What the tick does not like: plants and oils that repel ticks

what the tick does not like
what the tick does not like

Hello! On the net, you can stumble upon hundreds, if not thousands, of tick control recipes. Sometimes you can see such exotic ways of scaring away these arthropods that it’s just right to investigate how people determined what a tick does not like.

Unfortunately, it will not work to ask him, it is possible to find out such a question only in practice. However, I have some effective recipes that will scare off this parasite! Details are in my article below.

The content of the article:

What ticks are afraid of: how to use folk remedies against parasites

Since a large tick can only be found exclusively in the wild, the question of what ticks of these species are afraid of has not yet been worked out as thoroughly as the phobias of other insects.

But some of the folk remedies have already repeatedly proved their effectiveness against them. With regard to the microscopic relatives of these creatures living as cohabitants in the human home and body, there is much more clarity.

On the characteristics of life and the habits of parasites

To understand what ticks are afraid of, one should immediately divide this question into two separate topics (depending on the animal's lifestyle).

For wild ticks, it is inherently associated with the features of their vital functions, including:

  • parasitic lifestyle;
  • seasonality in the manifestation of activity;
  • living almost exclusively in the wild.

A large enough tick that penetrated the house can only be found clinging to the body of an animal (cat, dog, cattle) who walked outside the yard. Since forest ticks feed only on blood, they are extremely sensitive to smells, by which they determine an approaching object as prey.

And they will not confuse the smell of sweat or the human body with any other.The suction is preceded by a slow, not perceived by the body, crawling of the parasite in search of a vulnerable place. But even the process of penetration of the tick “skin” of the tick into the victim’s body is almost not felt by the person, because together with the saliva he injects an anesthetic - a chemical agent of “local freezing”.

Itching usually begins after a few hours from the moment of suction, but it is possible to notice (and more often feel for) the animal itself, which is swollen from the blood, even later.

But there are parasites active all year round:

  1. intra-house (dust mites);
  2. intradermal (scabies, demodex, ear).

Their sizes are so tiny that they can well be brought into the house by the wind (first), or on the subject of care for the same cat - on a comb for hair (ear), or they are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact (scabies )

The vital activity of microscopically small ticks is often not manifested except for itching, and is perceived as nervous itching, or changes in its structure that occur as a result of a certain age (menopause, puberty).

The scariest tick phobias

Despite the significant difference in size, there are annoying and frightening factors that both categories of pests try to avoid - their effect on the tick’s nervous system is comparable to a direct threat to life, perceived by the human senses as an undoubted approximation of danger.

Important!
Since the detection of its presence entails an immediate death for the tick, the first answer to the question “what are ticks afraid of” is the person’s attention to his body. Washing the body with the use of hygiene products, hot water leads to the death of a significant part of these animals, which at that moment appeared on the surface of the skin (we are talking about demodexes).

The topic "why be afraid of a dust mite" is closed by cleaning. For dust mites, cleanliness in the home means death from corrosive substances in detergent solutions. But since even relatively large forest ticks inevitably die when immersed in water, this means that ticks are also afraid of water, and this is understandable.

Temperature exposure

Another answer to the question of what to be afraid of dust mites, in addition to water, is the use of various types of calcinations (iron, steamer) and steaming bed linen infected with them.

Other members of the family that live inside the skin (demodexes and scabies) also die when the temperature of the body increases drastically (in case of febrile conditions), but a large forest tick, placed in the freezer for a day, remains alive, just like it was washed with clothes at 40 ˚C. But washing at 60˚ temperature kills him.

Is it worth it to be afraid of the scabies mite of frost? The answer can only be negative - the parasite living inside the skin is not afraid of cold (unless cooling has led to the death of a person from complete freezing).

The influence of plant odors

Few people know what plants ticks are afraid of. They are afraid of harsh aromas:

  • garlic
  • lavender;
  • ginger
  • cloves;
  • citrus fruits (lemon).

But there is a difference in the behavior of different species. The forest tick continues to search for a place for suction after overcoming the aversion to clothing:

  1. grated garlic;
  2. soaked in sunflower oil.

A common negative reaction in ticks was caused by aromas emanating from:

  • wormwood;
  • thyme;
  • walnut;
  • elderberries;
  • tomato tops.

Essential oils

Those who want to know what smells ticks are afraid to, pay attention to essential oils:

  1. bergamot;
  2. geraniums;
  3. sandalwood;
  4. tea tree.

