Tick Prevention

A quick update for anyone who has followed "My Walk With Lyme" I have been nearly symptom free for about 1 1/2 years. This is truly a miracle and I will go further into details in another blog post. (I took a long period off of writing because I was sick of writing about it and wanted to just think about something else, but I promise to write more in another post).

It's that time of year when everyone and their brother start finding ticks on their skin. This is particularly scary with the increased number of individuals being diagnosed with  Lyme disease. A disease that if not caught right away is extremely difficult to diagnose and unfortunately is still highly controversial; more on that later. For now, let's talk about how to better keep you and your family safe. 

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use for bug repellent. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is relatively safe for spraying on the skin. "Relatively" safe is the keyword here. In 2009, US News & World Report published an article entitled, 

Deet's Nastiness Extends to Humans. "DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellents, doesn’t only cripple mosquitoes—it also meddles with mammals. A new study examining DEET’s effects on insects, mice and human proteins reports that the chemical interferes with a prominent central nervous system enzyme. This effect is magnified when exposure to DEET is combined with exposure to certain pesticides..."

An alternative and more effective way of killing ticks is Permethrin. Permethrin 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/spraying the clothing items you will be wearing in Permethrin. You can find some helpful videos on treating your clothing at TickEncounter Resource Center.

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!)

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. Spray your clothes NOT YOUR SKIN with Permethrin.

3. Use essential oils on skin.

BUG REPELLENT - The Natural Way

As someone whose neurological system has been effected in a major way from ticks, I certainly don't want to use a product that could potentially continue to effect my neurological system. AND, I certainly do not want my children effected in a negative way. I am constantly spraying my kids for bugs during the summer. So, I choose to use bug & tick repellent the natural way. 

TOOLS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle (DO NOT USE PLASTIC, Essential Oils are so strong they can cause the chemicals in the plastic to mix with your recipe)

Distilled or Purified Water or Vodka (keeps sprayer from getting clogged)

Carrier Oil such as Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, or Sweet Almond Oil 

Essential Oil(s) - The two leading 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil companies often have a bug repellent oil. Consider adding in cedar wood, geranium, and peppermint oil (about 20-30 drops each)

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place the drops of essential oil(s). Add 2 TBLs of carrier oil. Fill the bottle with Distilled Water or Vodka. Shake Before Spraying. Spray on skin and clothing. 

***Many of you have already been attacked and need to know about proper removal. Please check out my post on  "Proper Tic Removal."