Summertime is rapidly approaching. My family and I love lots of time outdoors! However, with time outdoors comes the risk of occasional bug bites. These can be quite the itchy nuisance. Here’s how to make an itch stick with essential oils to help.
ADHD benefits of time outdoors
Time outdoors is an easy way to encourage some of the natural treatment options for ADHD. Benefits such as sunshine for vitamin D, and exercise are a positive side effect of being outdoors. Check out my post here that talks about these as a benefit of having a dog with ADHD. Homeschoolers can take a break from the books for some natural hands on and active learning. The possibilities are endless. However, some of us, such as the girls and myself, are apparently tasty targets for some pesky bug bites. Here’s where this itch stick with essential oils comes in handy. It is not meant for an allergic reaction, but can be handy to soothe irritation from an itchy bug bite or even itching from contact with irritating plants.
Know what’s in your products
I never used to be much of a DIY girl. And still, I sometimes have a hard time finding time, between working graveyards, homeschooling, gymnastics, and general busy life. However, in recent years I am finding increasing value in knowing exactly what is in the products we use in our household. Particularly with an ADHD kiddo, I am looking to decrease the toxic load as much as possible.
Making your own products helps you be aware of what you are actually exposing your body to. More awareness has risen recently to potential effects to things like aluminum and parabens in deodorant and other personal products. And there are warnings on many cleaning products for a reason. Check out my DIY shower spray and toilet bombs for other ways to be aware and reduce toxic load.
Science lab opportunity
DIY products can make great science lab opportunities. For this particular product, you can see the different properties melting points of different ingredients. The coconut oil and shea butter start out relatively soft at room temperature, and have a low melting point. However, the beeswax requires more time/higher temperature to melt and mix completely.
Even the body’s reaction to a bug bite can be a great science discussion. When the body reacts to any injury or irritation, it’s a great opportunity to teach WHY there is swelling, or HOW the body makes a scab. We recently experienced a major surge in seasonal allergies with all the blooms in spring, plus uncharacteristically frequent winds. We were able to talk about how the body protects itself through the runny nose, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing. Check out my recent post on natural bee sting remedies which also prompted lots of discussion about the body’s natural protections.
Ingredients
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- 1 TBS beeswax
- 2 TBS coconut oil(similar to what I used)
- 1 OZ shea butter(not pictured)
- 15 drops Lavender EO
- 15 drops Peppermint EO
- 10 drops Melaleuca(Tea Tree) EO
Instructions
Prepare your tubes by ensuring the plunger is twisted all the way to the bottom. If you have a kit like I used, insert the tubes into the filling tray before preparing the recipe so you are ready to pour immediately once ready.
Measure out beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter into a small glass container such as this measuring cup. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until everything is just melted. Do not allow to boil, as the essential oils may not maintain properties if added at too high a temperature. Mix in essential oils, and pour carefully into the prepared tubes. Allow to cool. Clean any spillage from the outside of tubes, apply the lids, and label tubes.
Store tubes at room temperature for use. Apply to itchy area as needed to soothe itching. Not for broken skin or severe allergic reaction. My kids love having simple things they can use on their own to soothe minor annoyances.
What about the cost?
Many of the products for DIY beauty and natural remedies overlap. All of the products I have listed I have used for multiple recipes, and have more lined up that will use them as well. The same goes for the essential oils. There are many mixed products available such as roller bottles already formulated for direct topical use, however buying the undiluted bottles of oil lower the cost of making many of your own products. Click here if you’d like to purchase all of the oils for this recipe. And click here if you’d like to sign up with this kit of great products (includes all 3 in this recipe) for a doterra membership to access a whole year of wholesale prices.
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The content in this post is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is merely opinion based on personal research and experience.
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