No less damage is caused by arthropod odors of oils:

  • cypress;
  • juniper;
  • myrtle;
  • rosewood;
  • patchouli;
  • ylang-ylang.

Wiping the skin of the diseased with them closes two topics at once: what to be afraid of the ear tick and what to be afraid of the tick of scabies.100% allows you to destroy in it all life forms of these arthropods.

From the arsenal of folk techniques

The traditional view that ticks repel the smell of alcohol turned out to be a misconception - a forest tick, “bathed” in vodka 15 minutes, remained alive after a day. It was not impressed by such smells that are typically “male”, such as those produced:

  1. cigarette fume;
  2. gasoline and car oils;
  3. cologne.

That's what ticks from folk remedies are afraid of for sure, it's the smell:

  • burnt;
  • tar;
  • lemongrass;
  • calendula (marigold);
  • calamus of the swamp.

Vodka was also effective, in which a bag of pure vanillin (not vanilla sugar) was soaked.

Conclusion

Understanding what ticks are afraid of, you can protect yourself, because people are becoming more mobile, and are now climbing into places where it was scary to think of getting there before (often because of a duty).

Therefore, developed tick repellents must be impeccably helpful. In case of a disease, presumably caused by this category of animals, you should definitely seek medical help.

What smells are afraid and do not tolerate ticks. Preparation and use

Protecting a child from ticks is the most common problem of parents, who often go on outdoor activities with their babies. Digging into the skin, insects not only cause discomfort to the child, but also create a risk of infection with serious diseases, such as encephalitis. We will tell in more detail about how to protect a child from ticks.

Tick ​​protection for children

There is no means and method that would reliably protect a child from tick bites 100%. The drugs that can be purchased at a pharmacy are most effective in repelling ticks.

As for folk remedies, they can scare away ticks if used correctly, but their effectiveness is much lower, and therefore they can be used if the child is small in age or it is not possible to purchase a pharmacy drug.

Tick ​​repellents for children

Tick ​​repellents - these are the very preparations of chemical origin that, when used correctly, help scare away ticks from a child. It is not recommended to use them earlier than 3 years of age. They are toxic to the child's body.

Attention!
Starting from 3 years old, you can use repellent drugs, but in no case applying them to the skin of the baby. Good products that can really scare away ticks are applied only to clothing. You need to purchase them at the pharmacy, otherwise there is a risk, to buy a fake, which, in the best case, simply will not help.

The most popular tick repellents for children is “Off! Extreme ”,“ Biban ”,“ DEFI-Taiga ”,“ Moskitol antiklesch ”and others. They should be applied to clothing. Prepare it in advance. All things that are planned to be worn in nature are handled by drugs. Leave them posted on the street until completely dry. After that, clothes can be worn.

It must be remembered that drugs have a validity period during which they will be effective. Upon completion, a new treatment is necessary.

If the weather is wet or you and the child are exposed to rain, the duration of the drug is automatically reduced by several hours. In individual cases, the remedy may not be effective. For example, the smell of baby creams or the smell of the body of the child itself can attract ticks, so you need to inspect the baby in nature even when using funds every 20 minutes.

What plants repel ticks

It is believed that the smell of certain herbs repels ticks. Having planted such on your site, you can be sure that there will be less ticks. To plants that repel ticks, traditionally include:

  1. catnip;
  2. lavender;
  3. geranium;
  4. erect marigolds.

Ticks are rarely found in coniferous forests, but this is not due to the smell of needles.Dry air in such a forest and a small amount of grass are not suitable for ticks. Therefore, if you want to make your site unattractive for ticks, cut the grass shorter and try to ensure that it is not wet.

Tick ​​protection by folk remedies

As a folk remedy for ticks, essential oils with an intense smell are often used. They can also be used to protect young children, but provided that the kids do not have allergies.

To combat ticks, cloves, eucalyptus and peppermint are used. Their intense smell does not like ticks. These oils can be used both individually and by mixing them in a few drops.

The resulting mixture or one essential oil treats the edges of clothing and exposed skin. In these places, spend a finger dipped in oil. The procedure must be repeated every 1.5 to 2 hours.

Advice!
Also, do not forget that there is a special one that protects against the main danger - tick-borne encephalitis. In nature, there are about 50 thousand species of ticks. They live everywhere: in meadows, summer cottages, in forests, parks. Most of them pose no danger to humans. However, some of these arthropods feed on the blood, suck it from the victim, which causes irritation, inflammation and itching of the skin.

