Chiggers! UGH! (Rose-scented geranium to the rescure!)

Last February over at Sincerely, Emily I posted about the body powder that I have been making for a couple of years. This spring I tried something new.

Chiggers can be a problem around here and I have had more than enough chigger bites to last me a life-time. While I know this, the chiggers didn’t seem to get the memo. Those darn bites had me thinking and thinking about what I could do to prevent them.

To combat the mosquitoes I just grab a few leaves of lemon balm and rub them on my arms and legs. The other plant I have turned to is the rose scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens). Not only does it help with the mosquitoes, but it smells fantastic too! (you may remember my post about rose scented geranium back in April.)

That really got me thinking about those darn chigger bites.

As the leaves dry on my rose scented geranium, I tend to pull them off and set them inside to to continue to dry. When I snip off the ends to start a new plant, I take the leaves that I have pulled off and take them inside to dry. After doing this for a few years I had quite a nice pile of dried leaves.

I decided to grind the dry rose scented geranium leaves and add them to my body powder. I thought that since the fresh leaves did such a nice job on the mosquitoes, then maybe the dry ones mixed with the body powder might, just might, help keep the chiggers at bay.

I started using my new powder blend this spring and it has worked wonders for me. Before I head out to work outside in the morning or evening I powder myself up around my mid-section, paying close attention to the areas that my clothes bind (chiggers love those spots.) Even if I powdered up in the morning, I will still re-apply in the evening when I head back outside.

My Version of the basic powder:

• 1 T Baking Soda
• 3 T Cornstarch
• 3 T Arrowroot powder

Add 1-2 T Ground Rose Scented Geranium

Play with the mixture until you find a blend that works for you (less cornstarch/arrowroot and more baking soda until it works for you)

I know I said it before, but this has worked wonders for me. I hope it might work for you too. Let me know if you try it.

Sincerely, Emily

You can see what else I am up to over at Sincerely, Emily. The topics are varied, as I jump around from gardening to sewing to making bread or lotion and many things in between.