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Rose Geranium For Ticks

posted by Annie B. Bond May 6, 1999 4:51 pm
Rose Geranium For Ticks
11 comments

By Annie B. Bond

After a blessed three month winter reprieve, our two dogs (Sammy and Cleo) are bringing home deer and dog ticks again. So far, just a few a day, but it will soon get a lot worse. Because the whole family
has suffered from Lyme disease, I have taken finding natural
repellents very seriously.

Here are the easy and effective ways I’ve found for keeping ticks away without resorting to toxic chemicals.

After digging deep in many old herbalist
books I came across mention of Rose Geranium as being an
excellent tick repellent. Palmerosa, a cousin of Rose Geranium,
is also effective. I put just a drop or two—no more—of pure essential oil of rose geranium on each dog’s cloth collar every week, and it really
keeps the ticks away. Check with your vet before using essential oils on cats.

I’d still check the pets daily for ticks. Deer
ticks are the size of poppy seeds and incredibly hard to spot
at the nymph stage so common in the spring. One essential oil
company that offers pure Rose Geranium is Aura Cacia from
Frontier Natural Products. If you’d prefer a ready-made product,
Quantum Herbal products sells a tick and flea
spray for pets with pure Rose Geranium as its main active
ingredient. Both products are available in health food stores.
Note: Pregnant women are advised to avoid essential oils.

More on Natural Remedies (323 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3247 articles available)

11 comments

11 comments

add your comment »
11 comments add your comment
Paul C.
  • Paul C. says
  • May 14, 2009 7:52 PM

My experience is rose geranium oil does NOTHING! I have tried it for 2 years and it never works, I put pure undiluted rose geranium oil on my Beagle and on my cloths. Every time we come back covered with both wood ticks and deer ticks. Save your money and get a fine toothed comb, and comb your dog after returning from the field.

Anne H.
  • Anne H. says
  • May 9, 2008 11:11 AM

Please don't waste money on essential oils thru an MLM company. Btw contrary to statement made above eo's cannot be used on cats, hydrosols CAN be used. I am a professional aromatherapist and good products CAN be bought at health food stores and also online at several places including av-at.com and naturesgift.com

Anne H.
  • Anne H. says
  • May 9, 2008 11:09 AM

Please don't fall for the hype about MLM essential oils. There are plenty of great pure essential oils in your health food store. Btw contrary to the wrong info being put out by MLM companies please do NOT put eo's on cats. I am a professional aromatherapist and its frightening what this MLM company will say in order to sell. Two great retail resources that won't steer you wrong are av-at.com and naturesgift.com. These are two companies well respected among aromatherapists.

Sheryl Straub

My dog was on flea/tick treatments and also heartworm treatments from our vet. She also had epiliptic seizures, which at the time we made no connection to the meds as the cause. As soon as I took her off of these medications, the seizures started to become less frequent and eventually stopped altogether within a year.
Sheryl S

kimberly c.

Thank-u I live in AZ and fleas and ticks are horrid. We live in Deer Valley in Phx.
Kim

Shane Stauffer

Rose Geranium: Pelargonium graveolens. Ok about this oil. If you have a pure essiential oil that has nothing synthetic or has no "fillers" is such a great oils to use. I am not sure about ticks, but it will attract bees. As for use on cats it works great. Also works on dogs horses and people. It is all the synthetic crud put in most essential oils that hurt the liver, pure oils is a great aid in liver function. The oils at forevergreen are the finest in the world. I have personal experience and others success stories with the use of our oils. PLEASE do your homework on the oils you buy. the mall sells inexpensive oils, but can you be sure it is a true essential oil? You get what you pay for! If interested, check these essential oils out at myforevergreen.org/shanestauffer. they have been researched and tested. they are also always testing the benefits of oils here. please write me with any questions. I tell you, once you use the oils here, every other oils smells, tastes and acts second class. With all my love, Shane Stauffer

Ms Grey

be careful about OVER using garlic and onion with cats and dogs as it will cause leukemia and liver ailments in both feline and canine species

Sharon Edelman

I have found numerous ticks in our house. Any suggestions on getting rid of these nasties?

Christina M

Please don't use essential oils with cats! They stay in the cats livers, and with time will make the cat very ill. There is a lot of research on this on the internet. Please look it up.

Karen Martinez

Have been using the rose geranium oil as well as garlic for the dogs. Anything organic that can be used on the grass? We have had a really bad tick problem in our area.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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