• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Jun 1, 2018
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT· SELF CARE

Summer Sun and Bugs: Essential Oils to the Rescue

essential oils can come to the rescue in the summer after sun burn and bug bites

Summer brings plenty of opportunities for sunburns, bug bites, and other skin irritations. But essential oils can help when used pro-actively against bugs and in response to burns, stings, bites, or rashes.

Below, I’ll share some ideas for how to use these powerful compounds – and some recipes for “potions” that have worked for my family. I started learning about essential oils nearly four years ago, and I am a distributor for a company that blends and sells them. Read my full disclosure here.

So what’s an essential oil?

Essential oils are made from the essence of a plant, gently extracted by steam distillation or other methods appropriate to the plant. Some plants carry their oils in the leaves or flowers, while others carry them within their rinds or seeds. Resin, sap, wood, and peelings also are used, depending on the plant.

And as such, essential oils can be potent and must be used properly and cautiously.

Using Essential Oils Safely in Sun

Some essential oils are photo-toxic, which means that after using those on the skin it’s a good idea to stay out of the sun (or tanning beds) for at least 12 hours. Bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, red mandarin, and any blends containing these oils should be considered photo-toxic, and their use within 12 hours of sun exposure could lead to burning.

But other essential oils can be used before sun exposure. To be certain which is which, read the safety notes and information provided with the oil.

Also, let’s be clear about the role of essential oils. They do not treat, cure or prevent any diseases or conditions. But they can support different systems of the body. And for the skin, several essential oils can provide terrific support.

Using Essential Oils After Sun Exposure

After sun exposure, replenish moisture by applying a mixture of 1-2 drops of lavender, mailette essential oil with 1 squirt of a carrier oil such as jojoba or grapeseed. One drop of peppermint essential oil also would add a cooling sensation.

But if I’ve gotten too much sun, it feels better to spray on a cooling mixture rather than rubbing it in. In that case, I use:

  • 5-6 drops of lavender, mailette essential oil
  • 2 ounces of Plant Derived Minerals
  • 2 ounces of distilled water
  • 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil (optional)
  • 1 drop of peppermint essential oil (optional)
  • 1 drop of geranium, rose essential oil (optional)

I add them all to a mister bottle (I actually double this recipe and keep the mister in the refrigerator), and spray on the sunburn as needed – more often at first. These recipes were shared originally through the Youngevity Aroma Share Club, which is a great way to build up a collection of essential oils. And the Basic First Aid Oils kit, a starter package at a special savings, contains most of the above items.

How to Use Essential Oils to Ward Off Bugs

We have two go-to potions to naturally scare away bugs in the summer.

And the first is a simple mix of water and peppermint essential oil to scare away spiders in Scout camping tents! Mix in a small spray bottle with 4 ounces of water 12-15 drops of the peppermint oil. Shake and use. I’ve sent my son to summer camp with this for the past five years.

The second is an Insect Spray, again first shared through the Youngevity Aroma Share Club:

  • 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle
  • Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil – 4 drops
  • Lavender, mailette essential oil – 4 drops
  • Basil, sweet essential oil – 4 drops

Shake before and during spraying. Those oils also can be mixed with 2 ounces of jojoba blending oil and applied to legs or other exposed skin to ward off chiggers, mosquitoes, and other bugs.

use essential oils to ward off bugs and bug bites in summer

Do you have other favorite essential oils recipes for summer? Send me a note. I’d love to hear from you.

Welcome! I’m Amy, an integrative health coach, offering grace and space for a healthier you. If you liked this article, please subscribe at this link so that you’re among the first to get any future information and ideas that I share. And you can unsubscribe anytime; we both know that SPAM is not good for us, so we avoid it! Thanks for visiting.

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « How to Quiet the Bully in Your Mind
Next Post: Reflecting on What I Learned in Spring 2018 »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Latest on the Blog

Coaching is a partnership between a trained, professional coach and a client who wants or needs to reach particular goals or boost their personal and professional potential. Image is of two people shaking hands in partnership

People typically have questions about health coaching, whenever I introduce myself as a coach. And often, depending on the time someone has to talk, the questions start out general and then move to the specific and personal. Perhaps you have a few questions yourself. So today, let’s take a look at some of these frequently […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefo "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

#mondaymotivation #habits #excellence #healthyhabits #quotes #consistency #doyourbest #dontworryabouttherest #backontrack #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach
How have you been wanting to challenge yourself ph How have you been wanting to challenge yourself physically? 

Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.

But it's important to build in rest days, too. Taking regular breaks allows your body to recover and repair. Otherwise, you may risk overtraining and injury, or burnout. Rest days could mean chilling on the sofa or engaging in more active rest - taking a gentle walk, foam rolling, or practicing yoga.

What's your schedule of exercise, physical activity, and rest look like this week? What positive effects will that have in other areas of your life?

#letsmove #nctraildays2022 #run #walk #hike #rest #healthyaging #runningofthebulls8k #weekend #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #physicalactivity #letsgo #integrativehealthcoach
These English peas were so good, they're getting t These English peas were so good, they're getting their own post. 

First, shelling them took me back more than a few years to when I would shell butter beans and black-eyed peas alongside my grandmother and look forward to our supper together. 💚 We all have memories and associations attached to different foods. What are some of yours? How do they show up in the choices you make around eating?

Second, these peas were delicious and simple, boiled for one minute and seasoned with real butter and salt. What a gift! It's garden season, y'all. What are you most looking forward to preparing for yourself this summer?

#gardentreasures #eatyourveggies #communitysupportedagriculture #nourish #nutrition #connections #peasinapod #integrativehealthcoach #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #shellingpeas #eattherainbow
A tiny slice of May, worth a pause, before we rush A tiny slice of May, worth a pause, before we rush ahead to June. What's something you want to remember and take with you from May? What's something you want to do differently in June? What will it take to start?

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #pause #reflect #celebrate #beginagain #nature #nurture #nurtureyourself #letsmove #letseat #letssleep #letsrelax #letsdothis #springinnorthcarolina #integrativehealthcoach
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindful mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2022 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.