Natural Ways to Avoid and Treat Mosquito Bites and Other Summer Bugs!

Summer is a great time of the year to enjoy river fronts, camping and sparkling lakes. But when the bugs show up, it's frustrating, annoying and can be pretty painful. 

Don't let mosquitos ruin your summer fun. Be prepared ahead of time with how to avoid these bites and how to treat them naturally and affectively. 

Because our skin is so absorbent, it's important to consider what we put on it. Typical over the counter bug repellants are filled with toxic chemicals that - while they keep the bugs away, they also destroy your own cells. You deserve to know the natural ways to keep the bugs aways and treat them if they still happen to get past your barriers!

Most bugs, including mosquitoes, use their sense of smell to find their food. On a scientific note, did you know that mosquitos have sensory organs that are trained to find sources of carbon dioxide and lactic acid because these chemicals lead them to warm-blooded animals, like you and me. On top of that, there are many more (over 300) aromatic compounds that make up the human scent. Of all those compounds, 30 of them tend to have a masking effect. If any of those compounds are more prominent in your particular body, you will naturally be less noticeable to mosquitos.  On the flip side, there are other compounds that work to attract the bugs to your scent... like a magnet. Ten percent of the population are mosquito magnets.  Let's change that and help you become less interesting to them, shall we? 

Prevention On the Inside

Sweat releases a lot of these compounds, so if you have the option to avoid exerting yourself, you'll attract less bugs. But that's hard, considering it's summer. So since sweating isn't as avoidable, stay cool and cleaned. If you want to exercise, try swimming, or taking a dip frequently to rinse off what you're putting out. 

Foods

Garlic offers a mild amount of protection through both the odor on your breathe as well as from through the sulfur compounds emitted from your skin. (May repel people though too!)

Pass on the salt and potassium, as they increase the amount of lactic acid, which as mentioned above, attracts the bugs.  Skip the sugary fruits- especially bananas - and go for cucumber, apples, watermelon, blueberries or green peppers. This way, you aren't missing out on fruit and don't have an itching fit afterwards!


Outside Prevention and Treatment 

1. Citronella - found in many candles and natural bug repelling sprays 

2. Marigold // Calendula - great as a lotion or found in candles
3. Lavender - amazing multi purpose oil.. this one you should have regardless at all times. It's anti-microbial and a natural bug repellent.  Just dab it on major body points to keep those blood suckers away.
4. Peppermint - similar to lavender, this one is multi purpose.  Keep it around to soothe upset tummies, headaches, to repel bugs and even to treat the bite if they DO get through!
5. Eucalyptus - Our favorite multi-functional remedy, naturally makes the list.  You can bring our eucalyptus oil shower mist along for the trip and spray both your body, your tent and the area around you to keep the bugs away.  They don't like the smell or taste of it at all, and you get the benefit of clearing your lungs out even more while breathing in the fresh mountain air!  

I hope you found all of this helpful! Don't be at the mercy of itchy bug bites this summer. You deserve to have fun and relax. Remember to choose good foods and toxin-free natural remedies to keep those annoying bugs at bay!  Eurospa wishes you a fun and bug free summer!

Don't Be the Bug's Dinner! Here are the Best Tips to Avoid Bug Bites This Summer

Nobody likes to be a bug's dinner.  We all love summer time, but adults and kids alike, can't stand the impending doom of being covered in little, itchy, menacing bumps.  The good news, is that it's totally possible to enjoy a summer vacation, camping at the lake or a day at the river, without the undesirable bug attack. We are going to tell you the best tips to avoid bug bites this summer on the inside and out. 

Mosquitoes find their victims by smell. More specifically, their sensory organs are trained to hone in on sources of carbon dioxide and lactic acid because these chemicals lead them to warm-blooded animals, like you and me. 

What's great is that we can defend our bodies on both the inside and outside by looking at what attracts mosquitos and other bugs to some people more than others.

Everyone has a distinctive, fingerprint sort of smell to our bodies. Of the 400 aromatic compounds making up the human scent, 30 seem to have a masking effect. If any of those compounds are prominent in your particular body, you will naturally be less noticeable to mosquitos.  On the flip side, there are other compounds that work to attract the bugs to your scent... like a magnet. Ten percent of the population are mosquito magnets.  

