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Summer 2003
Essential Oils & Pest Control
Wild Food Garden
Who among us has planned that perfect outing only to find ourselves swatting, swelling and itching, rather than enjoying the day fully? Most, I suspect. Take heart - there is an alternative to the commercial pesticides. Let essential oils save the day and protect you from potentially harmful bites and stings. Prevention seems more prudent than cure in this case.
For those who are not familiar with essential oils, let me back up for a sentence or two. Plants produce intense oils, that when extracted, are useful for their aroma and/or medicinal properties. This is truly where the term aromatherapy came from; the oils can be used to assist with physical and emotional problems. Fortunately for us, we can smell good AND repel insects.
Okay, let's get down to business and make some essential oil bug repellent. The favorite recipe from Chrissie Wildwood in her book The Encyclopedia Of Aromatherapy contains lavender, eucalyptus and geranium. An herbalist friend of mine insists that ticks will not cross areas on the skin where rose geranium is present, so I add that instead of the regular geranium. Other folks swear by citronella, thyme and pennyroyal, so blend away to your satisfaction. Let's get started.
Midge and Mosquito Repellent
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops rose geranium essential oil
1 ounce liquid, such as lotion, water, or oilYou could also make a blend to suit yourself, using any of the other suggestions of essential oils. Make two blends, they are not going to go to waste. Try to make what will be used quickly, to maintain potency of the oils.
Here comes the decision making part. Choose the way you want to apply the oils, by using them in water or another base such as an unscented lotion or light oil, like jojoba or grapeseed. Your options include using them like massage oil after a bath to cover most of your body, spritzing them from a mister bottle with water, or adding to an existing unscented lotion. Suit yourself how it seems best. If the kids are going out to the sand pile, or the beach is the day's activity, oil is probably not the wisest choice. Just remember to shake well before using and keep away from the eyes. Paper towels can be soaked in the blend also then bagged for instant wipes or refreshers after a few hours out and about. Do not apply near the eyes or on the lips.
To treat existing bites, apply the repellent blend or mix a blend of chamomile, lemongrass, lavender and/or tea tree or cajeput. If the area is swollen, a cold compress can be applied using a cloth saturated with the oil blend. In the case of wasp or hornet stings, apply vinegar if available, since the venom is alkaline. To prevent infection or further swelling, add a drop of lavender or tea tree essential oil to each spoonful of vinegar In the case of bee stings, pull the stinger with tweezers to avoid discharging the sac of venom into the wound. Bee stings are acidic; so rinse the area with bicarbonate of soda to help neutralize the area of the sting. Use about one tablespoon of water to one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. To help prevent infection and ease pain and swelling, add a drop of chamomile or lavender essential oil to the solution before application. This solution can be used on ant bites as well.
What about considering our pet friends in the summer onslaught of bugs, both flying and crawling. They suffer just like we do from the bites and stings of insects. As a flea repellent, essential oils are useful to keep our animal friends healthy and happy.
Flea Repellent
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
one ounce light vegetable oil or other light oilMix the oils together and apply sparingly, massaging a drop or two over your pet's coat and into the skin where it will not easily be licked. Apply twice weekly, more often if fleas are a serious problem. You can add rose geranium where ticks are also present, for added protection. Please Note! In the case of cats, massage the oil between the shoulder blades and along the upper back, neck or other areas they cannot reach to lick.
To make a non-chemical flea collar for your animal, use any fabric collar available in stores. Dip the collar in the blend of essential oils and cider vinegar, then seal in a plastic bag for 24 hours to allow full penetration. Replenish the collar with the blend every 2 or 3 weeks. Like people, animals can have sensitivities to specific oils so pay attention to sneezing or skin rash and try another formula if these symptoms occur. Citronella or tea tree oil is NOT recommended for pet formulas.
Flea Collar Formula # 1
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 teaspoonful cider vinegarFlea Collar Formula # 2
5 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops cypress essential oil
5 drops rose geranium essential oil
1 teaspoonful cider vinegarIf ticks should attach themselves, use a Q-tip to apply a drop of rose geranium essential oil and it will back out.
We wish you a happy summer free from the ravages of our insect relations. The plant kingdom is more than willing to assist in our well-being with essential oils. Enjoy!
Here we go, shovel and hoe in hand, out to the garden patch. It doesn't matter if your "back forty" is actually 3 feet or 30; it's the intent that counts. Anyone can grow this garden regardless of soil quality or space. You have spotted the invaders already, those fluffy yellow dandelion flowers and perky violets covering your green lawn, the plantain spreading out in preparation of seeding and the chickweed forming straggly clumps in garden beds and walkways.
