Many people view ticks as harmless little bloodsuckers, but in reality, they have the potential for devastating disease. It is not to panic; it is to get down to work knowing some of the natural remedies to eliminate ticks in the most effective ways that are known.
We all know how annoying it can be to deal with those little critters who insist on being part of the family without being invited. We refer to cockroaches and ants, which in fact are such intelligent and resistant organisms that we can barely sometimes make them go away.
And not only are these professional bugs giving us a headache, there are also fleas that are a real pest when the season approaches and especially if we have pets in our home.
Well, summer is on its way which means that it is a sign of flea season, but in addition to other tiny ones that join the clan of annoying little guests: ticks, which are the ones we are going to focus on this time.
Table of Contents
What are ticks
Ticks are small, blood-sucking arthropods related to spiders, mites, and scorpions. It is sometimes found in gardens, especially those with deep vegetation and a strong population of local fauna.
Not all ticks transmit diseases, and infection rates in the same place can fluctuate from one year to another, however, as an important fact, you should consider that when a tick transmits infections, the risk of infection increases with time. the tick sticks, but can occur at any time during feeding. Transmission of the disease can be in less than a day.
Signs and symptoms of a tick bite
As tick bites are often unnoticed, it can be difficult to determine how long it has stuck. Any tick bite should be considered as posing a risk of infection.
Adults are most often bitten around the legs. Young children are generally bitten above the waist, you should check their hairline and scalp.
A tick bite is generally painless. It is pain free even after the bite. But several problems arise when the tick falls off after feeding on blood. The signs and symptoms are:
- Itch
- Redness
- Burning
- Intense localized pain
- Eruptions
- Difficulty breathing
- Numbness
- Swelling
- Soft spot
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint pain
Ticks and Lyme disease
Ticks transmit Lyme disease, an inflammatory disease characterized primarily by a skin rash, headache, fever, and chills; later due to the possibility of arthritis, neurological and cardiac disorders.
A single tick can cause a big problem for you and your pet. So why wait for something to happen? Let us begin.
12 natural remedies to eliminate and / or repel ticks
Rosemary and cinnamon
10 drops of rosemary essential oil, 7 drops of cinnamon essential oil, 3 drops of cedar essential oil, 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil. Put all the oils in a glass jar and shake well. To use simply apply something to your hands, rub them in and apply wherever you need it.
Rose geranium essential oil
Another good trick is to use rose geranium essential oil. It is a good tick repellent on animals. Simply put a drop between the animal’s shoulder blades and at the base of the tail before going out with it (this remedy is used only for dogs).
Mix of basil, lemon, cinnamon, cedar, lavender and pennyroyal
These aromatherapy oils, like pennyroyal essential oil, are a natural repellent against ticks. To remove ticks, prepare a mixture of any of the three oils.
Mix one drop of each of the three chosen oils and pure almond oil. Stir well and soak a cloth in it. Wrap the cloth around your pet. This remedy also helps in removing ticks from human skin. You just have to apply on the skin.
Organic neem oil
You can also make a spray with organic neem oil. You have to mix ½ ounce of organic neem oil with ½ or ¼ ounce of an environmentally friendly liquid soap.
Stir well and add this solution to two cups of water. For a stronger solution, mix 2 ml of soap with two cups of water. Then add 5 ml of neem oil to it. Fill into a spray bottle and use immediately.
Neem oil is also helpful in removing human ticks. Simply apply a few drops of neem oil gently on the skin, especially covering the affected area.
Citrus
Citrus fruits are found abundantly in oranges and lemon. All you need to do is make a repellent with natural oil from these citrus fruits. Remove the lemon and / or orange peels and boil them. Let them cool naturally. Apply the resulting liquid on the affected area of pets.
Note- This remedy is not suitable for cats, as they do not like citrus fragrances.
You can also add lemon or orange juice to a glass of water. Let it boil for some time. In the solution, add 5-15 drops of lemongrass oil. Shake well and let it cool. Apply gently on the affected area.
Use of comb
Combs are the cheapest and easiest remedy against ticks. When you return from a walk in the morning, don’t forget to comb your pet. Combing once a day helps remove ticks, which crawl on the pet’s skin. Combs will surely sweep away ticks and prevent irritation.
Garlic
Garlic is a strong repellent for ticks. Garlic should be consumed in sufficient quantity. When it comes to dogs, they cannot eat raw garlic alone as it can be harmful to them. Dogs should be cared for with food and soups, which contain garlic.
You can also use garlic powder instead of raw garlic. Just add 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder per pound of regular dog food.
Sodium bicarbonate
Baking soda is a natural remedy to remove ticks from the animal’s body. To use baking soda against ticks, you need to mix half a teaspoon of baking soda and salt.
Add this dry mix to four ounces of apple cider vinegar. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle, filled with 4 oz. Of warm water. Spray on pets.
Make sure it doesn’t get into the pet’s eyes when you apply it. You can also make a paste by adding a small amount of water to two tablespoons of baking soda. Apply directly to the problem area.
Cinnamon oil
Cinnamon oil is very helpful in removing ticks. All you have to do is apply some cinnamon oil directly to the affected area.
Cinnamon oil works as a natural repellent against ticks and fleas. You can also add 80 drops of cinnamon oil to an ounce of water.
Fill the solution into a spray bottle. Gently spray on the lawn. This will work against ticks.
Cinnamon oil acts as a protective shield against ticks on human skin. Just rub the cinnamon oil on your skin.
Tea tree oil
The medicinal properties of tea tree oil help kill pet tricks. Tea tree oil can be used in different ways to kill ticks. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your pet’s regular shampoo.
You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to a spray bottle filled with water, and apply the spray directly to the animal’s body.
If not, put a few drops of tea tree oil directly on the infected area with the help of a dropper. Now, remove the ticks with the help of tweezers. However, do it with caution. Natural tea tree oil can cause irritation if applied directly.
Vaseline
It is very simple to use petroleum jelly to remove ticks. Just put some petroleum jelly on your palm and rub it gently on the pet’s skin and cover the infected area. Vaseline drowns out ticks. After applying petroleum jelly, comb the pet’s hair. This method removes ticks easily.
Lemon juice
Citric acid, present in lemon, helps to eliminate ticks naturally. You just have to use a fresh lemon against ticks. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice directly on pet ticks or affected area.
You can also make a spray with ingredients such as lemon juice, peppermint oil, and citrus oil. Mix all the substances equally and spray it on the required places.
You can also prepare a disinfectant solution to bathe your pet, with the help of lemon juice. Squeeze the lemon juice into a cup of water. Also add the rinds and pulp to the water. Put it on low heat for a few hours. Pour this solution into your regular bath water.
You can cut a lemon and put it in a container with boiling water. Leave it overnight. Dip a sponge in the solution and apply it to your pet’s problem area.