In addition, they carry dangerous diseases. A number of diseases such as ehrlichiosis, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid, tularemia, Lyme disease, Q-fever, rickettsiosis, babesiosis and many others are transmitted to humans through bites.

We list the main and most dangerous types of ticks in relation to humans:

  • Argas (Persian);
  • ixodic (forest);
  • encephalitis;
  • (demodex);
  • earplug;
  • (tick);
  • bed.

The industry produces many protective agents against ticks. They are designed to protect against these blood-sucking predators.

  1. Repellents have a deterrent effect. They are applied to skin and clothing.
  2. Acaricidal preparations contain substances that produce a nerve effect on bloodsuckers. They can only be applied to outerwear.
  3. Insecticidal-repellent protective preparations combine a deterrent and acaricidal effect.

How to protect yourself from bites

Natural apple cider vinegar will help protect yourself. They should periodically lubricate exposed skin while under trees in the park. Insects do not like the smell and taste of this substance.

Take 100 milliliters of apple cider vinegar, add 400 milliliters of warm water and 20 milliliters of liquid toilet soap. Add 2 drops of lavender oil or a little Zvezdochka oil here. For sensitive skin, another 30 milliliters of aloe juice can be poured into the composition.

You can protect yourself with tar water. It is cooked like this. Take 700 grams of tar (birch, pine or cedar) and pour 2 liters of warm water into it. Stir until smooth. Then let it brew (at least 9 hours). After that, the water is poured into a separate glass container. Cork tightly and put in a cold place. Use as needed in a critical season. Lubricate exposed areas of the body.

You can make such an effective tick repellent. Take vinegar (one bottle). Add to it: water (250 milliliters), eucalyptus (or any citrus) essential oil (15 drops). Mix and pour into a spray bottle. They process clothes, backpacks and open areas of the body before walking in the park, forest or working on a personal plot.

At home, you can cook such a frightening spray. Take 180-200 milliliters of water, pour a tablespoon of clove oil into it and add a little alcohol. Pour the composition into a bottle with a spray. A protective spray can be carried with you when you visit a park or work in the garden. They are treated with clothing and exposed skin. It also helps against bed ticks. They need to process pillows and blankets.

It is not difficult to prepare a mixture on your own, which will scare off ticks.Mix: half a teaspoon of tea tree oil with a third of a glass of water. The composition is rubbed open areas of the body before leaving the house. The same product is sprayed onto clothing.

Ticks are scared away by an ant smell. You can hold outerwear for several minutes on a large forest anthill, and then shake and put on. Bloodsuckers do not cling! Before going to the forest or park, skin that is not covered by clothing is greased with fir oil. This protects against arachnid bites.

Ticks do not tolerate the smell of garlic and do not touch a person who has recently consumed it. The same applies to onions. Take three tablespoons of sunflower oil, add one spoon of aloe juice, a teaspoon of pink oil and the same amount of lavender. The composition is shaken for several minutes. Apply to exposed areas of the body and rub. You are safe!

Bite treatment

After removing the tick, check whether the insect head has come out. The wound can be lubricated with garlic juice or put a mixture of garlic and honey on it. If inflammation has developed, it is necessary to make compresses of this composition twice a day.

Helps relieve itching and redness after a flare bite onion juice. After extracting the proboscis, chopped onions should be applied to the wound. It is laid out on a clean cloth and bandaged to the site of the bite. Wash off with laundry soap.

When bitten by an encephalitis tick, in the old days they were treated like this. For 3 days the patient was prepared with a Russian bath and intensively soared for at least one hour there. They also gave to drink a decoction of aspen bark with needles. It is useful to take royal jelly. Method of administration: 30 grams before meals daily.

After that, as a bactericidal and antiviral agent, the patient was given the opportunity to drink the infusion of kidneys from Acoria. One tablespoon of raw material was thrown into a cup of boiling water. Insisted and taken orally 4 tablespoons before meals. To prevent complications, traditional medicine recommends drinking tincture of the muzzle. 10 drops are diluted in a tablespoon of water and drunk three times a day.

Tincture of green walnuts will help relieve swelling and redness. The fruits need to be chopped, filled with a jar and pour vodka. Insist 30 days. Take one teaspoon three times a day before meals.

