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."