Time Again To Think About Ticks And Lyme Disease
Due to our warmer weather recently, with above average temperatures, we are already getting reports of tick infestation especially on our patients’ pets. Also, the increase in food sources and that they like to have babies during the warmer climate, the mouse population will probably again be larger than normal.
This is important because we know from research that near 100% of mice carry the Borrelia Burgdorferi spirochete, the main pathogen involved in the Lyme disease syndrome. When the tick bites the mice, it gets Lyme and as it makes its travels across the wild, it grabs onto other animals such as deer, dogs, cats or anyone who ventures outside.
There are other ways to get Lyme, but this is the most common route and, well, you may never know you were bitten because only 50% of those with Lyme disease ever find a tick or get the telltale “Bullseye Rash”.
The best chance you have is prevention from Ticks and Lyme Disease.
In other words, do whatever you can make sure you don’t get bitten.
Here are a few tips:
Wear long pants and sleeves that are tight at the waist, wrists,
ankles and neck if you’re hiking in grassy or wooded areas.
If you discover a feeding tick, use a safe removal method.
Proper tick removal will greatly reduce your risk of infection
Check the exposed, hairy regions of your body daily during
after outdoor trips. Ticks like to hide in hair.
Don’t forget to check your scalp!
Check your body and clothes for ticks after being in the garden
or the woods. Ticks can cling to the folds of your clothing and
bite you when you put your shirt/pants back on
Wear insect repellent when travelling through high-risk areas.Keep your yard clear of potential tick habitats, like piles of dead leaves, long grasses, bushes and woodpiles.
Discourage deer from coming into your yard. Deer are one of
the main hosts for Lyme-carrying ticks.
If outside, remember to put your clothes in the DRYER FIRST
for at least 15 minutes on HIGH. Ticks will dry out and die.
They don’t drown in the washing machine.
DO NOT FOLLOW a popular Facebook post advising you to put a drop of peppermint essential oil on the tick to remove it.
There is a lot more to know, especially regarding proper testing and treatment. Since Lyme disease can mimic so many different diseases such as MS, arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, depression, fatigue and more, it often will go undiagnosed. Additionally, the most common tests are totally inadequate and miss the Lyme disease. For the full details on Lyme, I did a lecture at our office and it is posted on our Facebook page or you can call the office for a consultation and see where your symptoms are coming from.
Dr. Ken Hoffman, DACM, L.Ac., Medical Director
SOPHIA Natural Health Center