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Ticks Be Gone! Lyme Disease FYI

Updated: Jun 24, 2020

☆ What is Lyme Disease?

Transmitted to humans by the bite of deer ticks (Ixodes ticks) carrying a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Where does it come from? One way we know how Lyme is carried is by ticks in their young stage. They feed off rodents, mainly White Footed Mice carrying the Lyme bacteria and possible co-infections. When the ticks are older/larger, they move onto deer as their new hosts. If a tick that is a carrier of the disease-causing microbe bites you, you may contact this disease. However, not all ticks carry these bad microbes. Black-legged (deer) ticks are the most common type of tick transmitting the Lyme disease bacterium from host to host. In most places in the Northeastern U.S., as many as 20% of Black-legged tick nymphs and 50% of adult females are infected. If you are bitten by a tick, remove it right away, then identify it. You can have it tested for infection to better assess your risk. First things first, REDUCE YOUR RISK of Lyme Disease! I realize it is incredibly challenging to be tick-proof if you are a regular outdoorsman/woman, but it is worth it to save yourself from the chronic symptoms of Lyme's bacteria. This cork-screw like bacteria (the formation under a microscope) creates negative results from headaches to joint inflammation. Do the basics of:

  1. Check yourself for ticks after being outside.

  2. Wear tick repellent spray- apply on your clothing.

  3. Wear long-legged pants & long-sleeved shirts.

You can add these added suggestions to your arsenal of keeping these nasty little creatures away from your body parts (P.S. Ticks prefer the warm moist areas of the body. Creepy, I know, but be sure to check. i.e Your armpits)!


☆ How to Remove a Tick:

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. If you don't have tweezers, put on gloves then use your fingers. Do not handle the tick with bare hands. Try the Tick Twister! This is an easy tool to remove ticks. See resources.

  2. Grab the tick as close to its mouth (the part that is stuck in your skin) as you can. The body of the tick will be above your skin.

  3. Do not grab the tick around its swollen belly. You could push infected fluid from the tick into your body if you squeeze it.

  4. Gently pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of your skin. Do not twist the tick. This may break off the head leaving it in your skin.

  5. Put the tick in a dry jar or ziplock bag and save it for later identification if necessary. Suggestion: Take to Veterinary for identification.

  6. After tick removal, wash hands & area of the tick bite with warm water + soap, and apply a drop of rubbing alcohol or Tea Tree oil on the bite area.

☆ Follow up directly after Tick experience:

  1. Remove tick: If possible, remove tick and place tick in a jar and take to a local veterinarian to identify the type of tick.

  2. Rub/clean the bite area with: Tea tree essential oil. Rubbing alcohol will work if you do not have essential oils on hand.

  3. Consider antibiotics: Schedule a visit with your Primary Care Provider.

☆ Tests:

  1. Typically, in order to diagnose Lyme with one of the commercial tests, you must first treat it, in order for white blood cells to mount an immune response. The body will create antibodies to try and combat the bacteria- some lab tests can detect the presence of Lyme disease this way. The ELISA enzyme test is often ordered first. The Western Blot test is the confirming, follow-up test.

* Within 3 days of being bitten by a tick, many people will develop a red spot that never expands to bigger than a dime. This is an allergic reaction to the substance that the tick releases. However, continue to watch the site. If the red spot grows in size over a period of a week, bigger than two inches, then it is likely to be a sign that you are infected with the Lyme Disease agent. Rashes take on various forms and sizes. The typical bull's eye is not the only sign of infection. Some people who contract Lyme Disease never develop a rash.

☆ Co-Infections Note:

From Maine Lyme website: “While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, there are several other diseases that can be transmitted during the bite of an infected tick... When one is aggressively treated for Lyme and is not able to achieve a resolution of symptoms, you should be highly suspicious of a co-infection.”