Meeting with ticks can occur not only in the forest or park. Sometimes insects occupy summer cottages, breed uncontrollably there, attack humans and animals. The danger of the pest is that it is a carrier of dangerous infections (encephalitis, borreliosis). To rest in the country brought pleasure, you need to protect the site. Let's consider in the article how to get rid of ticks in the country in different ways.

Neighboring ticks is unacceptable, they need to be destroyed 1-2 times / year

Possible causes of ticks in the country

Even if there were no nasty pests at the dacha earlier, this does not mean that they will not appear on it in the future. There are several reasons why you have to observe the presence of ticks in the infield:

  • Ticks migrated with animals. One of the most convenient and familiar “vehicles” of these insects is animals - rats, dogs, cats, etc. The number of tick populations that appeared in this way on the site is usually not critical.
  • Ticks crawled onto the land on their own. An adult insect is rather slow, although it can cover a distance of ten meters / day. Insects are forced to migrate by hunger. When there is no potential victim (human, animal) nearby, the tick is forced to go in search of it.
  • Ticks entered the cottage from neighbors or from the forest. If the neighboring site has been infected with a tick or the cottage is near the forest, the likelihood that the pest will flood your site is very high.

Tick ​​repellent plants. 5 best plants against ticks in the area

Ticks are nasty arachnids that parasitize humans and animals, spreading dangerous infectious diseases.Although they mainly live in forests and wild thickets, garden territories are also increasingly populating. To discourage the desire of ticks to settle in our gardens, it is worth planting plants that repel ticks. Find out which plants repel ticks and why this happens.

We often protect ourselves from ticks using preparations in the form of a spray. Many of them are based on natural ingredients. They are made on the basis of plant extracts that repel ticks. Some of these plants can be successfully planted in the garden.

Among garden plants that repel ticks, we find a reliable five that, secreting certain substances, most often essential oils, repel arthropods for a long time. Here are the 5 best plants that ticks hate:

  1. Tansy. The first unusually effective plant that repels ticks is tansy. Although many associate tansy with just a roadside weed, it is worth knowing that it has found application in gardening. It perfectly justifies itself as an alternative to chemical plant protection products, helping in the fight against fungal diseases.

    Using tansy in the garden is, however, primarily a pest control. Tansy works mainly due to the smell, reminiscent of camphor. Thanks to this, it effectively repels ticks and other insects from our garden. Common tansy grows better on clay soils, rich in nutrients, in a sunny place.

  2. Catnip: Another mite repellent plant is Catnip (Catnip). It is not tall, grows up to 40 cm, a perennial plant, with slightly spreading stems. Kotovnik decorates the garden with lavender-like flowers from July to September. The intense scent of catnip repels ticks. The essential oil contained in the inflorescences, the main component
    The volume is Nepalactone, a compound that mites cannot tolerate, and cats adore it that way. In addition, catnip is extremely easy to grow and not demanding.
  3. The lavender is narrow-leaved. Lavender is an evergreen plant that repels ticks. It has silver-gray leaves and flowers are quite picturesque, depending on the variety: purple, pink, white. Strongly smelling lavender flowers scare away ticks. They contain essential oil, the main components of which are linalool, otsimen, camphor. Ticks do not tolerate them. Like, however, mosquitoes.

    Narrow-leaved lavender prefers sunny places with light, drainage, alkaline soil, preferably with a reaction of pH 6.5-7.5. This plant repels ticks and mosquitoes, it is worth planting in the garden, because it is not demanding and tolerates drought well. It is worth remembering about its annual spring pruning, thanks to which it will retain a beautiful, closed cut.

  4. Rosemary officinalis. Rosmarinus officinalis is the next unpretentious plant that repels ticks and also has valuable medicinal properties. Ticks do not tolerate the smell of rosemary. Rosemary feels best in a sunny place, on penetrating soil, easily heated, with a neutral pH. Medicinal rosemary has proven itself in flowerpot cultivation, on the patio or balcony. It cannot winter in the garden, because even slight temperature changes can damage the plant.
  5. Dalmatian chamomile. Dalmatian chamomile or Pyrethrum, a tick-repellent plant, contains cinerin and peritrin, toxic substances for arthropods. They produce a "shock effect" that affects the nervous system and muscle structure of ticks. The pyrethrum blooms from June to the end of August, forming spherical, white-yellow baskets. Dalmatian chamomile feels best in a sunny place, penetrating and fertile soil.

I hope the above list, including the 5 best plants of repelling ticks, will be useful to every gardener, summer cottage and they will find their place in the garden.

