How to Treat Tick Bites With Essential Oils

A woodland stroll with pets and family sometimes requires treatment for tick bites.

Walking in the woods with family and pets is one of the pleasures of summer, but with this pleasure comes the risk of being bitten by insects. Ticks can be a special danger because they can transmit lyme disease, a condition that can cause rash, muscle aches, fatigue, arthritis and neurological symptoms. If you find a tick on a family member or family pet, you should remove the tick with a tweezer making sure you get the head out of the wound. You can then treat the tick bite with essential oils to relieve discomfort.

Things You'll Need

• Tweezers
• Soap
• Water
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton balls
• Tea tree oil
• Ice pack

Instructions

1. Remove the tick with tweezers, grasping the insect as close to the skin as possible. Place the tick in a small jar to show to the physician if symptoms develop.

2. Examine the bite area carefully to see if any tick parts remain in the wound.

3. Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water.

4. Swab the area with hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball.

5. Dab the area with essential tea tree oil to soothe swelling and redness and provide antiseptic benefits.

Tips & Warnings

• Always purchase high-quality essential oils for the full benefit of its effects.

• According to ExperienceEssentialOils, other oils possess antiseptic and analgesic properties, such as lavender essential oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil and peppermint oil.

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you should apply an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling or pain at the site of the tick bite, placing the pack on for 10 minutes and then removing it for 10 minutes, until you get relief from the discomfort.

• If your dog comes in from the outdoors with a tick, remove the tick as recommend and apply essential oregano, cinnamon bark, thyme or winter savory oil every 3 hours for up to 6 drops per day for a 50 to 75 pound dog, according to WholeDogJournal.

• Do not twist the tweezers when removing the tick. This can cause the head to separate from the body.

• According to the Oklahoma Poison Control Center, you should not use bare hands to remove a tick. Wash your hands carefully after touching or removing a tick.

• See your doctor if you experience flu-like symptoms or rash after a tick bite. Monitor your health carefully for two full weeks after a tick bite.

• Do not use a lit match to remove a tick. This can burn on the skin.

References

• Experience Essential Oils: Insect Bite Treatment In One Simple Step
• University of Maryland Medical Center: Insect Bites
• Whole Dog Journal: Treating Tick Bites
• Oklahoma Poison Control Center: First Aid For Tick Bites