the solutions.
GOOD NEWS, you have power in this. Yes, you CAN do something about it!
You can protect yourself and loved ones while also contributing to the balance of our environment. You can still live an active and outdoor lifestyle, but it’s crucial to pay attention to how our world is shifting, educate yourself and others, and to navigate accordingly. As the world changes, change with it. Adapt.
here's how
you have power. :)
you have power. :)
what we’ll cover.
The Prevent-prep kit (coming soon)
What you can do if you’re bitten
Tick testing
Environmentally friendly yard treatment
Finding a doctor
Self-advocacy
Spreading the word (going above)!
the prevent-prep kit.
by above action
The prevent-prep kit is a free, downloadable PDF of everything you can use to prepare and prevent contracting Lyme disease. Here’s what it will include:
Kit supplies
How to build your kit
List of resources for testing
And more!
COMING SOON. WE’LL HAVE IT READY ASAP.
what to do if you get bit.
Getting a tick bite can be a scary and overwhelming experience, especially when educated on the reality of Lyme transmission.
Here is what you can do if you’re bitten
action steps.
Remove the tick with tweezers or a proper tick removing tool (never burn, squeeze, or twist the tick, and do not use a credit card). Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently but firmly pull.
Take pictures/videos of the tick and the bite site for your immediate doctor visit (many times patients are dismissed if there is no bullseye rash, delaying proper treatment).
Save the tick in a plastic bag for testing. Label it with name of person/pet bitten, date, site of bite, and how long the tick was attached. Do NOT place the tick in alcohol.
Ship it off for testing (this is the most accurate way to see what infections, if any, were present in the tick), this step is crucial.
tick testing.
Consider getting the tick that bit you, a family member, or a pet tested. It’s helpful to know if the tick had any infections present in case you develop symptoms even after a negative elisa or western blot. Not to mention, it’s also helpful for environmental scientists to track the prevalence of infection as well as ‘species to infection’ correlations.
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You can begin by safely removing the tick following our ‘what do do if you’re bitten’ instructions above.
Once it’s in a labeled ziplock bag, you can purchase a tick test on the website of a lab of your choice and then mail it off.
Their info should tell you how and when you’ll receive results.
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Prices can vary for tick testing, and depending on where you live it can be completely free!
General price range:
$30-150 (more or less)
yard and property treatment.
keep ticks at bay
A great option would be natural and eco-friendly treatments to help keep the environment as healthy as possible while also keeping tick populations down on your properties.
when treating your yard, a few things may come to mind
pet health
family health
the environment
tick tubes.
Tick tubes are biodegradable tubes filled with cotton soaked in a chemical called permethrin. Permethrin is harmless to humans and most animals and is often used to kill ticks and other insects.
It’s recommended to lay tick tubes out every 6 months (twice a year). Thermacell is the most reputable brand around, with amazing reviews and effective results.
(Note: we don’t recommend permethrin spray, especially near bodies of water. Permethrin is toxic to aquatic life - read more)
here’s how it works.
Tick tubes are set outside around the propertyMice take the treated cotton to their densThis will kill ticks/nymphs/eggs the mice carryThe tick population goes down over 3 months
*making your own tick tubes is advised against, as this can be hazardous when permethrin is handled in large volumes - It’s also illegal in some states*
yard spray.
You can always call your local yard treatment company and ask if they have any pet and eco-friendly treatments.
However, if you’re willing to treat your yard yourself, we have some effective suggestions on the right.
(Note: remember to always treat your yard dressed in protective methods mentioned in here).
yard-treatment options.
Cedar Oil: Cedar oil kills and repels ticks by causing dehydration, inhibiting breathing, disrupting pheromones, and emulsifying body fats.
Wondercide Flea and Tick spray: this spray is made with natural ingredients and is effective, although may require more frequent yard treatment than the average chemical spray.
find a doctor.
find a doctor.
A Lyme-literate medical doctor (LLMD) is a doctor that is well-versed and up to date with Lyme research and treatment guidelines. They are able to recognize all the signs and symptoms. Lyme is the primary focus of their practice.
natural treatments.
Lyme-literate medical doctors sometimes use herbals in addition to antibiotics. Some herbals are shown to kill the Lyme spirochete and co-infections.
Herbs like cat’s claw, cryptolepis, Japanese knotweed, sweet wormwood, and black walnut have been shown to kill Borrelia burgdorferi, among others.
The Universe of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore study shows 7 of 18 herbals have evidence for in-vitro activity against Borrelia.
Cryptolepis has shown activity against pathogens such as Malaria, and is used as an anti-malarial treatment in African countries.
Always consult a healthcare physician before introducing anything new into your treatment plan.
self-advocacy.
Many times patients go misdiagnosed or are given a diagnosis of chronic stress without further investigation. You have every right to get a second (or third) opinion, and to keep searching for answers. You know your body. Here’s how you can help yourself.
how to build self trust.
Self-trust can tie in with self-esteem. How can you validate yourself? Validating isn’t agreeing with. It’s choosing to understand and acknowledge your perception of things and also being able to challenge your beliefs when necessary.
You can begin by being honest about what habits could use improving, and where you over criticize yourself.
Recognize that you are a person who takes up space and that your overall health, mental and physical, is a priority and holds value.
Helpful articles:
Sources: Psychology Today
medical gaslighting.
When a healthcare provider dismisses your complaints or concerns. They don't seem to take you seriously or blame your symptoms on a vague cause (such as stress). And they may send you home without a proper diagnosis or treatment plan. (source: GoodRx)
how to respond.
Responding to medical gaslighting can feel intimidating, but it’s important to respond and to stand up for yourself. Here are some things you can do:
Document everything
Get everything in writing (emails, physical documents).
File a complaint
If possible, bring a family member or friend to important appointments
Get a second opinion
Listen to your gut
Articles to read:
A doctor disagreeing isn’t considered medical gaslighting. It’s their approach to how they respond to your concerns that holds weight.
We shouldn’t walk into an appointment assuming a doctor will be wrong about us and our health. Quite the contrary, we must be willing to listen and ask questions, but also to discern when we’re being treated with compassion and respect vs. judgment and dismissal.
Sources: psychology today, goodrx, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
above, above, and away.
CONGRATS! YOU DID IT. You now know all you currently can to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy, and to adapt to environments increasing in tick-borne illness in part due to the global warming crisis.
As research develops and gets refined, we will update these pages so that the public has free access to clear and ‘easy-to-understand’ knowledge that educates and empowers. We are dedicated to contributing to a world where the secondary damage caused by infectious disease is minimized, and to help expand the capacity for a happy and healthy life.
Thank you.