Summer is prime time for tick bites. I get messages every week, sometimes daily with concerns about tick bites and potential for Lyme disease. There are many things you can do to prevent and treat early Lyme infection from a tick bite but of course it is far better to prevent the bite in the first place. A few weeks ago I wrote about how to prevent tick bites when camping and hiking- but many of us are seeing ticks in our own yards and communities. What are some practical steps we can take to keep them away and any diseases they may be carrying?
Ticks prefer shaded areas and tend to live near trees in tall grasses and brushy areas that are shaded. Animals that carry ticks such as deer, dogs, cats, mice, rabbits, etc. walk through these areas. Ticks also travel on birds who carry them into the trees. Keeping grass cut and trees and shrubs trimmed will help create more sunshine and less shade and habitat for ticks. Also keeping brushy areas, leaf clutter, wood piles and weedy areas cleared will help repel ticks. Another great suggestion that you will find on the CDC website is keeping a 3 foot path around the perimeter of your yard if you are next to woods, or brushy areas that you cannot control. They do not like to cross rock paths or wood paths, so making such a border out of gravel or cedar chips can go a long way to keep ticks out of your yard.
Keeping stray dogs, cats, deer, etc out of your yard can be achieved by planting shrubs with thorns or prickly leaves at any entry point.
Some people are spraying pesticides into their lawns, bushes, shrubs and brushy areas however anyone who works with me knows that pesticides do a lot of damage to hormones, immune systems, respiratory systems, gut health, and brain health. Using natural essential oil based sprays are best. You can find some commercial preparations out there but making it yourself is easy enough.
Simply mix a combination of:
cedar
geranium
lemon eucalyptus
rosemary
citronella
lemongrass
thyme
lavender
and other essential oils you may have on hand into an emulsifier like white vinegar, or a minty mouthwash, with water and apply to your yard. I have seen claims of sprays that also use 3 cups of Epsom salts and 3 cans of stale beers (cheap beers of course) with the vinegar or mouth wash, water and essential oils to make a long lasting yard spray against mosquitoes. IF you look online you will see many different recipes. I would make sure that for the sake of repelling ticks that you are using the geranium and cedar oils in particular in whatever blend you choose to make.
If you just prefer to buy a commercial preparation, here is one I found but have not personally used : https://www.wondercide.com/collections/yard-and-garden-pests/products/natural-outdoor-flea-tick-control-for-yard-garden
Or
If you need to keep your wood pile you can purchase tick tubes online and place them in the wood piles to attract and kill the ticks. https://www.walmart.com/ip/DAMMINIX-TICK-TUBES/36371978
Keeping a natural repellent on your pets if they are bringing ticks into the house is also important. Check your pets regularly when they have been outside and make sure they are not carrying ticks in. I have worked with clients who have gotten tick bites and lyme disease as a result of allowing pets to sleep with them without checking them for ticks. This is easily avoidable by checking them regularly. IT is easy to find tick collars for pets online made with safe essential oil ingredients – there is not a particular brand that I recommend or have used.
Keeping a natural spray on yourself when you are working outdoors can also be really helpful. They are easy to make yourself using geranium essential oil, cedarwood and other oils in combination with an oil emulsifier like witch hazel and adding water. Most recipes call for approx. 10-20 drops of Essential oils to 2 ounces of emulsifier to 2 ounces of water but there are many variations. Keep any Essential oils sprays you make in a GLASS bottle as the oils will interact with plastic.
If you do get a tick bite this summer don’t panic. Make sure you use a TWEEZER only- apply to the head of the tick closest to your skin, and grasp firmly and pull straight up. Don’t twist or use any type of match, essential oil or other method to remove it. Pulling straight up briskly will keep the tick from spitting its contents during the removal process. Burning them with a match, using essential oils to ease them out, or using any other method puts you at risk for contracting whatever disease they carry. SAVE the tick, place it in a plastic bag and mail it off to www.tickreport.com.
Then reach out to me – I can help guide you through next steps. Most of all- enjoy your summer with confidence and free of the fear of lyme disease.