Simply thinking about bedbugs can send shivers down spines and have people scratching sudden itches. For those unfortunate to actually be affected by bedbugs, however, the effects these tiny parasitic insects can have upon one's health can be a serious matter. Although they are not known to spread disease, these little critters can cause irritable rashes on the skin, provoke allergy symptoms and have the potential to affect individuals psychologically. (‘Bedbugs back in the KC area’ by Karen Dillon. The Kansas City Star. Posted Online Fri Oct 08/2010).
Bed bugs thrive on the warm red blood of humans, and will feed from you like vampires regardless of your cleanliness. The little critters are wingless, flattened, oval-shaped insects with a light brown/orangey coloring that measure up to four to five millimeters in length once they reach adulthood. Bed bugs can reside just about anywhere, although they prefer to remain as close to their host as possible (i.e., in the bed, on the sofa, in your jacket…yes, they travel very well!). (‘How to prevent bedbugs’ Jack Herrich et al, cited on www.wikiHow.com/ Oct 8th 2010).
These parasites can be moved around via furniture, clothing, backpacks and even luggage. They will infest pretty much any property they land upon, whether it’s a house, a hotel or even a department store, and unfortunately over the last 10 years the U.S. National Pest Management Association has seen a 10% increase in the number of calls concerning bedbugs. Missy Henriksen of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), stated recently, “We are on the threshold of a bed bug pandemic, not just in the United States, but around the world.” (NPMA website, "The NPMA Releases First-Ever Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study to Determine Extent of Resurgence", accessed October 13, 2010).
Detecting the Signs for Bedbugs
Prevention, as they say, is better than cure; disposing of beds is not always the best solution. The primary step is to check for signs of their existence. Tiny spots of blood on your mattress, or minute eggs/feces left behind are telltale signs that they have befriended you. Tracking the little parasites can be quite a job as they are extremely good at keeping themselves hidden. Search their preferred habitats initially – warm mattresses, clothing and so on – but also look into any crevices around the home, under rugs, behind dressers and in drawers, and even behind wallpaper that has peeled away slightly from the wall. Be aware that bedbugs are nocturnal insects and playing detective with a flashlight during the night hours will be the best time to catch them in action. (www.ealing.gov.uk, cited Oct 8th 2010).
Preventing Bedbugs
If you are a frequent traveler, then check the beds you sleep in before you unpack. Turn mattresses in your home frequently and vacuum box springs and cushions every month or so. Spray your mattress with essential oil (see below). Spray your pillows with the same spray and place into the dryer on a high heat setting. Heat not only kills bedbugs but will also aid the depletion of mites that may live off dead skin tissue.
Essential Oil Spray Recipe for Bedbugs
Essential oils such as the following can be used to get rid of bedbugs:
- peppermint essential oil (anti-parasitic)
- tea tree essential oil (insecticidal)
- clove bud essential oil (anti-parasitic)
Put 10 millilitres of alcohol into a 500 millilitre bottle, then add 20 drops of each essential oil, and fill with water (if traveling, then add the water when you arrive at your destination). Using a fine mist spray, spray the bed and all around it. When you leave on a trip, put some cotton balls with the undiluted blend on them in your suitcase or pack these with your clothing into an air -tight plastic bag.
At home, add some of the anti-parasitic blend to some cloth strips and wrap them around your bed legs. In addition you could add the blend to absorbent aroma cards to tuck down baseboards, under rugs, inside pockets of your clothes or in with bedding in the closet.
To treat bed bug bites, dab the area with a Q-tip dipped in lavender essential oil, wash all your clothes in hot soapy water with some peppermint essential oil added and items that cannot be washed, wrap in plastic air tight bags that contain aroma cards with the anti-parasitic blend. Be aware that bedbugs can evade and escape zippers so bags must be taped, and where there are holes there are exits.
Barbara Greenwood - Barb Greenwood hails from England where she worked in Special Needs Health Care. Already a Registered Massage Therapist, she became ...
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