Friday, July 9, 2010

Homemade Tick Repellent and more

Thank you to a dear friend of mine via email who sent this to my inbox and I couldn't wait to share it with my readers! We have ticks BIG TIME where we live so I was excited to see these tips and this natural remedy for possibly warding them off.
While this isn't University-based research (that I know of) but this site for Morel hunters has a tip about Jewel weed and poison Ivy/Oak rashes. www.thegreatmorel.com go to FAQ and to the bottom of that page. Another site: for Jewel Weed is this one:

http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm



What I know personally......When one of the professors, now retired took us on a walking tour of the Arboretum as part of our Tree Care Advisor Classes he mentioned that wherever you find Poison Ivy you will find its antidote...Jewel weed close by.



Lyme Disease is no fun. Protect yourself. Learn about it.

A good homemade recipe tick repellent for on your clothes and your pets follows (from the USDA forest service):

2 cups white vinegar

1 cup Avon skin so soft bath oil

1 cup water

1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil.

Put this mixture in an old spray bottle. No guarantees but it works for some with success.

Another suggestion gathered from The Great Morel's message board: "If you haven't been told yet and you live in an area with ticks like we do in Kentucky, put fabric softener sheets in each sock and a couple in your back pockets and you won't have the tick problem. Works like a charm. Happy hunting!" - Courtesy of Annie in Kentucky.