By Kathryn Yateman
This is my daughters horse Tilly (yes that’s me way up there!) Yes she is big and yes I am short!
Tilly hates spring and summer here and our hot temperatures. She gets fly bites on her legs and face so bad that they bled and itch. Even when we put her boots on , then she gets sweat and rub burns . She also peels really bad. And that itches so she finds post and whatever to scratch it… and that bleeds and is irrigating . I came up with a recipe that I have used for her and it helps tremendously and also helps heal. Its not just for horses! I have sprayed myself with it because I also have a problem with flies attacking me and hay. I don’t know if this is everywhere but are flies here bite! I don’t remember that as a kid in Washington. And I have used it on the dogs too!
I buy all of my herbs from Starwest Botanicals. Fresh, foil lined bags and organic if you choose ( which I do)!
The oils that I used are only Young Living essential oils. I cannot vouch for another companies oil or there effectiveness or adverse effects.
I am not the best person to measure. So you can adjust as needed.
SOOTHING FLY BITE RECIPE:
- 1 CUP OF STEEPED AND COOLED LOOSE CHAMOMILE FLOWERS
- 1 CUP ALOE VERA JUICE
- 1/2 CUP OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- 15 DROPS OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
- 20 DROPS OF TEA TREE OIL
- MIX ALL IN A LARGE SPRAY BOTTLE ABOUT THE SIZE THEY SELL AT LOWES OR HOME DEPOT, FOR INDUSTRIAL USE. SHAKE BEFORE USE AND SPRAY OR RUB ON
- (ALOE VERA GEL CAN BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE JUICE AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR REMOVED FOR A THICKER SUBSTANCE I JUST LIKE THE SPRAYER AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Apple CIDER VINEGAR IS USED TO KEEP FLIES AWAY. AND IT SEEMS TO WORK WELL AND CAN BE RUBBED IN. BUT PLAY AROUND WITH THIS PART. )
- I ACTUALLY STEEP ABOUT A FULL HALF A CUP TO MAYBE A WHOLE CUP OF THE CHAMOMILE FLOWER BUDS TO PROBABLY ALMOST 2 CUPS OF BOILING WATER TO MAKE THE 1 CUP STEEPED (IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN A CUP USE IT! AGAIN IM NOT THE BEST WITH BEING PRECISE) LET SIT AND COOL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THE GOODNESS OF THE CHAMOMILE
I don’t like to add any citronella or repel aroma to this because she cant tell me if it burns or irritates her (well she can but I DON’T WANT TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END).
MY LAST TRICK THAT I WILL DO, AND MY DAUGHTER HATES IT BECAUSE SHE IS SO DARK, IS I WILL PACK INTO THE BITES AND ALL OVER HER LEGS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FOOD GRADE ONLY. OR REDMOND CLAY. (SAME THING). FLIES HATE IT! I FEED IT TO THEM FOR THERE NATURAL WORMER AND PUT IT ALL OVER THE STALLS TO HELP KEEP THE FLIES AWAY.
I HAVE MADE A PASTE WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH A LITTLE ALOE VERA JUICE OR WATER AND CITRONELLA, OR AROMA REPEL TO KEEP THE FLIES OFF AND AWAY FROM THE OPEN AREAS.
WE WILL THIS SPRAY BOTTLE ON HER 1 TO 2 TIMES A DAY EVERYDAY AND I BELIEVE IT LAST A MONTH…MAYBE LONGER.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AFTER YOU TRY IT OR QUESTIONS. AGAIN, HORSES, HUMANS, DOGS ,IT REALLY HELPS.
