How to prevent and remove ticks safely

September 27, 2017 · 5 Comments

How to prevent and remove ticks safely

Last week I found a tick on my daughter’s back. Eeeeeewwwww! This prompted me to share what we learnt about how to prevent and remove ticks safely.

We had no idea what it was and removed it before we realised. Luckily it was quite small, not engorged and she did not show any adverse symptoms. It was very odd because she had not been in the bush or the garden, only to work that day.

There seems to be a tick problem on the east coast of Australia at the moment and there is a lot of information going around about how to treat them. Some of the info is outdated and some treatments can make the problem worse (yeah, that viral peppermint oil video!!)

So I thought it would be useful to share with you some updated information from some reliable sources so you have a handy reference. The products recommended to remove the ticks are not natural but for once-off tick removal, I think they are justified in this case.

….and is it just me or are ticks like lice in that when you start talking about them, you get itchy!!!

What are ticks?

Ticks are an eight legged insect. They are parasites and live by feeding off the blood of humans and animals. Little beggars!

How do you get ticks?

Adult ticks can attach themselves to grass and vegetation and transfer themselves to us and our pets. They are mostly found on the east coast of Australia. They are most active when it’s humid, particularly after rain. They can crawl up your body and like warm, moist areas.

Health problems related to ticks

Allergic reactions or anaphylaxis

Allergic reactions to red meat (Mammalian Meat Allergy)

Transmission of infections (such as Lyme Disease)

Tick paralysis

How to remove a tick safely

Current research says that you should kill adult ticks where they are by freezing with an ether-containing spray (like Wart Off Freeze Spray or Elastoplast Cold Spray) and then waiting till it falls off or removing carefully.

“freeze it, don’t squeeze it”

For the smaller ticks or larvae, a cream containing permethrin is recommended. Get it at the chemist and dab it on and wait for them to fall off or remove carefully.

“dab it, don’t grab it”

You should not scratch, squeeze or compress ticks. Do not use tweezers or ‘tick removal’ gadgets. You should not apply essential oils, vaseline, kerosene or other substances. These methods can cause the tick to release more allergen containing saliva into you.

Keep the tick in a sealed container in case it’s needed later.

Wash your hands thoroughly and keep an eye on the person who has been bitten. Homeopathic remedy, Ledum may assist with swelling and local reaction.

Bite ‘n Sting Balm is good for using topically to reduce the inflammation.

Don’t be shy about seeking medical attention if needed.

This video by Dr Jonica Newby from Catalyst explains it very simply.

How to prevent ticks

Wear long sleeved shirts and pants if you are bushwalking, camping or outside near vegetation. Light coloured clothing means you can see ticks more easily.

DEET sprays are recommended for tick prevention but I would rather not use that on an ongoing basis, especially on kids.

There are some good studies that found geranium and lemon eucalyptus essential oils can prevent ticks from attaching themselves to you. You can make up your own spray by adding either oil to a spray bottle of water with a dash of vodka.

After being in bushland areas, check yourself, kids and pets thoroughly, including head, hair and backs of ears. Clothes can be put in a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill any ticks attached.

Have you had a tick outbreak where you live this year?

Sources and further reading

tiara.org.au TIARA – Tick Induced Allergies Research and Awareness

medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/ticks.htm

bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/0022-2585-41.6.1064

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26827259

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23528036

allergy.org.au/patients/insect-allergy-bites-and-stings/tick-allergy

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4313755/

health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/ohp-tick-bite-prevention.htm

10 tips for a stress-free Christmas

November 28, 2016 · 2 Comments

10 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

The most common thing I hear about Christmas these days is how stressful it is!

It makes me a bit sad to hear this, because it’s supposed to be a fun celebration. Having a chat with some of you over at Facebook, I learnt that the major issues seem to be family dynamics, financial considerations, excessive consumerism, pressure for everything to be perfect and unrealistic expectations.

I reckon it’s time to reclaim the Christmas fun! Get rid of the stress and enjoy the celebrations. What do you think?

Here are my 10 tips for a stress-free Christmas.

♥ Get Clear

What sort of Christmas do you really want? Who do you want to spend it with? What do you want to do? How do you want to feel? How much do you want to spend? Are you doing things you hate just to please other people? Are you trying to live up to other people’s expectations or even your own about what makes a perfect Christmas?

Lots to think about! Although there is always room for compromise, your needs are important too.

♥ Get Simple

Unless you have the time, inclination and energy, you don’t have to have a designer tree, a gourmet banquet or a Pinterest-worthy selection of decorations. Scale it down, make it simple and fuss free. You don’t even have to cook – just make platters of cold meat, salads and fruit.

*HOT TIP: Buy or make some santa sacks and your Christmas wrapping will take approximately 30 seconds and you are being an eco-hero at the same time.

♥ Get Organised

Make up some lists – menu plans, food shopping lists, gift lists and start early. Lists can also help you get clear on what is important and what you can give the flick. Mark down on a calendar or diary everywhere you need to be so you don’t forget. Don’t leave everything until the last minute – pace yourself!

HOT TIP: Bake a few things early and pop them in the freezer. If your kids are old enough, get them onto the Christmas baking while they are on holidays!

♥ Get Online

One of the biggest stresses at this time of year is going shopping! It can be time-consuming and exhausting trying to find a park and battling the crowds. I swear by shopping online for gifts and food.

You can get it all done and all delivered to your door without getting out of your pyjamas. There are loads of discounts and free shipping deals around at the moment, so use them to your advantage.

