Yes, I said it, lyme disease is in Michigan and if you live here, or visit here, you need to know about it. The last few years, I’ve been hearing more and more about lyme disease in Michigan and this year is no exception. I am not saying this to alarm you, ticks and lyme disease don’t need to ruin your fun, you just need to know that it’s here, it’s probably not going away anytime soon and how to protect yourself. Most cases in Michigan occur between late spring and mid-July, but can happen even in the fall.
Check out the below map provided by the state of Michigan, it shows where the most cases have been discovered in the state, and where lyme disease is heading. If you’re visiting the lakeshore, ticks like to hang out in tall grassy areas and hop on for a tasty meal when folks walk by them. But, you can prevent this by either covering up, and/or spraying with tick repellant. I prefer to use natural repellants with at least 20% oil of lemon eucalyptus. After being in wooded or tall grassy areas, check for ticks and take a shower. If you discover a tick, remove it and save it so you can send it in for testing if you get sick. If you remove a tick within 36 hours of it attaching itself to you, chances are more likely that you won’t get lyme disease. If you do get sick, getting immediate 30 day treatment with antibiotics that last for at least 30 days is important. Following are some useful resources to help combat this issue:
Michigan Lyme Disease Association
DBC Holistic Health Dr. Adrian Den Boer, nationally known for wholistic treatment of lyme disease.
Prevention: Be cautious when walking in the woods, avoiding bushy and grassy areas. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and wear insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin or, if you’re like me use something natural containing a strong solution of oil of lemon eucalyptus. After walking in wooded areas, thoroughly check the skin for the poppy-seed sized ticks, paying particular attention to the scalp, armpits and groin. If you find a tick, carefully remove it with tweezers or a tick remover. More info
Repel Plant Based Insect Repellant with Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus has been recommended as a natural solution.
Permethrin on clothes kills ticks on contact and lasts several washes
Dammix Tick Tubes offer an innovative solution to rid your property of ticks.
Useful guide from the Michigan Department of Agriculture for preventing tick borne illness: Ticks and Your Health
Michigan Lyme Disease Map (does not include results from 2013).
The first and second editions of his book
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