13 main tick myths: the bare truth

Ticks love women, do not bite drunks and crawl out of a basket with dirty clothes at night - some of the main myths about bloodsuckers turned out to be true

Myth One: Ticks live only in forests and groves and attack from trees.

It's a delusion. Firstly, in addition to the taiga tick, which lives in forests or on the border with forests, there is also a Pavlovsky tick - it is able to survive in the dry and on the edges. On dry landscapes, in fields, the tick Dermacentor reticulatus (meadow tick) also lives, said Nina Tikunova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, in the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS.

As for the latter species, it is larger, moves quickly and bites painfully, it is extremely rare to carry encephalitis and borreliosis, but it is still able to infect, Tikunova noted. Ticks can also be in the city center if they are brought by dogs (taiga tick) or birds (Pavlovsky tick).

However, ticks never attack trees, they do not climb trees at all, Nina Tikunova knows: “A taiga tick is impregnated (fed. - Z.K.) on large mammals (elk, roe deer), so it needs to climb a blade of grass higher - by 50–80 cm. And Pavlovsky’s tick sticks mainly to rodents, hedgehogs, birds - he can live in low grass, including trimmed lawns. ”

Myth Two: Ticks prefer people in white clothing

It is a myth. He went from there that on white clothes ticks are more noticeable. However, by the color of clothes, mites simply are not able to choose a victim - they have no eyes, explained Natalia Livanova, candidate of biological sciences, senior researcher at the animal monitoring laboratory of the Institute for Animal Systematics and Ecology of the SB RAS. In the surrounding world, ticks are guided mainly by touch and smell. Studies have shown that ticks can smell the victim at a distance of 20 m - and crawl in its direction.

Myth Three: Ticks prefer to bite people with a certain blood type

This myth is based on popular observations: supposedly some people often bite ticks with pleasure, while others who were with them bypass. Studies confirming the taste preferences of ticks depending on the blood group were not conducted, clarified Nina Tikunova.

Important!
But the gender of the victim may matter. Earlier, Alexander Ratushnyak, head of the Biomedical Informatics laboratory at the Design and Technology Institute of Computing Engineering of the SB RAS, reported on studies with synthetic female and male pheromones that they conducted with colleagues. And they established: for ticks, women are more attractive than men.

However, not at times, but at a fraction of a percent. Nina Tikunova also suggested that women may be preferable as a victim, because they have thinner skin, which means that the parasite can quickly find a place for suction.

Myth Four: Ticks do not like to bite drunk

“You should not give out wishful thinking,” Nina Tikunova noted, adding that no studies confirming this fact have been conducted. However, this error can be dangerous: in a drunken state, a person loses his vigilance, forgets to examine himself and can fall asleep with a sucked arthropod without noticing him.

Myth Five: A tick always creeps up

It is believed that ticks can only creep up, they have no way back. On the basis of this assumption, even traps are created that fit on clothes: overhanging folds that are placed on the waist, legs and arms - the tick creeps up and gets stuck in them, because it supposedly cannot crawl down.

Attention!
The limited choice of tick route is partly true, agrees Natalia Livanova. However, this only applies to the movements of the victim: if the parasite has attached itself to it, then in search of a suitable place for suction it creeps all the way only up.

However, if the tick rated the victim as unsuitable for feeding, he calmly slides down from it. Ticks also regularly crawl down and down the grass. For example, if the temperature has changed or the humidity indicators have become unsuitable for life, the tick slides down the blade of grass and goes into the litter. So periodically they rise and descend.

Myth Six: Only female ticks bite and can infect

It is not true. In some warning brochures, incorrect information is found that supposedly only females can stick to a victim, and even signs are given that can be distinguished - they are larger.

Individuals of different sexes have differences in nutrition strategies, said Natalia Livanova: females need to stick to the prey for a long time, up to 3-4 days, because in order for the eggs to form in the body, protein is needed.

Males, on the other hand, only suck for 25 minutes to replenish moisture reserves. However, it is they who turn out to be more dangerous: their oral apparatus is not as powerful as that of females, so it can dine and fall away without even being noticed. However, both females and males can be carriers of encephalitis and borreliosis equally, Livanova said.

Myth 7: A tick crawling over the skin can infect before a bite

It is the male ticks who are mainly “to blame” for the appearance of such a myth, explains Natalya Livanova. The fact is that they suck painlessly and for a short time, so a person may not notice a bite or tick, and then get sick, believing that he was just crawling on it.

