Proper Way to Remove a Tick

I am about to share with you a true and shameful story. Let's just say it is a "what never to do" story.

Not long ago I was getting ready and noticed my armpit itched. Not only did it itch, but it also felt like there was a slight bump. So I raised my arm high to the sky to take a look and noticed the area was brown. I immediately thought, "oh a new freckle or mole has formed," so I went to the mirror to get a close up. It wasn't a mole or a freckle at all; it was a nymph, otherwise known as a small tick. The kind you SHOULD be afraid of!! How could this be? I had just taken a shower! Ticks come off in the shower right?? NO, NO, NO!  Then I proceeded to use my finger nails to pull the tick off and I flushed it down the toilet.

You maybe thinking this story sounds familiar to one of your own, and wondering what is so embarrassing about it because that is what anyone would do. As a person who had been diagnosed with a tick borne disease and suffered substantially, I should and do know better.

1st Bathing after being outdoors will not remove ticks. You might have a better chance of finding them,       but they don't come off just because you bathed.
2nd Ticks should NEVER EVER be removed with your finger nails.
3rd Save your ticks by putting them in a zipper bag and freezing them. DO NOT flush them down the toilet.

Most likely this spring/summer you are going to come face to face with an attached tick either on you, someone you know, or your pet. Proper removal is imperative so please read and re-read the following information.

Identifying Ticks - 
photo from Center for Disease Control and Prevention

This diagram is just to give you an idea of what you are looking for and the variation in size. If you would like to view a more detailed list of ticks and information on the kinds go to TickEncounter Resource Center (I am constantly using this site because it has so much information).

Tool for Removing Ticks - Please do NOT use your finger nails! Pointed tweezers is what you need (not household tweezers because they increase the chance of tearing the body). I highly suggest you purchase a pair for at home and a pair to go on your key ring or easily take hiking. You can pick them up at most pharmacies or beauty departments of local stores such as Target and Walmart. To save you the hassle here is a link to buy a pair of Sally Hanson Tweezers. Finding the key chain pointy tweezers may be more difficult so here is a link for Uncle Bill's Silver Gripper Key Chain Tweezers.

Removing the Tick- When you go to remove a tick clean the area with rubbing alcohol, take your pointy tweezers and grab the tick as close to the tick's head or your skin as possible. Use a slow and steady motion to pull straight up and out. DO NOT TWIST!!!  Wipe area with rubbing alcohol again. Place the tick in a plastic zipper bag and freeze. You will want to keep the tick in case you begin to experience symptoms. If you think the tick has been on your body for at least 36 hours watch closely for symptoms and be prepared to visit your doctor. Watch this video to see how proper tick removal is done.

**Do't forget that Tick Prevention is essential!

***Pets need to be checked thoroughly for ticks and protected as well. Please check with your local vet about protecting your pet and look into purchasing a pet tick remover.

Tick Prevention: How Not to Become a Tick's Feast

We are currently at the height of tick season, late spring through summer. I have been wanting to write about tick prevention for the past several weeks because so many of my friends keep reporting findings of ticks on their bodies.

YIKES!!

Those arachnids are lurking in the brush and tall grasses waiting to ambush you, their host. You can often find them within 3 feet of the ground and beware because they do not jump, fall or fly. Instead they wait for you to brush by the vegetation they are on, and then they gently crawl around on your body till they find a nice spot to latch on to such as your head, neck, underarms or groin and enjoy your blood.

Sounds HORRIFIC!!!!

It doesn't have to be. Use the tips from Tick Prevention 101 you can go into the battle zone prepared to keep your blood safe from becoming the predator's next feast.

Tick Prevention 101

1.  What to Wear -  Wear light colored clothing so that you can better see dark colored ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks making it more difficult for the tick to reach your skin.

2.  Sprays -  Permethrin & DEET
Permethrin is found to be most effective in protecting/killing ticks.  It is derived from a chemical found in the chrysanthemum family of plants. It should NOT be applied to the skin. Permethrin is more difficult to find than DEET so here is a link to purchase it on Amazon.

