Does Cinnamon Help with Ticks?

Have you heard a rumor that cinnamon or another DIY solution can help with your Oklahoma City tick problem? Mosquito Squad of Oklahoma City is here to help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to natural tick repellents like cinnamon.

Cinnamon and Ticks: The Myth and the Reality

As more people look for greener alternatives to traditional pest control, the idea of using pantry staples like cinnamon to repel ticks has grown in popularity. A quick search online will show plenty of DIY blogs touting cinnamon as a natural solution for tick problems. But does it really work?

Our answer is a hesitant “yes, but….” because there are important factors to consider, and those factors could mean that it’s not the right treatment for you.

Cinnamon – specifically, cinnamon oil derived from Cinnamomum cassia – is at the center of most of the research on this topic. Laboratory tests have shown that concentrated cinnamon oil can temporarily repel certain tick species. One study even recorded high levels of repellency in controlled environments, putting it nearly on par with DEET.

But there are a few key caveats. First, these studies used highly concentrated oil, not the ground spice sitting in your kitchen cabinet. Second, the effects were short-lived. Cinnamon oil’s repellency diminishes quickly, often within a matter of hours. That means you’d have to reapply it frequently to maintain control, and that’s something that’s not particularly practical for everyday use, especially for larger outdoor areas.

Lastly, while cinnamon may smell pleasant to us, applying large quantities of cinnamon oil without proper dilution could cause skin irritation. So even though ticks may hate it, your skin might not love it either.

Why DIY Solutions Aren’t Enough for Tick Control in Oklahoma City

If cinnamon could keep ticks away entirely, it would be a game-changer. But here in Oklahoma City, where ticks are active and the risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis is real, it turns out that stocking on bottles of ground cinnamon at the grocery store simply isn’t enough.

Ticks are resilient, and once they’ve found a foothold on your property, you need a more comprehensive strategy to help keep them from sticking around. Plus, DIY deterrents can’t interrupt the tick life cycle, and they won’t address hidden breeding grounds in shaded areas, under leaf litter, or along wood lines – both things that Mosquito Squad’s tick control treatments are capable of achieving.

Trust Mosquito Squad as Your Best Bet for Effective Oklahoma City Tick Control

Mosquito Squad’s proven tick control approach begins with a detailed property assessment to identify tick-prone zones such as tall grasses, shady spots, and damp brush. From there, we’ll apply our powerful barrier protection treatment to those high-risk areas. This treatment is designed to reduce ticks on contact and will provide you with lasting protection.

Our treatments work at all stages of the tick life cycle, from nymphs to adults, so with our treatments, it’s possible to break the cycle and instead benefit from a more enjoyable outdoor space for you and your family.

Mosquito Squad of Oklahoma City Is Ready to Help!

Ticks are a major health concern, and controlling them is a priority for many across Oklahoma City. When it comes to protecting your property, guesswork and “almost” isn’t good enough. Instead, turn to Mosquito Squad for lasting, effective solutions that will dramatically reduce ticks on your property.

So, if you’ve been asking, "Does cinnamon help with ticks?"—the answer is that while it might help a little, it’s no substitute for the real deal. Don’t let a myth be your main method of pest control. Instead, count on Mosquito Squad of Oklahoma City to help you reduce ticks the right way.

Start with your free quote when you call us today at (405) 792-0230 or get in touch online!