Biting Bugs - the bane of Summer's heat

Natural Bug-Bite Deterrents

from Real-Age.com

Some of the tips that come from Real-Age are ones I really think worth passing along. This is one of those. Here in the mid-west and across the nation August heat and humidity bring a plethora of insects and other creatures that can be a genuine annoyance and sometimes even dangerous. But so can the chemical compounds on the market formulated to combat the problem. These natural deterrants can help eliminate it without the hazard of toxic chemical exposure.

If you can't stand the smell of DEET or citronella candles, try the natural bug-bite deterrent suggestions from Chinese doctor and author Maoshing Ni.

In his book, In his book Secrets of Self-Healing, he recommends a three-pronged approach of clothing, diet, and essential oils.

3 Bug-Be-Gone Strategies

Use these chemical-free strategies on your next camping trip, backwoods hike, or neighborhood barbecue:

• Nix the Hawaiian shirt. Brightly colored floral patterns on clothing may actually fool bees and other bugs into thinking you’re a flower. So can smelling like a flower, so skip the perfume. Wear neutral-colored, protective clothing and scent-free soaps and lotions.
• Eat garlic. Garlic and other strong foods, like onions, might make you less tasty to biting insects. Watch this video for tips on how to buy, keep, and prepare garlic.
• Use essential oils. Natural insect repellents such as lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus can be mixed with water and used as a spray. (But be careful to avoid getting them in your eyes.) Find out which scents zap stress, too.

Already bit? Honey, cucumber skins, and tea tree oil can help soothe, detox, and quiet the itch or sting of bites.

Take this quiz to find out if a bite might be serious. RealAge Benefit: Making a habit of taking proper safety precautions in everything you do -- at home and on the job -- can make your RealAge 1 to 6 years younger.