Natural ways to ward off ticks: Drink this herbal infusion

Ticks are small arachnids from the subclass Acari. They range from a fraction of a millimetre to nearly 2.5 centimetres. They feed on the blood of mammals and birds and can transmit many serious diseases, such as Lyme disease, bartonellosis, and babesiosis.

The season of increased tick activity begins in June and ends in September. During this period, we are particularly at risk of being bitten. What should you do to avoid ticks? Reach for an herb that you can buy at any store. Drink it daily, and the pests won't even come close.

Ticks feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They inhabit forests and parks but are increasingly found in urban areas. They hide in tall grasses and attack unexpectedly. What attracts ticks? The smell of sweat, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and pheromones. Due to their small size, their presence on the body is often invisible. After each outing, you should carefully inspect your entire body. Ticks can attach themselves in unusual places, such as the groin, armpits, or ear lobes.

What repels ticks in humans? Arachnids are very sensitive to scents. They cannot stand the aroma of lavender, rosemary, thyme, basil, lemon, lemongrass, and camphor. Essential oils from these plants form the basis of natural tick repellents. However, there is another unassuming shrub that not only repels ticks but also eases the course of Lyme disease.

Rock rose is a small shrub found in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The plant contains flavonoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, and essential oils that repel mosquitoes and ticks. It also has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Rock rose neutralises enzymes responsible for the breakdown of collagen fibres and supports the proper functioning of the digestive and immune systems.

How to use rock rose for ticks? Obtain some dried rock rose herbs. Put two teaspoons in a cup and pour boiling water over them. Let the mixture cool, and then drink the contents. Use it regularly, and ticks won't even come close. You can also use the prepared infusion to make a natural tick-repelling spray. Pour it into a bottle with an atomiser and spray it on yourself before each outing.