Holistic protection from the woods to your washing machine
As nature wakes up, so do ticks. Whether you're tending your garden, walking trails, or simply enjoying the backyard barefoot, tick awareness is a mustāespecially when youāre choosing a natural lifestyle over chemical-based repellents.
This guide gives you everything you need to prevent tick bites naturally, handle them if they happen, and care for your body with herbal and homeopathic remedies.
*nothing we ever share is to be taken as medical advice.Ā please seek medical attention if you have medical questions.Ā this blog is a collection of personal research and experience over the last few years.Ā not everything works for every person.*
š” Outdoor Tick Prevention Starts at Home
š² 1. Essential Oil Yard Spray
Keep your outdoor space protected with a DIY essential oil spray:
Yard Spray Recipe
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2 cups white vinegar
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2 cups water
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20 drops cedarwood essential oil
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15 drops geranium oil
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10 drops lemongrass or eucalyptus
Spray along the perimeter of your yard, decks, garden beds, play areas and pet areas.
š³ 2. Use Cedarwood Strategically
Ticks despise cedar. Use:
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Cedar mulch or chips around play areas, patios, and garden beds
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Cedar oil spray on shoes, socks, and pets before going outside
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Cedar oil misted onto shoes nightly to deter any hitchhikers
š§¹ 3. Keep the Yard Clean
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Remove leaf debris and brush regularly (don't delay clean up in the spring! If you are in a high tick are you should be cleaning up the second stuff is not frozen to the ground)
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Trim overgrown areas and keep grass under 4 inches (consistently cut grass and keep your area clean)
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Create gravel or chip borders between woods and lawn ( I created a double cinder block barrier around the garden with cedar wood chips in between)
š§“ Natural On-Body Protection
DIY Tick-Repellent Body Spray
Shake and spray before going outdoors. Reapply every 1ā2 hours for protection.
š Dress Smart to Deter Ticks
Your wardrobe is one of your first lines of defense:
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Light-colored pants & socks help spot ticks easily ( i prefer shorts with white sandals for outdoor work.Ā You can see them easy and feel them if you do have one on you)
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Tuck pants into socks and choose closed-toe shoes or secure sandals
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Avoid sitting directly on the ground or in leaf piles
š Tick Checks: Do Them Often, Do Them Well
Frequent tick checks are non-negotiable, especially during tick season.
šµļø Before going indoors:
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Do a thorough tick check head to toeāespecially behind ears, in the hair, behind knees, underarms, waistband, and groin area
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Put all outdoor clothing directly in the washer (ticks can linger on fabric)
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Shower within 2 hours of outdoor exposure
š§¦ Pro Tip: Use a lint roller or tick mitt (we are using this mitt this year)Ā on your clothes or aĀ piece of packing tape to catch any unseen crawlers.Ā Continue to do random tick checks through the rest of the day as they can be very sneaky.
š§ Ticks Are Smarter Than You Think
Most people think of ticks as mindless little pestsābut in reality, ticks are highly evolved hunters.
Ticks donāt just wait around hoping for a host to wander by. They actively sense, smell, and track you. Here's how:
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š They can smell you: Ticks use a specialized organ called the Hallerās organ, located on their front pair of legs, to detect carbon dioxide, body heat, ammonia, and even sweat and body odor from animals and humans.
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š They can see you: While they donāt have vision like we do, some tick species have light-sensing cells that help them detect shadows or movement, allowing them to respond when a potential host approaches.
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šøļø They position themselves to grab you: This behavior, called "questing," involves ticks climbing up tall grass or brush and extending their front legsāwaiting for the perfect moment to latch on.
Once theyāve found you, ticks are extremely stealthy. They numb the skin with enzymes in their saliva so you wonāt feel the bite, and they can feed for hoursāor even daysāif not removed.Ā As they feed they get larger and larger.
This is why proactive prevention, tick checks, and smart clothing choices are so important. You're not just avoiding a nuisanceāyouāre outsmarting a tiny, ancient predator.
šŖ° How to Kill a Tick (The Right Way)
Once youāve safely removed a tick, donāt just try to smash itāticks are incredibly resilient. Their hard exoskeletons can withstand pressure, and simply tossing them aside can allow them to reattach to you, your pets, or sneak into your home.
Instead, choose one of these effective methods:
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š„ Burn it: Hold the tick with tweezers and carefully drop it into a fire pit or burn it with a lighter (only if safe to do so outdoors).
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š§Ŗ Drop it in alcohol: Place the tick in a small glass jar filled with 70% isopropyl alcohol. This kills it quickly and allows you to save it for identification if symptoms later arise.
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š£ Seal it: If alcohol or fire isn't available, place the tick in a zip-top bag or tightly sealed container, then freeze it or dispose of it properly.