The causative agent of the virus can enter the body either through a damaged skin, or through the mucous membranes. A tick can really secrete saliva even before suction, but it is dangerous only when interacting with wounds, cracks and mucous membranes.

Myth 8: A tick can hide on clothes, and then attack a person in a dream

The likelihood of this scenario is 25 percent, Natalia Livanova said. Theoretically, this can happen that a person will examine himself, but will not notice a parasite on his clothes. However, ticks can not live without moisture for more than two days, they are not adapted to overcome difficult routes. However, for safety, it is best to hang clothes to ventilate into a non-residential premises (balcony, for example) or in the sun - and the parasites will die, recommends Natalya Livanova.

Myth nine: There were no ticks in the USSR, and then foreign enemies threw them here, perhaps the Japanese

“This assumption is a very big compliment to foreign researchers,” said Natalia Livanova. She explained that for the artificial elimination of such a virus, scientists would have had to maintain the natural conditions for the tick population in the laboratory for several generations.

Advice!
And this is practically unrealistic, she believes: firstly, the second generation of laboratory arthropods is already losing aggression towards humans, and secondly, if there were such studies, then people would have to be infected with encephalitis, since only a person suffers from this disease. Neither moose, nor roe deer, nor birds with rodents or dogs have encephalitis, the scientist notes.

Ticks themselves have always been: they were fed even on dinosaurs, Livanova said. As for viral encephalitis, its first studies were undertaken in the 30s of the last century in connection with the development of the Far East, because it was then that migrants from Central Russia began to get sick en masse.

By the way, it was then that Russian scientists isolated the tick-borne encephalitis virus, and at that time, scientists were not able to create a new virus in any country in the world.

Myth Ten: Repellents - Reliable Mite Protection

Not. Repellents are on one of the last places among measures of protection against crawling and tick bites, said Tatyana Burmistrova, head of the department of neuroinfection of the city infectious clinical hospital No. 1.

Chemicals in repellents have a deterrent effect. They mask the smell of a person who attracts ticks. However, firstly, you can not splatter with a guarantee of 100% coverage, and secondly, the substances are volatile and quickly evaporate. In addition, it is important to remember that products for applying to clothes and skin are different products, so it is important to carefully read the instructions before use.

Other chemicals are used to treat the territories of children's camps and others. They do not scare away newly arrived ticks, but destroy existing ones. Previously, dust (DDT) was used for these purposes and gave good results, recalls Tatyana Burmistrova.

Myth 11: Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine solves all problems

Vaccination is the most effective protection against encephalitis, but it does not protect against tick bites. “You don’t need to relax, because a tick can be a carrier of other diseases, for example tick-borne borreliosis, which currently does not have a vaccine,” says Natalya Yatsyk, an infectious diseases specialist at the Medpraktika clinic. Do not forget, by the way, that these diseases are treated with different drugs: an injection of immunoglobulin with borreliosis is useless, since this infection is treated with antibiotics.

Myth twelve: The closer the tick sticks to the head, the faster the disease will develop, and if the tick is removed immediately, then infection can be avoided

This is incorrect, Natalya Yatsyk replies: “The ingested tick-borne encephalitis virus spreads hematogenously (i.e., with blood flow) throughout the body. It is also possible infection through the digestive, gastrointestinal tract when taking raw milk of goats, cows infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus. Unfortunately, even if the tick bite was short-term, the risk of infection with tick-borne infections is not excluded. ”

Myth thirteen: Having found on the body of a sucking tick, you need to fill it with sunflower oil - and it will fall off

This is an erroneous strategy, adhering to which you can only lose time. Because the tick needs to be removed as soon as possible. On a sucked tick, you need to throw a loop from a strong thread and pull it out with careful rotating movements, being careful not to tear off the proboscis immersed in the skin.

If any part of the tick remains in the wound, it must be removed as a regular splinter. Treat the wound with iodine. The tick itself is put in a container with a tight lid to be taken to a laboratory for testing for tick-borne infections, recalls Natalya Yatsyk.

What the tick does not like

Tick ​​protection is an issue that becomes very relevant with the advent of spring. Today you can find a lot of chemicals that will help destroy or scare away ticks, but there are natural substances that have a similar effect. In this article we will talk about how to protect yourself from ticks with folk remedies.

How do folk remedies work?

