Treating Lyme disease is one of my passions, as a Lyme-literate Naturopathic doctor; I am one of the few ILADS [International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society] member physicians in Ontario.
Spring is in the air, and so are the biting insects that can carry -or are vectors for- infection. Reminder to perform tick checks on yourself and loved ones after coming in from outdoors (especially grassy/ wooded areas), especially the warm parts of your body (groin etc). If you find a tick on yourself you can save it & send it for private Lyme testing at a lab in Ontario like Geneticks.
The Geneticks website also has a helpful video demonstration for tick removal.
Both tick removal kits, and natural tick repellent bracelets (with geranium essential oil) are available at the Queens Pharmacy in Thornton for under $5, and are a must for those outdoorsy families and campers!
If you do have a tick bite, seek prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics which you can usually get in a single dose from a pharmacist, and sometimes a longer dose from a walk-in/GP, or even online with a Medical doctor like Dr. Martin, MD (in Thornton). Dr. Martin books 20 min virtual appointment for acute tick bite consults.
When in doubt, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – so never ignore a tick bite! There are also plenty of short-term immune boosting & bacteria-killing herbs you can take if you have a tick bite (in addition to any antibiotics you may be using) and I would encourage everyone to book a quick consult with me to discuss & prescribe said medicines. Of course, if you do develop chronic or persistent Lyme, that is something we can treat with herbal and naturopathic medicine as well.
By Dr. David Collings, ND
Book now at South Simcoe Physiotherapy Alliston