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Naturopathic recommendations for bed bugs

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naturalways

newbite
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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 4 2011 21:03:39
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Hello,

While dealing with bed bugs, and the paranoia that comes with it I have talked to many people. While speaking with a naturopath I gained a few tips.

-Don't over steam, only steam what you can see.
-For added effectiveness mix essential oils of lavender and eucalyptus in the steam
-Wait a few days, then make a mixture of oregano oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil. Take a paint brush and paint around your baseboards, door, window, or other points of entry. This will kill them and not allow them to enter.
-Take oil of oregano 3 drops 3x/day between meals, not before you eat or after. You must wait.
-Juice 3 lemons per day and drink. This will help your blood to alleviate stress and help your blood pressure levels
-Stop thinking about the bugs.

He also recommended me some tea, Mille Pertui (I don't know the english name)
It will help deal with the stress of bed bugs, for women. Steep 1 spoon for 8 minutes and drink this 15 minutes before sleep.

This has nearly taken over my life and with the help of the naturopath I am on a path to recovery.

Good luck to everyone!
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 5 2011 11:35:58
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Hi naturalways,

Lots of us would like to be more "natural" in dealing with bed bugs. Steam is a great example of a non-chemical treatment that works well.

However, I am not sure your naturopath has the experience or knowledge to advise re: killing bed bugs. These suggestions don't seem to be based on field experience or lab trials.

-Don't over steam, only steam what you can see.
-For added effectiveness mix essential oils of lavender and eucalyptus in the steam

Steam alone kills bed bugs. You don't need to add anything and beyond an added smell, I would be interested to see proof that doing so added effectiveness.

While some have claimed lavender and eucalyptus have repellent properties, I will note that (1) in my experience and that of others, lavender does not keep bed bugs from biting, and (2) even if it were true that these products repelled them, repelling bed bugs can drive them deeper into your home and is not advised.

Repellency, even if it is possible, is not desirable with bed bugs. That might seem counterintuitive, but remember, you're not outside camping in a field with mosquitos, you're indoors. Repelling does not make bed bugs open the door and walk out. We hear it can make them move deeper into the structure. Which means they're still there and will bite again and will be harder to oust. (Again, if a substance even repels them, which is being disputed here.)

-Wait a few days, then make a mixture of oregano oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil. Take a paint brush and paint around your baseboards, door, window, or other points of entry. This will kill them and not allow them to enter.

As a contact killer, I don't doubt these products would do the job. So will lots of soaps and straight 91% rubbing alcohol.

However, a contact killer must be applied directly to pests (e.g. sprayed on). If bed bugs come along later, walking over a surface where lavender was sprayed won't kill them (as I said above, in my experience, it won't even deter them). In other words, I am not aware that it has a residual killing property. In my experience it did not. Anyone claiming it does should produce some data.

-Take oil of oregano 3 drops 3x/day between meals, not before you eat or after. You must wait.
-Juice 3 lemons per day and drink. This will help your blood to alleviate stress and help your blood pressure levels
-Stop thinking about the bugs.
He also recommended me some tea, Mille Pertui (I don't know the english name)

If these things work to remove stress, all the better.

But "stop thinking about the bugs," while desirable, can at times be difficult.

I know you posted to try to help, so please don't take my comments the wrong way.

It's really important to me that people with bed bugs don't take unnecessary steps which aren't likely to help and which can cost money and time.
naturalways

newbite
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 6 2011 1:30:51
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Alright! Well it's good to have some feedback. I've been trying to get some natural methods to deal with the pests and stress and had much trouble finding on the internet.
cilecto

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 6 2011 2:35:18
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Anything that can help you face crisis (stress reduction or good organization habits) can help de stress your battle with bed bugs. I often advise people to indulge themselves with a favorite comforting beverage. I also urge them to read our excellent FAQ for a good foundation on bed bugs, detection and eradication. There are lots of people offering "natural, green" methods online. Some are legitimate, most questionable. Heat (as you've discovered) is a good non-chemical method. There does not appear to be any support for most "oils and herbs" against bed bugs, though several common chemical insecticides (the pyrethroids and the neo nicotinoids) are synthetic variants of plant substances.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 6 2011 13:49:52
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Just to add: since steam is a contact killer (albeit a very effective one), it can be labor intensive and require multiple retreatments.

If money permits, your entire home can be heated, which is supposed to be a one-time treatment. It's known as structural heat or thermal treatment/thermal remediation.
cilecto

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 6 2011 14:40:14
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BTW Millepertuis = Hypericum Perforatum = St. John's Wort
naturalways

newbite
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 13 2011 3:18:28
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cilecto - 6 days ago »
BTW Millepertuis = Hypericum Perforatum = St. John's Wort

ah, thank you. It is very good to help sleep and deal with stress.
bed-bugscouk

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 13 2011 11:22:02
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Hi,

I am not sure if it is available in the US but Bach's rescue remedy is a good stress tonic that I have spoken with a number of our more stressed out clients about over the years. I even use it myself if I am facing one of those computercide days where I just want to throw everything out of the window and start again.

David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited