How to Use Coconut Oil as a Natural Mosquito Repellent

Coconut oil can be used for many health issues and ailments due to its metabolism boosting, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, it has been touted to be a hormone balancer, weight loss helper, and skin protector.
But, is using coconut oil as a a natural insect repellent taking things too far? No, there’s scientific evidence to support coconut oil’s mosquito repelling properties.

Study on the Efficacy of Coconut Oil in Repelling Mosquitoes:

Studies conducted by the Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania (as published in the Malaria Journal in 2011) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, reviewed on the testing, efficacy and development of plant-based insect repellents.
They made and tested a preparation that contains essential oils and carrier oils including coconut oil, and reported that it provides similar protection from bugs as DEET based repellents. The preparation that contains coconut oil offered up to approximately 7 hours of protection from mosquitoes.

COCONUT WATER and COCONUT OIL AS MOSQUITO REPELLENT:

1. Drink Coconut Water

Drinking lots of coconut water can help in repelling mosquitoes, too. This is one sway of turning yourself into a natural mosquito repellent from the inside out.
Drink around 3-4 bottles of coconut water per day. Also, apply coconut oil into your body after showers, and on any exposed skin when you went outside in the evening.

2. Coconut Oil Insect Repellent Recipe:

Materials:
Coconut oil
Bowl
Spoon
Directions:
1. Spoon out the amount of coconut oil you needed to completely cover any exposed skin.
2. Mash up the coconut oil in a bowl, so that it is not chunky.
3. Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil. Keep the 4:1 ratio, that is for every 4 scoops of coconut oil, add 1 drop essential oil.
4. Stir until the mixture is smooth.
5. Apply to your skin as you would a lotion.

OTHER TIPS:

Essential Oils

If you mix a few drops of essential oils with coconut oil, you can switch up the scent. You can use lavender oil, and on days when you want some added protection, use tea tree or citronella or you can mix all 3.

Clothing

The one downside of using coconut oil is that it is pure oil, and it can be quite greasy. Use caution upon application and give it some time to soak into your skin.
Watch for potential oil stains on your clothing, do not touch your clothes with your greasy fingers. It is not easy to get it off.
Sources:
Moringasource
The Miracle of Essential Oils, photo by Pixabay
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