To DEET or Not to DEET?
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Perla Middleton Healthy Home
combined, these extracts and oils act as a powerful barrier against our flying and crawling archenemies without harming you or your family: • Andiroba seed oil is known to repel bugs, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. • Peppermint oil is used for its fresh, cooling scent, flavor and sensation, as well as to calm inflammation and itchiness. • Catnip oil repels insects when applied to skin. • Spearmint leaf extract helps relieve itching. • St. John’s Wort soothes irritated skin and relieves pain. • Rosemary leaf oil has antibacterial properties to cleanse the skin.
Other ingredients helpful in repelling bugs include bergamot, geranium, clove and lemon eucalyptus oils, among others. If you decide to go the DIY route, be prepared to do some research. As always, feel free to drop me a line at dnp1515@gmail. com if you have questions or need assistance with choosing an organic bug spray for your family. Here are a few additional tips for a bug-free summer:
• Thyme flower/leaf extract is known as an antioxidant that possesses antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capabilities. It also can repel mosquitoes.
• Use products in lotion, pump or towelette form, and wash your hands after applying them to your skin. (Aerosol sprays make it possible to inhale chemicals and get them in your eyes and on your face).
• Lemon oil stimulates the production of white blood cells, which help our bodies fight off infections. It is also a natural antiseptic and bactericide.
• Consult a physician if you are
• Try repellents on a small patch of exposed skin before slathering them all over.
traveling outside the U.S. or need to use bug repellent daily for a prolonged period. • Check for ticks thoroughly after returning indoors, and remove them properly. • Wash clothing and repellent-coated skin when you come indoors. Perla Middleton is a founding member of Healthy Home and is committed to helping clients make their homes a healthier place to raise their families. As a ToxicFree coach, she helps take the guesswork out of toxic-free living by stressing the importance of self-education, teaching others to become their own advocates, and inspiring individuals to do their research and learn how to find the best products in the organic, toxicfree and natural arenas.
Financial Independence. Skin Confidence. Discover how we can acheive both together.
Kristin Slater Independent Consultant (912) 481-4735 slater121804@yahoo.com kslater.myrandf.biz
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moments | May 2015 | www.statesboromoments.com
love the spring, summer and longer days full of adventure, but there’s nothing worse than when insect bites bring a magical afternoon of hunting for fireflies and camping by the river to a screeching halt. Warmer weather means insects — ticks, biting flies, mosquitoes and gnats Always on the hunt for an organic, allnatural and safe product for our kids, I’m sharing some information to keep in mind when looking for insect repellents to stay bite-free this summer. Bugs sniff out carbon dioxide and sweat to locate their food, or in this case, you and me. Our skin and breath naturally give off a scent that places a giant bull’s-eye on our skin, directing hungry insects to feed on our blood. For years, DEET, a brand of the oily liquid diethyltoluamide, has been used as an insect repellent because it masks this scent, therefore keeping the bugs away. In the last few years, there has been great debate regarding the use of DEET and whether it causes harm to humans. The Duke University Medical Center concluded through laboratory rat studies that long-term use of DEET can kill neurons in the brain. Furthermore, in children, DEET has been known to cause lethargy, headaches, tremors, involuntary movements, seizures and even convulsions. The Environmental Protection Agency says DEET should not be used frequently, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DEET be applied to a child no more than once a day. With that in mind, many natural ingredients offer a safer alternative to DEET-based products. When
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