1. Understand the enemy · Ticks are more active in the rain. They love damp ground. · Young children have a higher incidence of Lyme disease than adults due to more outdoor activities. · Even if you have had Lyme in the past you can get it again if exposed again. · Ticks can spread more than 14 diseases. · According to a recent study Ticks are the most significant vectors of infectious diseases in the United States. 2. Destroy tick habitats · Ticks like to live in tall grasses, brush, and other overgrown areas where they are protected from temperature extremes. · Keep the lawn around your home cut to 2-4 inches high. · Ticks do not like to cross mulch. If you border woodlands keep a border 4-6 feet wide of mulch to help keep the tick population down. · Be aware that animals including pets and people can carry ticks over mulch and into your yard. Think birds, squirrels and cats. Keep bird feeders away from your tick free zone. · Plant tick repellent plants, which include lavender, garlic, pennyroyal, pyrethrum (type of chrysanthemum), sage, American beautyberry and Eucalyptus. · Chickens, ducks or gunnies hens will eat ticks and keep the tick population down. · Non-Toxic produce Diatomaceous Earth (food grade only) can be used on your yard as a dry powder bath for pets before and after entering tick area. Will need to reapply after a rain. Research DE as it has so many health benefits. 3. Protective clothing and Permethrin Spray · Use pretreating clothing (good for up to 70 washings) or treat your own clothing with Permethrin. (Good for 6 washings.) Remember that underwear and socks should be treated. · Treat your shoes. · Wear a hat and tie back long hair to make it harder for ticks to attach to your scalp. · Wear light colored clothing. Ticks are easier to see and they don’t like to be noticed. · Wear EPA-approved repellants appropriate for adult skin or children. Be careful some of the sprays do little to deter ticks. Deet is the only product that the CDC recommends to deter ticks. Use caution with Deet and children. Read labels for the amount of Deet and when you will need to reapply. · Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition SPF is recommended on the Lyme pa.org website. · Put clothes in the dryer set on high heat for at least an hour. Ticks cannot survive the dry heat. They can survive exposure to hot water. 4. Supplements and body products · Taking vitamin B1 daily causes human beings to emit an odor that resists ticks to some degree. Humans can’t smell it. · Eating garlic and onions may help keep bugs away. Supplements can work but swallowing the whole clove of garlic can be even better. · A vitamin B patch, which is also safe for children, may also be effective. It is waterproof and lasts up 36 hours. It designed to keep away mosquitoes, gnats and ticks away. · Ticks do not like lavender. Start using anything with lavender, soap, laundry detergent and lotions. Make they do not contain toxic chemicals
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CategoriesBy: Candace RayCandace Ray, mom, Lyme advocate, healthy living motivator who just wants to have fun and enjoy what life has to offer! Archives
February 2020
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