All funds that are used to protect against these pests are divided into three groups:

  • Repellent - only scare away ticks.
  • Acaricidal - aimed at the destruction.
  • Mixed - means with double action.

Folk remedies are mainly repellents. For many years, humanity has studied the habits of insects and ticks and noticed that strong smells of plants can scare away ticks from humans. This knowledge helps people defend themselves from attacks even without the help of modern chemistry.

What smell do not like ticks

The effect of repellents is based on smell. Ticks do not tolerate the aromas of certain essential oils:

  1. Geraniums;
  2. Eucalyptus;
  3. Lavender
  4. Cedar;
  5. Rosemary;
  6. Peppermint
  7. Basilica
  8. Thyme.

Thus, the best folk protection against ticks is smells. These essential oils can be used to create sprays or lotions. Mix one or more of the components from this list with alcohol or vinegar (these substances will act as an emulsifier), and apply to the body when you go to nature.

How to protect yourself if you find yourself in nature without protection and see that ticks are trying to attack you? You can take advantage of their dislike for some plants.

Ticks do not like all plants of the Mint genus, but most of all they do not tolerate marsh mint - this strong-smelling plant with purplish flowers can be a real salvation. You can carry it with you, grind it in open areas of the body, providing a repellent effect that will scare away many ticks.

Effective folk recipes

Workable protection methods that are suitable for people and can be used on the body:

  • Spray from geranium oil. To prepare this spray, you need 200 ml of water, a teaspoon of oil. Mix these components, also in them you can add alcohol as an emulsifier. Put liquid in a special container with a spray. The product can be sprayed on clothes, underwear, as well as places where pets live.
  • Spray with clove oil. Clove is not only a very aromatic spice, but also a very effective tick-borne remedy. Use whole dried flowers, bring them to a boil in water, then let them brew well. This solution can be used for processing clothes and for the body. You can also use clove oil. In addition to ticks, it will also repel mosquitoes. In this case, no unpleasant consequences for your body.
  • Tick ​​Lotion. For this remedy, prepare 2 cups of vegetable oil, aloe gel (1 cup), as well as 20 drops of essential oils of pink geranium and lavender. Take an empty shampoo bottle or other suitable form. Mix the ingredients and shake very carefully. This powerful repellent can be applied to the arms, legs, neck - any opening of parts of the body when you go outside. Even if the tick tries to cling to, having felt these substances on its body, it will fall off very quickly, without having time to bite you.

Folk remedies can be a good and, most importantly, safe option for protection, but do not rely too much on them! Going into the forest, do not forget about the closed clothes, use hats, and also be sure to check your body for bites from time to time. Folk repellents cannot provide a 100% guarantee of protection.

6 tips on how to protect yourself from ticks in the country and in nature

Spring is in full swing! Every year the May holidays become a kind of vacation for the majority of the population of our country. This time is quite enough to work in your favorite country house or garden, to go out in the company of nature, to cook kebabs and have fun!

In general, each of us is looking forward to this great weekend. In order not to spoil my days off and not get tick-borne infections, I offer you some tips on how to protect yourself from ticks.

Why ticks are dangerous

The fact is that while in the forest or in the country, we have a high probability of sucking ticks. Today we will talk about ixodid ticks. They are the carriers of such dangerous diseases that are most common in Russia in the spring-summer season, such as tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis.

It seems to be all common truths, but suddenly someone does not know what to do in this case and not get sick. So these tips are just for them.

Why should we protect ourselves from sucking ticks

Of course, so as not to get these infections. The most unpleasant after a tick-borne infection is complications. The most dangerous and serious complications after tick-borne encephalitis can be paralysis and paresis of limbs. Fatal cases are encountered, but now it is extremely rare, as many are vaccinated against this infection. Tick-borne vaccine used in Russia is very effective, therefore, those vaccinated with tick-borne encephalitis do not get sick.

How the tick is sucked

People do not notice the moment of tick suction.Only later, a few hours after the suction, they notice the appearance of some new “wart” or pimple in an unusual place. And they notice a tick already quite well drunk with blood.

The fact is that a tick attacking a person passing among bushes or tall grass does not immediately stick. He crawls for a while at first on a man’s clothes, and only having found an open place in his clothes, he crawls on his body.

Then for some time he still crawls over the body, looking for a place convenient for suction. Tick ​​suction points: more often it is thin skin on the chest, in the armpits, on the genitals, on the stomach or behind the ears.

The moment of the bite is painless, so his person does not notice. Because along with saliva, the insect introduces an anesthetic.