How about we change the odds by changing the dominant aromatic compounds? 

First, let's think preventative. If you have the option to avoid exerting yourself, you'll attract less bugs. This is hard, considering it's summer.  But the truth is, when you exercise, you give off more lactic acid and carbon dioxide, which is pretty much happy hour for mosquitos.  If you want to exercise, try swimming, or taking a dip frequently to rinse off what you're putting out. 

Foods to eat?

Start with garlic. Garlic offers a mild amount of protection through both the odor on your breathe as well as from through the sulfur compounds emitted from your skin. 

Pass on the salt and potassium, as they increase the amount of lactic acid, which as mentioned above, attracts the bugs.  Skip the sugary fruits- especially bananas - and go for cucumber, apples, watermelon, blueberries or green peppers. This way, you aren't missing out of fruit!

How to defend from the outside?

Essential oils are always our favorite natural remedies.  

1. Citronella - found in many candles and natural bug repelling sprays 
2. Marigold // Calendula - great as a lotion or found in candles
3. Lavender - amazing multi purpose oil.. this one you should have regardless at all times. It's anti-microbial and a natural bug repellent.  Just dab it on major body points to keep those blood suckers away.
4. Peppermint - similar to lavender, this one is multi purpose.  Keep it around to soothe upset tummies, headaches, to repel bugs and even to treat the bite if they DO get through!
5. Eucalyptus
Our favorite multi-functional remedy, naturally makes the list.  You can bring our eucalyptus oil shower mist along for the trip and spray both your body, your tent and the area around you to keep the bugs away.  They don't like the smell or taste of it at all, and you get the benefit of clearing your lungs out even more while breathing in the fresh mountain air!  

There are the tips!  Don't be the bug's dinner this year. Choose good foods and toxin-free natural remedies to keep those annoying bugs at bay!  Eurospa wants your summer to be a fun and bug free one!

It's Camping Season! Ward off Bugs With These EASY Natural Remedies!!

With summer comes camping. With camping come the bugs.  But don't let these tiny pests ruin your fun! There are many great ways to naturally repel them from biting or coming near, without the use of deet or other harmful chemicals! 

If you're ready to go camping and the great outdoors are calling... Be sure to ward off the bugs with these easy natural remedies!

1. Citronella

Citronella is known for being “the original” natural bug repellent, with memorable and powerful lemon-like scent. It’s used in many commercial bug repellents and candles. It can be a skin irritant, so you want to make sure you're only spraying it in rooms and doorways.

2. Marigold // Calendula

In addition to mosquitoes, marigolds, also known as calendula, repel garden pests, as well! One option is that you can plant your own and take advantage of the delicious edible flowers, adding color and flavor to salads or can be a gorgeous garnish when you want to dress up a dish. Another more concentrated option is to get an essential oil and apply it to your skin with a carrier oil to create a natural bug repellent. 

3. Lavender

Grow it around the house and garden to keep bugs away in general; they just don't like the smell.  The nice thing, is it’ll grow inside too, if you keep it next to a sunny window. Lavender has a lovely scent, pretty purple flowers and calming properties as well, so it’s a charming addition to your garden or home for several reasons! Lavender is also an affordable essential oil to simply bring along on your trip and place at a various spots on your body and even along your tent, to repel bugs from getting too close.

4. Peppermint 

Bugs that bite, just don’t like the scent of peppermint.  As a great bonus, IF you forget to use this plant as a repellent, peppermint oil, applied topically, can also provide itch relief if you do get bitten! 

5. Eucalyptus

Our favorite multi-functional remedy, naturally makes the list.  You can bring our eucalyptus oil shower mist along for the trip and spray both your body, your tent and the area around you to keep the bugs away.  They don't like the smell or taste of it at all, and you get the benefit of clearing your lungs out even more while breathing in the fresh mountain air!  

This season is sure to be a promising one.  There is a general feeling in the air that this summer is a summer of excitement, discovery and adventure. So live it up and take Eurospa with you!