If you are going camping in the woods then you should really consider soaking the clothing items you will be wearing in Permethrin. You can find some helpful videos on treating your clothing at TickEncounter Resource Center.

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is relatively safe for spraying on the skin - (let's face it you won't want to wear pants tucked into your socks in 100 degree weather, plus it is such a fashion phopa).
The LymeNet Europe offers a list of pros and cons of using Permethrin and DEET

Pros and Cons:

• DEET needs to be applied regularly and can only work as it is evaporating. Permethrin works for weeks after it has dried inside clothing fibers.
• DEET is applied directly to the skin and can be absorbed through the skin. Permethrin is applied to clothing only and has limited contact to the skin.
• DEET has a detectable odor. Permethrin smells only until it dries.
• DEET does not kill or disable ticks and is a poor repellent. Permethrin works instantly and is extremely effective. It is the tick repellent of choice by the military.
• DEET can melt synthetic clothes like nylon. Permethrin causes no damage to any known cloth or synthetic fiber.
• DEET products are easy to find. Permethrin is hard to find and more expensive.
• DEET is an effective fish repellent.  (Permethrin is actually known to be very toxic to fish!)

3. Essential Oils - When you use Essential Oils as a repellent you will want to combine 2TBL of a carrier oil such as Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, or Sweet Almond Oil  with about 20 drops of your essential oil. Currently, I am using TerraShield by doTerra. However, after doing more research I am also interested in Rose Geranium by Eden's Garden.  An interesting blog was written on "Primally Inspired" about using Rose Geranium as a tick repellent; it's worth reading.

I imagine there are more ways to prevent falling prey to the 8 legged enemy, but these are the one's I believe are most practical. Plus, I have to hurry. Many of you have already been attacked and need to know about proper removal. Stay tuned for "Proper Tic Removal."

Alternative Treatment Plan

Over the past year I have been treated for Lyme Borreliosis primarily with antibiotics. There is so much information and controversy over treating Lyme with antibiotics; I will need to write a separate post for this. What I found is that IV antibiotics helped in getting the Lyme "under control" for me. They made life livable, but they do not kill the Lyme.

For about 4 months after finishing my antibiotics I felt pretty good and had very limited symptoms. When I did have symptoms, I could rebound fairly quickly. At the beginning of the year I started to exercise, something I had not been able to do for months! I began to do hot yoga with infrared heat see previous post for more information. Then I started regressing. My neurological symptoms began to increase and it started taking me several days to regain strength and never quite fully gained.

I knew that I did not want to go back on antibiotics if at all possible. My gut was torn up and I didn't think my stomach could handle much more. Finally, I spoke with a doctor who has a holistic Lyme treatment approach.

I am so blessed to have an aunt, Laura Belg-Adams, who is a Certified Microscopist and has started me on essential oils. She has given so many of my oils and supplements just because she is awesome. Essential Oils and their healing properties have been used for centuries and are written about in the bible.

Last week I visited a Chinese Herb Specialist whom my doctor told me I needed to see. She has started me on a protocol she follows using various Chinese Herbs. An important note here is various. Lyme is sneaky and hides. This is why it is important to treat with one herb and then change it up and treat with another. The Specialist also recommended that I start an essential oil Lyme Therapy by doTerra. It calls for 3 drops each in an empty gel capsule: Oregano, Clove, Thyme, Cassia, and Melissa. These should be taken twice a day for a minimum of 10-14 days and recommended to continue for 2 months after symptoms have subsided.
**Please note it is very important to use Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) oils when taking orally!!!


Essential Oils and Chinese Herbs aren't the only things that are apart of the alternative treatments I am doing. My doctor also wanted me to start treatments on with a machine called ONDAMED. This is a machine that helps diagnosis what is going on in your body by reading its electromagnetic waves. Here is a video about how it works (it will explain much better than me)!

I am also taking vitamins that I was low in, fish oil, and probiotics. Please know that I had all of these things approved by a doctor who did lots of testing on me and made sure nothing would interact with my current medications. I feel strongly this is VERY important (even the oils) if you are on any other medications. Count on me to let you know how I progress as my treatments continue.