How many of you have already found a tick attached this year? Even though I don't play or work in the tall grass like I did when young, ticks find their way to me every year regardless. We even found a deer tick crawling on our kitchen counter one year!
When a wood tick perched on my shoulder this spring, I took the opportunity to use it for a little teaching. (See the brief video HERE)
We often shudder when we hear how people are removing ticks from their children - knowing that they could be causing more harm than good by using popular methods to make the tick release. See below for why some methods are actually dangerous.
The goal is to get a little skin off to be sure you have the tick's head. (In my video, that tick took away no skin because it was so newly attached that it chose to let go on its own when being pestered.)
• Use a Tick Key for removal from people and animals.
• NEVER use hot match heads or essential oils for removal. They upset a tick so much that it "spits" any disease it may be carrying into your body!
• Save essential oil use for after removal:
•
Oregano is known for its antibacterial/antibiotic properties. But the
oil is strong, so be sure to dilute it in a carrier oil before
applying.
• Peppermint
dilution is used to inhibit the gathering of co-infections at the site
of the bite. (Many people have a previous infection that their immune
system keeps under check. But a fresh one can interact with the old bugs
and cause many more problems. This initial interaction is what doctors
now believe the bull's eye rash comes from. Picture a "meet and greet
party.")
• For extra peace of mind or to direct further treatment, labs are available to test your tick for Lyme disease. (We are thankful that a deer tick on my niece this spring turned out "clean"!)
Trust
me... you do not want Lyme disease to go undiagnosed for years until
chronic illness takes over more and more of your body systems.
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