I’ve dug deep into herbal lore for natural bug repellents that work. Living with dogs in tick country, loving to travel, and being chemically sensitive, my quest is personal. I was recently visiting a high-malaria risk area in Cambodia, for example, and as a result I felt I needed to take the best proven mosquito repellent available, but with my caveat: it also had to be nontoxic! I avoid DEET, the commonly recommended pesticide by pediatricians, but I needed something equally as effective. Tick and mosquito-borne diseases like Lyme disease, malaria and West Nile virus are no joke.

Fortunately, there are much safer alternatives found in natural food store, and with carefully chosen essential oils, you can arm yourself with effective DIY formulas.

Don’t let fear of bugs (or repellents) curtail your enjoyment of nature. By learning new, healthier ways to avoid insects, you can be outside as much as you want. Lifestyle changes combined with Herbal repellents are crucial to coexisting with bugs without coming to harm.