Capusa and boreliosis - 2

Ticks, boreliosis (Lyme disease)

and natural methods of prevention or therapy (2)

Dr. Mirela Stranț, lecturer Ayurveda
Dr Paula Florea, Ayurveda lecturer
Nina Marin, Ayurveda lecturer

How Lyme disease is NOT transmitted

Lyme disease is not transmitted between people! For example, a person cannot get infected by touching, kissing or intimate relations from a person who has Lyme disease. Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy can lead to infection of the placenta and death of the foetus. However, if the mother receives appropriate treatment, the foetus will not be affected. Lyme disease is not known to be transmitted through breast milk. As for pets, although they can get sick, they will not transmit the disease directly to their owners, but they can bring infected ticks into the house (attached to their skin) which can then infect humans.

How to protect ourselves from tick bites

The most problematic period is May, June and July, when the ticks are not yet mature and hard to spot. If you go out in the wild avoid wet bush areas where the risk of finding ticks is high or equip-wear dark footwear, socks, long trousers, light-coloured clothes (so you can see them easily), possibly a sun hat. You can also use natural repellents to apply to clothing or exposed skin, especially on areas of the body where ticks usually attach.

There are special sprays for both humans and animals based on volatile oils (Helpic, Eco Shot, etc) or you can simply use repellent volatile oils to apply to exposed areas and/or the inside of clothes such as Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus) volatile oil, lavender, geranium, clove, etc or simply a vinegar solution diluted with water. If you choose to apply volatile oils to your skin, dilute-the reallyan oily oil - coconut for example (which also protects you from excess sun) or any cold-pressed oil you have in the house to ensure the oil's stability on your skin while avoiding any unpleasant sensations caused by pure volatile oil.

For pets you can also use spray-natural essential oil-based products (on average, spraying at 7-10 days - read the leaflets carefully) or simply vinegar diluted 2:1 with water. When applying pure essential oils to your pet's fur, some care is needed as some of the oils may be toxic to your pet. Diluted vinegar is a handy, inexpensive, effective option and the smell is not bothersome to your non-pet friend.

When you get home, turn your clothes inside out and leave-leave them in the sun for 10 minutes (the dry heat destroys any ticks left on the clothes; if necessary you can use a hair dryer with a hot air jet); in the meantime check the skin carefully, especially in the areas favoured by ticks. If necessary, also check the fur of your pet.accompanied or that accompanied himyou've taken out.

If you discover one or more ticks, don't panic. A minimum of 24-36 hours, so if you discover it in time you are not at risk, even if the tick is carrying germs. That's why it's important to remove it as quickly and safely as possible.

What NOT to do when you or your loved ones discover you have been bitten by a tick

 NO apply all kinds of substances (alcohol, oil, petrol, gasoline, acetone, vinegar, other anaesthetic products, etc.) because you can cause the tick to have a vomiting reflex and thus eliminate the bacteria in your bloodstream, causing infection at that moment

 NO twist and do not break the tick, because its claws remain fixed in the skin

 NO squeeze the tick between your fingers or any other instrument - at that point the contents of its intestines, infected with borrelia, will pass into the bloodstream

 NO try to kill ticks by using a lit match, gas, petrol or other substances) - these methods do not work and the risk of infecting yourself, your child or anyone else is very high. There are easy and safe ways to do this.

 NO break the tick - usually breaks in the neck area and the head remains in the skin

 NO try to remove the tick if you don't know how to do it properly and if you don't have the right tools. Go toan emergency department (possibly at the Infectious Diseases Clinic) or surgery or call someone you know for sure is skilled.