Using Essential oils to remove ticks and tick bites
**Everything that follows is from a viral Facebook post of mine that originated on May 25, 2017.
In an effort to combat the newest recommendation of putting peppermint essential oil on the tick while it is embedded. NOT a good idea, please do not apply anything to the tick.
For those of you who question the accuracy of the information I provided, I applaud you! Whether you are a believer or not, you should question and fact check everything you read, on the Internet or otherwise.
I am providing you with just a few of my findings. Some of the research papers are not available in full to the public unless paid, but I assure you I have them in full and have read them.
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The risks of infection and other problems from a tick bite increase if the removal isn’t correctly done. The CDC offers some warnings on tick removal. You should never:
• burn the tick with a hot object
• kill the tick while it’s still attached to you
• lubricate the tick with oil or other liquid
• twist the tick’s body when pulling it out
(Therefore, I do not see a benefit to using the twisting tool that was shared in the comments of the thread)
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“DO NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
DO NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
DO NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, Vaseline, or similar material while the tick is still embedded in the skin.”
This can kill the tick before it disengages its mouthparts. It can also cause the tick to regurgitate its contents into the wound, increasing the likelihood of transmitting a number of diseases.
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Medline Plus Important Information
“Prompt removal of attached ticks is a prudent public health measure, especially in regions where Lyme disease is endemic”.
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In Australia, ticks are even more deadly, causing paralysis in humans and easily killing small animals!
“In the past, there’s been a whole range of ‘urban myths’ — substances you need to put on ticks to remove them, everything from a lighted match to kerosene to nail polish remover,” Dr. Webb says.
“The problem is that will just make the tick agitated, and the more agitated it is, the more likely it is to inject saliva and toxin into the bite site.
“Even worse is if you try to remove a tick with your fingers, you’re actually just squeezing it and potentially squeezing more toxin into yourself.”
One of two methods they suggest killing the tick instantly by freezing it by using: Aerostart (a spray used to start car engines), ether-containing sprays (such as those that freeze off warts) or liquid nitrogen (which you’d need to access via your doctor). This would kill the tick instantly!
Next to freezing it, the second method is removing it “whole” as quickly as possible.
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Placing peppermint essential oil, kerosene, petroleum jelly, etc…DOES NOT kill the tick quickly enough. Herein lies the issue: they will become agitated as you are essentially smothering them, greatly increasing the likelihood of them regurgitating their contents inside of you.
I watched the infamous video being shared on Facebook of applying peppermint essential oil to the tick. I ask that you search for it in the search bar, watch it and count how many seconds after applying the oil it takes for the tick to let go and remove it’s hold on its victim. 16 seconds! The tick crawled away, it did not kill it nearly quickly enough if at all…it needs to kill them instantly!
I very rarely share “opinions” in regards to important topics like these..know that I am a strong researcher, a critical thinker..and always look at risk vs benefit in all situations….so I wanted to be sure to validate my stance on this issue.
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Additional Resources
Everything you ever want to know about ticks, their mechanisms of feeding, findings of how often they regurgitate, etc. This shows how important prompt removal is.
Lastly, here is a good research paper on the prevention of tick bites using lemon eucalyptus extract that may be of interest to some of you who live in tick-infested areas of the country.
I hope that this information helps you!
Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