How to protect yourself from ticks - my tips

Regardless of whether you go to work in the country or relax in the countryside, pay attention to your clothes. Try to dress so that the insects have no chance to crawl onto the body. Be sure to wear socks, trousers tuck into boots or boots. The sleeves of a jacket or sweatshirts must fit the wrists tightly. Put a scarf on the woman’s head, and men’s mosquitoes (this is such a hat with a net).

Do not forget to take repellents with you, these are means for repelling ticks and other insects. Now on sale in any supermarket or shop on the market you can find repellents in the form of sprays or ointments. They process open parts of the body. The use of repellents provides 100% protection against insect attacks: having sniffed at this “chemistry” (they are also living creatures), they will weaken and possibly fall off your clothes.

You can use folk remedies. Any blood-sucking insects do not like the smell of cinnamon, cloves, camphor, the Chinese Zvezdochka balm and even the “triple” cologne.

You can make a protective mask yourself. Take a piece of gauze and boil it in 1 liter of water with 1 tbsp. cinnamon or clove powder for several minutes. Dry without rinsing. When visiting the forest or working in the country, put a mask on your head like a scarf, this will also help scare away insects.

How to protect yourself in the country

A big danger is the dachas, which are located near the forest. In the autumn, tall grass and shrubs remain in the country. Before starting work, first of all, remove all dried grass and old dried shrubs. It is on them that ticks can be. Therefore, working in the country, dress appropriately, as described above.

How to protect yourself in nature

Going to rest in nature, it is important to choose the right place to relax. This should be a place located away from trees, shrubs, dense grass, best in an open and ventilated area.

Around the resting place, you can expand the branches of wormwood, tansy, rowan branches or flowering bird cherry trees. This will also scare away not only ticks, but also mosquitoes.

Very often dogs are taken to nature. They are unlikely to sit near the owners, they immediately examine all the surroundings and can bring ticks on their fur. Therefore, treat your dogs with some repellents as well.

And one more very important point. Returning from nature, how not to take home a bouquet of wildflowers or a few twigs of birch for brooms to take a steam bath in. Here again danger lies in wait for us.

We in flower bouquets or twigs can bring ticks home. This is very dangerous, especially if the house has small children. Therefore, before you bring the flowers home, hold the flowers or birch branches for some time outside the living room.

Preventative measures

Ticks do not stick immediately. You can find an insect that has not yet sucked in time, for this you need to periodically examine yourself and each other. In no case do not push the found tick!

This is dangerous! On the skin of the fingers there can always be the smallest wounds and abrasions, which we may not notice. It is through them that the tick-borne encephalitis virus can enter the bloodstream from a crushed insect.The likelihood of developing the disease in this case is high.

If you notice that the tick has already sucked, then remove it carefully. Some grease his back with oil. It is useless, does not help. Then how to remove the tick? To do this, tie a thread around the proboscis and gently swaying from side to side, carefully remove the insect.

If the proboscis comes off, then remove it, like a regular splinter. Lubricate the suction point with any disinfectant.

A sucking tick is better to pass to a virological laboratory for research. Within 1-2 days you will be given a result in which you find out whether "your" tick was contagious. If the tick was infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus, then for prophylactic purposes it is necessary to start a course of treatment with iodantipyrine according to a scheme that is easy to remember:

  1. 2 days take 3 tablets (0.1 dose of tablets) 3 times a day;
  2. 2 days take 2 tablets 3 times a day;
  3. 2 days, 1 tablet 3 times a day.

The medicine is taken orally after a meal.

If the tick was infected with borrelia, which causes tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), one of these drugs is given antibiotic prophylaxis: doxycycline (it is safer for the gastrointestinal tract).

Important!
Take 0.1 (1 tablet) 1 time per day for 5 days. It is contraindicated in children under 8 years of age. If more than 5 days have passed after the suction of the tick, but not more than 10 days, then the administration of doxycycline is extended to 10 days. In the absence of docclin, it can be replaced by other antibiotics, but it is necessary to consult an infectious disease doctor.

According to existing regulatory documents, in the case of suction of ticks in children (regardless of their age), they are given anti-tick-borne immunoglobulin at the rate of 0.1 ml per 1 kg of the child’s weight.

All victims of a tick bite are monitored for 21 days. During this period, it is necessary to monitor your well-being, measure the temperature and the reaction on the skin at the place where the tick is sucked.

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