It is "roundup" time in the country for the wild plants that are also useful to us. Designate a garden space just for the interlopers and go get 'em! Check in a reliable plant guide, such as Peterson, and dig up the "weeds", transplanting them into a bed just for them to thrive in. Most folks are blessed with purslane, chickweed, oxeye daisy, dandelion, violets, sheep sorrel, plantain and chicory, just to start with a few more common plants. Since many of them flower, plan your garden to be a showplace, putting the taller dandelion and chicory in back of the shorter and clumpier violets and sheep sorrel, for example. It's a gardener's delight with beautiful yellows and blues and whites. The deeper greens of plantain and smaller delicate chickweed add decorative interest also.
Okay, you have humored me so far, but what are you supposed to do with these plants now that they are in a designated spot? Dandelion and plantain are two of the most common, so let's focus on them. You are indeed lucky to have such a versatile plant as dandelion at your disposal. First, it is food in the form of tender salad greens, rich in vitamin A and potassium, or brew up some delightful flower wine. Pick the tiny green shoots for salad or cook the young leaves steamed with the tiny flower buds that have not grown up yet. The mature flowers can be battered and fried or the root chopped and slow-dried in the oven until brown and fully dry, then ground up and used as a coffee substitute. See, already your garden is producing useful foodstuff. Medicinally, dandelion is one of our most valuable plants. Let's take a look at dandelion medicine.
Both the leaf and the root are used to make medicine. The leaves can be used as a diuretic with no fear of depleting potassium because this plant is naturally rich in that mineral. Because of this, it makes a balanced diuretic that may be used safely wherever water retention is a problem, including the fluid buildup from heart problems. The leaves are also considered tonic for the gallbladder, including the condition of stones. Harvest anytime during the season, taking care to use young, vibrant leaves.
Dandelion root is considered one of the most important herbs for detoxification. Generally, both the liver and the gall bladder benefit from this root to remove waste products, but the kidneys are also stimulated to release toxins in the urine. For those of us bombarded with pollution or infection, the root encourages elimination of toxins from our bodies. Because it is such an organ stimulating and balancing herb, dandelion root is therapeutic for conditions including constipation, skin problems, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis, and arthritic conditions, as well as gout. It is best to harvest roots between June and August, attempting to use 2 year-old plants.
To use leaves to make a tea, chop and place 2-3 teaspoons dry or 2 Tablespoons fresh leaf in non-aluminum container, pour a cup of just boiling water over and infuse for 10-15 minutes. For a root decoction, put 2-3 teaspoons of chopped dried root or 2-3 Tablespoons of fresh root into one cup of water, bring to just boiling and gently simmer for 10-15 minutes. Drink a half cup 3 times a day for medicinal effect. Just like good friends, allow them the time needed to help you. Drink to your own good health!
Our second common and plentiful yard volunteer is plantain, both the larger leafed P. major and the slender leafed P. lanceolata. While not as known for food value, this versatile helping plant is great for skin ailments, and as a mild diuretic, as well as being a treat simply boiled and served with butter in the early spring when it first appears. It is also a gentle mucous buster and expectorant for coughs and so soothing that it helps calm inflamed and sore membranes. Because it has astringent properties, plantain aids with gastritis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis, calming tissues by soothing and easing inflammation.
One of our most valuable skin care herbs, an ointment made from infused plantain oil is a wonderful addition to the family medicine chest. It is a handy aid to have when suffering from hemorrhoids, bruising, splinters or minor wounds because of its ability to staunch blood flow, soothe, and repair damaged tissue. If you want to make an oil to use for salve, pick some fresh leaves and either hang in a breezy spot out of the direct sun, or place on a screen to dry. Turn daily until moisture is gone. Place crushed leaves in a clean jar and cover with oil. Most oils are suitable for ointments and salves. Olive or sesame oils are well suited for skin products and readily available. Specialty oils can be found here at Earth Spirits or in your local health food store. Make sure plant material is covered by at least an inch of oil. Other plant material may be dried and added or infused separately. Some suggestions might be mullein leaves and/or flowers, calendula flowers, comfrey leaves, chickweed or lavender flowers. Cover and leave in a warm area for 2-3 weeks, shaking occasionally. The oil should take on a lovely color and is ready to be used.
All set with the plant material? OK, this is the part where you get to be a medicine maker extraordinaire. Strain your infused oil into a large glass measuring cup. For each cup of oil you will need ¼ cup of grated beeswax and 1 Tablespoon of Vitamin E oil as a preservative and skin enhancer. Place your measuring cup in shallow water in a pan and heat gently. Add the grated beeswax, stirring until melted. Stir in the Vitamin E oil after removing from heat. Wipe all water off cup before pouring into sterilized containers for your salve. Allow to cool before capping, then label, date and voila - your wild foods garden medicine is made. Congratulations on your dedication to your own natural healing.
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