Never crush a tick with your fingers. Their bodily fluids may carry pathogensāand theyāre built like tiny tanks for a reason.
**Taking a few extra seconds to dispose of a tick properly helps prevent thousands more from showing up later.**
š§½ Keep the Indoors Tick-Free
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Spray cedar oil nightly on shoes, doormats, and around baseboards
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Vacuum nightly, especially near entry points, rugs, and pet zones
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Wash bedding and pet blankets regularly if pets have outdoor access (light colored bedding is helpful)
- I personally do not have pets but if you have pets that go outdoors and indoors you need to take extra precautions as they can easily hide in the skin.
š©¹ After a Tick Bite: Holistic Steps
1. Safe Removal
Use fine-tipped tweezers or tick key to remove the tick close to the skin. Do not twist. Clean with soap and warm water.Ā Make sure to remove the entire head from your skin.Ā You can keep the tick in a bag in the freezer should you ever need to have it tested.Ā I keep a list in my notes on my phone of dates and when someone received a tick bite.Ā That way should there be a reaction or sickness later on I can track it.
2. Apply a Drawing Salve
To draw out irritants and support skin healing, use a drawing salve made with:
Apply a thin layer and cover with a bandage. Reapply 1ā2 times daily for 2ā3 days.
A ready to use drawing salve we currently use is The Hairy Gnome drawing salve
3. Herbal Immune Support
We've had some tinctures recommended to use by friends who have been utilizing them.Ā We have not personally used them yet, but wanted to link then here so you can research them also!
Suggested tinctures fromĀ I-TAL Acres:
( I have ordered these to have on hand so we have extra support when bites occur)
Lyme Support Compound Tincture
A few of the suggested herbs to help support your system:
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Japanese Knotweed
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Catās Claw
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Andrographis
- Olive Leaf
- Oregano
These herbs support your immune response and can be used preventatively or after a bite.
š Boost Vitamin Support Post-Bite
A strong immune system can make all the difference.
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Vitamin C
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Zinc
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Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) ā may deter ticks naturally
- Colloidal Silver
š“ Use Red Light Therapy to Reduce Inflammation
Red Light Therapy (660ā850 nm):Ā We recommend Hooga health for red light therapy and our code WILDLYBOTANICAL saves you 12% on all purchases.
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Apply for 5ā10 mins on the bite area, 1ā2x daily
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Supports healing, reduces inflammation, and promotes lymph flow
- red light has the ability to help repair DNA at a mitochondrial level
Podcast that takes a deep dive on red light:Ā
š„ Homeopathic Remedies for Tick Bites
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Ledum palustre 30C ā take immediately after a bite
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Apis 30C ā for swelling, redness, or itching
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Hypericum 30C ā for nerve pain or tingling
Take 3ā5 pellets under the tongue and taper off as symptoms resolve.
We love the company Ollois for homeopathic remedies and they have provided us a code to share with you!Ā Code WILDLYBOTANICAL gives you a discount at Ollois.
Someone also suggested the homeopathic remedies from professional formulas in relation to lyme and tick bites.
ā ļø Why Tick Bites Are Concerning: Itās More Than Just the Bite
While not every tick carries disease, tick bites can transmit serious infections, some of which can have long-term impacts if not addressed. Unlike a simple mosquito bite, a tick attaches and feeds for hoursāsometimes daysāgiving pathogens ample time to enter the bloodstream.
š¦ What Can Ticks Carry?
Different species of ticks carry different bacteria and viruses, depending on your region. Here are some of the most common illnesses transmitted by ticks:
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Lyme Disease ā Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, it can lead to fatigue, joint pain, neurological symptoms, and heart issues if untreated.
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Anaplasmosis ā A bacterial infection that may cause fever, chills, muscle aches, and low white blood cell counts.
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Ehrlichiosis ā Similar to anaplasmosis, this can also cause flu-like symptoms and requires prompt antibiotic treatment.
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Babesiosis ā A microscopic parasite that infects red blood cells, often resulting in malaria-like symptoms.
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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ā A fast-moving infection that can be life-threatening without early treatment. It causes rash, fever, and organ damage.
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Alpha-gal Syndrome ā A strange one: a tick bite can trigger a red meat allergy, caused by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal.
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Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) ā Common in Europe and Asia, this virus can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
š¼ Final Notes: Stay Wild, Stay Wise
Living close to nature doesnāt mean living in fear. It means being informed, prepared, and rooted in both traditional wisdom and modern wellness.
By combining prevention, tick awareness, and gentle herbal care, you can move through the seasons with confidence.
Please remember we are not medical professionals and none of this is medical advice.Ā If you have a medical concern or question please seek medical attention.Ā This is based on personal experience and research.
Other resources we've found helpful over the years:
Redpill Your Healthcast Podcast