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Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Ticks That You Can Put on Your Kids

There are dozens of natural products that do a good job in providing protection against insects. However, ticks aren't insects; they are arachnids and are tough to kill. There are a few natural products that seem to provide at least some protection against ticks. If you are absolutely against applying chemicals to your children, you can try these substances and see if they work for you.

  1. Eucalyptus Oil

    • The lemon eucalyptus plant contains the compound P-menthane-3, 8 diol. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers this substance to be safe for both children and adults, although products that contain it recommend that you do not apply it to children younger than 3. You can purchase ready-made products that contain the oil or you can purchase the pure oil and mix your own. The easiest way is to mix a few drops of the oil with your favorite lotion. Do not apply too much oil or the smell might overwhelm you.

    Rose Geranium Oil

    • The rose geranium is a large plant native to northern Africa. Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oils, which have a scent of apples and lemons. You can either mix a few drops of the oil with either almond or vegetable oil or you can create a spray by mixing 1 tsp. of the oil with 1 tbs. of rubbing alcohol and 8 oz. of water. The oil mixtures works best on skin, but will stain clothing, making the spray useful.

    Neem Oil

    • Neem oil is extracted by pressing the seeds of the Neem Tree. The Neem tree is an evergreen native to India. When pressed, it gives off a strongly pungent garlic smell. Its most common use is an an insecticide in organic farming, but it is also safe for human use. Its strong smell makes it undesirable for some people, but there are commercial products available that do a good job masking the smell.

    Citronella Oil

    • Most people are familiar with candles infused with citronella oil use to repel mosquitoes. Citronella is an essential oil that comes from a type of lemon grass. It has a distinctive smell that isn't unpleasant. Many people believe that citronella is also effective against ticks and there are plenty of products on the market to prove the point. Most of these products that contain citronella also contain other essential oils, so it's hard to gauge the effectiveness of the citronella alone.

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