How to Make All-Natural Cures for Fleas

Fleas are the bane of every cat and dog owner.  Flea medicine is a big business and often very expensive.  Many owners are looking for all natural cures, and with a few simple measures you can rid your home of fleas without introducing harmful chemicals to your animals and breaking the bank. 

Fleas are tiny, brown, wingless creatures that survive by feasting on the blood of your pet. They can jump 100 times their own height and the female will lay 20,000 eggs in just three months.  Once they have taken hold of a food source, namely your pet, fleas can be very difficult to get rid of.

1. To prevent flea infestation in the first place, add garlic to pet's food.  You can sprinkle garlic powder, add a garlic pill in a hot dog or mince garlic and mix it in. Another good food additive is black walnut hulls that come in a capsule form.  The capsules will repel not only fleas, but also ticks and mosquitoes.  Remember, the treatment will not work overnight; it will take 4 to 6 weeks for the effects to be noticed. 


2. If your pet is already infested with fleas, give them an herbal bath. You want to use an herbal shampoo that contains a combination of any of the following: pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper or geranium. Note that when you begin wetting your pet, the fleas will run for higher ground--your pet's head.  To keep the fleas on the head to a minimum, pour a thick layer of shampoo around the neck as if a collar. Use small handfuls of water and lather well.  Take your time building up a thick, soapy layer to kill the fleas. Once you have the neck area well lathered, proceed with the rest of the bath.  Leave the soap on your animal for at least 15 minutes. It’s better to give one thorough bath instead of a several inadequate ones.  


3. To remove fleas from the house, you need 1½ pounds diatomaceous earth mixed with 1½ pounds natural borax and 1 cup of salt.  Make sure you buy diatomaceous earth and natural borax from a garden store and not a pool store, the varieties at the pool store are toxic to humans and animals.  You must get the natural pulverized or ground diatomaceous earth and borax available at the garden center.  Put the earth mixture onto your carpets and harder to reach places, such as cracks.  If possible, allow the mixture to set a few days before vacuuming. The earth mixture works because the diatomaceous earth contains very tiny particles with sharp spines. This punctures the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it.  Borax and salt absorb moisture and make living quarters for fleas undesirable. You can also put the mixture into your vacuum bag and kill the fleas this way, but you will need to vacuum frequently to totally eradicate the problem.