☆ Natural Supplementation Support:

  • Natural Antibiotics, such as echinacea, garlic, oregano, ginger, goldenseal, such as Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract Immune Formula https://bit.ly/2MPh4HN

  • Probiotics to improve immunity and restore flora during and after antibiotics. Reputable brands of Probiotics: Pure, Garden of Life & Dr. Mercola, Ancient Medicine- Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 billion CFU https://bit.ly/2zpRsOP

  • Curcumin/Turmeric reduces neurological toxins and brain swelling. Organic India Turmeric Formula 90 Veg Caps https://bit.ly/37nd7Ud

  • Astaxanthin to neutralize toxins & relieve joint pain, common in Lyme. Dr. Mercola Astaxanthin 90 Capsules https://bit.ly/3fj3Rn4

  • Krill oil to reduce inflammation. Dr. Mercola Antarctic Krill Oil 60 Capsules https://bit.ly/3dVnBwG

  • Resveratrol may treat Bartonella (a co-infection) and also helps detoxification. Jarrow Formulas Resveratrol Synergy 120 Tab https://bit.ly/3dSrGli

  • GABA & Melatonin to help with insomnia. Source Naturals Melatonin Complex Orange 3 mg - 100 Sublingual Tablets https://bit.ly/2MOXkEr

  • Inner Defense Supplement from Young Living. https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/inner-defense

  • CoQ10 to support cardiac health and reduce muscle pain and brain fog. Bluebonnet Nutrition CellularActive CoQ10 Ubiquinol 100 mg - 60 Vegetarian Softgels https://bit.ly/2YuXciA

  • Cat’s Claw is an herb that is a powerful anti-inflammatory, immunity sustainer, and anti-bacterial. Popular for Lyme Disease care. Amazon Therapeutic Labs Cat's Claw 1 fl oz https://bit.ly/37k9vT2

☆ Physical Symptoms of Lyme (not an all-inclusive list):

  • Skin irritation at the site of bite, often red rash or a bull’s eye ring

  • Flu-like symptoms

  • Joint pain/inflammation, chronic aches

  • Lethargy

  • Headaches/migraines

  • Fever

  • Foggy minded

  • Muscle spasms

  • Neurological twitches

☆ Common Personality Traits in people who have Lyme:

  • Mood Swings/ Highs & Lows

  • Tend to be scatter-brained or thoughts very unclear

  • Lethargic, lacking motivation

☆TICK FYI:

  • Ticks are literally attracted to the weak area of the body where unhealed trauma or illness are held and often latch on in those areas.

  • Ticks are also attracted to people who already have Lyme because they operate on frequencies (and Lyme is a familiar frequency to ticks).

  • Small Wyoming Study: Trial resulted in three people ticks avoided- A white male and two Native American women. These individuals were healthy, strong immune systems with positive energy fields.

☆ More Info. Resources:


☆ Try Garlic:

GARLIC is a natural antibiotic (which may help to kill the Lyme related bacteria). Garlic also has an essence that repels ticks and parasites. Garlic can take up to 3 weeks to build up in your body to potentially decrease your risks of tick bites. Add raw garlic to your meals daily! You can also eat a raw or roasted clove daily. Pets: Add a tsp. of garlic juice to their drinking water each time you change it.

☆ Tick Away Repellents:

This blend of pure oils is effective at repelling ticks. It is not a 100% guard or barrier against ticks, so be sure to wear pants & long sleeve shirts when in the woods, tall grass, hiking, hunting. Always do a full body check after these activities. Blend Lavender + Citronella + Lemongrass (or Lemon) + Eucalyptus + Geranium + Tea Tree Essential Oils with Witch Hazel (4 oz witch hazel with 8 drops of each oil). Apply to skin and clothes. For Pets- apply to the collar. FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.


☆ If you do not want to create your own, purchase natural tick/bug repellant: TICK AWAY SPRAY~

https://www.etsy.com/listing/822376331/bug-spray-tick-away-2-oz-natural

☆ Other Repellants- From www.peststrategies.com 5 Best Tick Repellants:

- Nantucket Spider Tick Repelling Spray (Our Top Pick)

- Natrapel 12-Hour Tick Spray (Our Second Choice)

- REPEL Sportsman Max Insect Repellent

- Wondercide Insect Repellent

- Ben's 100% DEET Tick Repellent (only apply on clothes- not your skin)


Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. specialist, nor a medical health care provider. You are responsible for your own health. By reading this, you accept responsibility for your well-being when it comes to Lyme Disease. Please consult with your health care provider if you suspect you may have Lyme Disease or any of the co-infections.


Disclaimer: This blog post is for your educational purposes only. I am not a doctor of any kind, not a specialist, not a medical health care provider. You are responsible for your own health. By reading this, you accept responsibility for your well-being when it comes to Lyme Disease. Please consult with your health care provider if you suspect you may have Lyme Disease or any of the co-infections.


Be Well,

Cara

#Lyme

#LymeDisease

#Bacteria

#Ticks

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