How to Ward Off Ticks
Is anyone constantly finding ticks on themselves or on their pet, or is it just me? The tick season is getting longer with milder winters (mild temps don’t kill off as many ticks) and they come back hungry. It’s always good to be prepared, even if you don’t see them often. No one has time for Lyme's Disease!
Thankfully there are proven ways to protect your pet against ticks: collars, Frontline, etc., and I have found they work fairly well. I find dead ticks all over my carpets and am thankful they aren’t alive and on the dog. But how can I protect myself? I'm not going to stop going outside because of my fear of getting Lyme's. I need to know what to do to keep the ticks away.
After doing some reading and research, here are a few ways we can all protect ourselves while outside:
After coming in from outside (mainly from longer outdoor exposure like going on a walk in the woods, going on a bike ride, or the like) throw your clothes in the dryer on high for 6 minutes. The extreme heat will kill any ticks that are on your clothes, and while your clothes are off check your skin for any that may be there.
Ticks strongly dislike the smell of cedar oil (as do other bugs). It can be sprayed directly on your clothes and skin and is safe for humans. Cedar sprays (like Cedarcide) can be found at places like Amazon, Walmart, and Chewy.com.
Ticks strongly dislike the smell of Cedar
You also can create your own spray! Combine 1/2 cup distilled water, and 20 drops or so of cedar essential oil into a spray bottle. I recommend using organic essential oil so you know exactly what is going on your skin. I like to purchase from Plant Therapy (certified organic essential oils). Spray low on your body (ankles, shoes, pant cuffs) as ticks don’t jump, they crawl up. Of note: cedar oil needs to be diluted before using on pets.
Eucalyptus oil is also known for its tick repelling qualities. Make your own tick spray using 1/2 cup distilled water and 20 drops of eucalyptus oil. Spray low on your body. Of note: eucalyptus oil must be diluted before using on pets.
Garlic! Garlic has many health benefits and warding off ticks is one of them. Consuming garlic is a sure fire way to repel ticks because when garlic is absorbed by the body it excretes a smell that ticks hate. I recommend taking garlic capsules rather than eating straight garlic cloves for reasons that may or may not be obvious. Garlic also has immune boosting benefits by killing the bacteria that cause Lyme’s. Garlic is definitely a good way to go!
