat these pests. A blend of essential will work as well and is less toxic than bug spray. Care should be taken when using essential oils, some oils can irritate the skin because of their potency, so it is a good idea when applying essential oils to the skin to use carrier oils. Carrier oils are any oil that an essential oil is diluted in to prevent irritations, olive, coconut, palm seed, flax, even vegetable oil can be used. Because of the dilution it may be necessary to reapply essential oils more frequently than regular bug sprays. If you do not have a carrier, do not want to use one or you would prefer to use the oils full strength, you might consider putting the oil on the sleeves, collar, and pant cuffs where insects are likely to gain access to the skin.

Herbal Pharming has several formulations to assist you in your pest control needs or you can purchase your own oils and create your own blend.  If you contact Tracy at Herbal Pharming (email: tracymcpherson@comcast.net)  we will formulate a blend customized for your specification. We use only the highest quality oils and maintain chemical analysis on all of our oils to ensure your peace of mind.