LYME DISEASE - prevention - Page 2


© Barbara Hall
Page 2
get infected? Read on, squirrels! If you snuffle through those 22,003 documents you'll see a lot of conflicting info on just how long a tick has to be working on you in order for you to be infected. I think most of us who have ever had it would argue that it took 2-3 DAYS to become infected. Your best defense is to KNOW what you're looking for when you do those tick-checks, so here are the pics!

Now let's say you found one of the little buggers. I'm going to give you the 'new' tick bite first aid handed to me by some fine herbalists. By all means, pull the tick out with tweezers and don't try pre-killing it with a match or vaseline or anything as it may discharge the spirochetes into you. Grab it as close to the skin as you possibly can and pull steadily. Immediately rinse the bite site with HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (as spirochetes can't DEAL with extra oxygen) and also you can take just 5 drops of Stinging Nettles tincture under your tongue to counter-act the actual chemistry of the bite itself. (They both contain formic acid) That's the best you can do for now. Put the tick in some little jar with a small square of damp paper towel and take it somewhere to have it tested if you're REALLY nervous. After that, all you can do is wait to see if symptoms develop. Should you just run out and take antibiotics preventatively? Don't think so. Let's not put your body through that if we don't have to.

And let's talk a bit about prevention. Say you don't plan on spending the rest of your life under the bed (besides, your cat could get in there with you and the ticks she brought in on her fur!). So, you're going out for a walk. Not without some tick repellant, you're not. I don't know how YOU feel about DEET, but I wouldn't put it on MY skin! Ready for the great secret? ROSE GERANIUM ESSENTIAL OIL. I'm not kidding. During my 5th bout with this I was desperate to find a way to go outside again safely. I looked up every insect-repelling oil and potion I could find and I plucked ticks off the chin of my stupid cat for testing (Hey. I was DESPERATE) Rosemary oil they swam through.

Go To Page: 1 2 3


The copyright of the article LYME DISEASE - prevention - Page 2 in Weeds & Wild Plants is owned by . Permission to republish LYME DISEASE - prevention - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo


Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

7.   Mar 31, 2002 10:32 AM
The Lyme vaccine has been RECALLED as of Feb 26 of 2002. After all the RUSH to get it on the market, it's now being pulled off, and the REASON IS...(ready) a LACK OF SALES!!! according to the manufact ...

-- posted by LadyB


6.   Apr 5, 1998 12:58 PM
Thanks for the reply, Barbara. My socks are back on and I'm ready to face the dangers lurking in my garden.

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM


5.   Apr 5, 1998 7:30 AM
Hi, Marcella, didn't mean to scare you, but being armed sure can help. Most people really don't understand just how potent essential oils are. I run into this all the time. So many folks think that be ...

-- posted by LadyB


4.   Apr 5, 1998 1:29 AM
Barbara, I'm new here and love this garden site. Your article scared the socks off me. I seem to be one of those people who loves gardening, nature and the great outdoors but nature hates me. I can't ...

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM


3.   Apr 4, 1998 4:58 PM
Blanche, thank you so much for the compliment! As I perpetually burn the midnite keyboard trying to MAKE my bi-weekly deadlines, I often wonder HOW the editors who DO post weekly ever manage to DO it! ...

-- posted by LadyB





For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara Hall's Weeds & Wild Plants topic, please visit the Discussions page.