Tick Bite Protocol
1. Promptly remove the tick with tweezers. Grasp the head if you can and pull the tick out perpendicular to the skin. Apply some antibiotic ointment to the area after removal.
2. Consider taking the homeopathic Ledum 6C or 30C for the puncture and the herb, Astragalus, for immune support.
3. If it is a female deer tick or if you are unsure, put it in a zip lock bag with a moist piece of paper towel and send it to https://www.tickreport.com for PCR testing. The tick does not need to be alive.
The cost is 50 dollars for testing for the Lyme spirochete and numerous co- infections. Please visit their site for online submission form.
The results are accurate and helpful in guiding the course of action.
Within a week to 10 days, depending on when the tick arrives in their testing cycle,
the results are sent via email.
4. While you await the results, you have two options: (1) "Watch and wait" looking for the erythema migrans rash and/or flu like symptoms which should show up with in 4 weeks of the tick bite, or (2) start an antibiotic. The studies are inconclusive on the best approach.
If you choose the antibiotic, please make an appointment. A lab slip for the Western Blot Lyme test will be given at the appointment to be done 4 to 6 weeks after the tick bite.
2. Consider taking the homeopathic Ledum 6C or 30C for the puncture and the herb, Astragalus, for immune support.
3. If it is a female deer tick or if you are unsure, put it in a zip lock bag with a moist piece of paper towel and send it to https://www.tickreport.com for PCR testing. The tick does not need to be alive.
The cost is 50 dollars for testing for the Lyme spirochete and numerous co- infections. Please visit their site for online submission form.
The results are accurate and helpful in guiding the course of action.
Within a week to 10 days, depending on when the tick arrives in their testing cycle,
the results are sent via email.
4. While you await the results, you have two options: (1) "Watch and wait" looking for the erythema migrans rash and/or flu like symptoms which should show up with in 4 weeks of the tick bite, or (2) start an antibiotic. The studies are inconclusive on the best approach.
If you choose the antibiotic, please make an appointment. A lab slip for the Western Blot Lyme test will be given at the appointment to be done 4 to 6 weeks after the tick bite.