Keeping Mosquitos at Bay

While many of us are excited about the arrival of summer, the change in seasons brings an unwelcome counterpart -- bugs! The popular repellant DEET is one of the most effective ways of preventing a mosquito from spotting you and it offers the only proven protection against the deer ticks that carry Lyme disease. While protection is important, you should use this chemical cautiously as it has been linked to seizures and comas. Search your local health food store for plant-based alternatives containing oil of geranium, cedar, lemon grass, soy or citronella. While they aren't as effective, they may do the trick for those brief periods outdoors when you're not at serious risk.