HOT TIP: Check out my Christmas Gift Guides for some gorgeous online presents.

♥ Get Delegating

Don’t do everything yourself. Get the rest of the family pitching in with some of the jobs in advance and on the day. If you are entertaining at your house, get people to bring a plate and help with the clean up. For the perfectionists amongst us, learn to let go.

♥ Get Calm

Stay centred and take time out for yourself during the holiday season. You might want to schedule in a massage, pampering or some yoga classes. You can also use tools like meditation, essential oils and flower essences to help you feel zen. Keep up your sleep, healthy food and exercise so you can cope with the extra demands.

♥ Get Grateful

Whenever I get overwhelmed or stressed, practicing gratitude always works to calm me down. When so many people do not have a home or food or gifts for Christmas, it can make our worries and stress over little things seem inconsequential. Finding a little time to do some charity work over the festive season is also a great way to put things into perspective.

♥ Get Frugal

Nothing is more stressful than getting a massive credit card bill in January, right when school is going back!

There really is no need to spend a fortune on gifts and food, even though the media likes to tell us differently. Challenge yourself to spend as little as possible, put a dollar value on gifts and stick to it, make simple gifts, buy second-hand (vintage) things, do a family Secret Santa or print up some vouchers for things like babysitting.

Get back to basics and give from the heart.

♥ Get in the Habit of Saying No

You really don’t have to attend every function and gathering you are invited to – be selective and go to the ones you will enjoy. You don’t have to catch up with every person you know before Christmas – schedule them in for January. You also don’t have to visit every family member on Christmas Day – share the love and spread out the visits over a few days.

Set realistic expectations of what you can do and want to do and ditch the rest!

HOT TIP: Check out Kirri White’s tips on how to say no.

♥ Get in the Present Moment

If you are just struggling to get through the holiday season and looking forward to it all being over, you are doing it wrong! Focus on the present moment, enjoy it and have fun. Thinking about all the things you have to do just leads to anxiety and overwhelm. And if things don’t get done, will it really matter?

What are your tips?

5 Essential Natural Remedies for Natural New Age Mums

September 30, 2015 · 2 Comments

I often get asked what things are essential for NNAMs to have on hand for their family’s health, so today I am sharing with you my top five natural products. They are all multi-purpose and have a huge range of properties, benefits and uses around the home – not just for healing and health but for beauty and cleaning too!

The best thing about these natural remedies is that they are all affordable and having all-purpose products means you are saving money and have less clutter.

So, these are my:

5 Essential Natural Remedies for Natural New Age Mums

♥ Jojoba Oil

As much as I love my coconut oil, I am finding that jojoba oil is replacing it as my go to oil (I know – even I am still a bit in shock!!!) Jojoba oil is similar to coconut oil – it is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic. It’s also a great all-purpose oil but where it tops coconut oil is that it has virtually no odour and it sinks straight into the skin without that greasy residue (its actually a wax and the closest oil to our natural skin’s oil).

Jojoba oil has great benefits for your skin as a daily moisturizer as it is very high in antioxidants and contains vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids and Omegas 6 and 9. However you can also use it for a wide range of ailments including acne, rosacea, burns, dermatitis, eczema, insect bites, psoriasis, sunburn, abrasions, skin rashes, scars, nappy rash, cradle cap and surgical wounds.

I love The Jojoba Company brand – it’s owned by an Australian family and grown ethically in NSW with lots of love and nurturing! Unlike other brands, its 100% pure and cold pressed without any heating or refined so the nutrients stay intact.

♥ Lavender Oil

I am a huge fan of essential oils and use them daily but if I am pressed to choose just one (usually when I go on holidays and can’t take my collection with me) then I choose lavender oil.

It’s one of my favourite smelling oils but it is also a great all-rounder. It has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. It also has antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifying and sedative effects!!

You can use it directly on acne, bites, stings, burns and muscle aches and a drop on your pillow helps with sleep. It’s great as an insect repellant (combine with a carrier oil) and to relieve tension, headaches, depression and anxiety.

I love the Twenty 8 brand of essential oils. Sunshine Coast mum and aromatherapist, Kim Morrison has created a beautiful range of pure essential oils that don’t cost a fortune but are still of the highest therapeutic quality. Check her out here.

♥ Epsom Salts

Also known as magnesium sulphate, epsom salts have a wide variety of uses to treat common ailments. It’s a naturally occurring mineral that can be used internally or externally. It can be used dissolved in a bath as a muscle relaxant, headache soother, as a treatment for sprains, bruises and joint inflammation and as a great way to absorb magnesium into your body (most of us are deficient).

2 tablespoons of epsom salts dissolved in warm water works as a laxative. A bath with epsom salts will relax and eliminate toxins from the body and soaking also helps to remove splinters. You can even use it in the garden, as a fabric softener and for cleaning. It’s awesome!

♥ Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is another all-purpose remedy that has so many uses, you can even buy a whole book about it! We look up the book if we have ailments to see if ACV can help and it usually does! Get a raw, organic, unfiltered version with ‘the mother’ for the best results.

Some health benefits include helping with digestion, acne, weight loss, sore throats, bad breath, sunburn, wart removal, toxin removal, lowering blood sugar, lowering bad cholesterol and more. You can take it daily in some water or use it on your meals! It makes a cracker salad dressing.

You can also use ACV for cleaning, disinfecting, as a hair rinse and for whitening your teeth! I like the Braggs brand in a glass bottle but as mentioned, any brand that is organic and unfiltered with the mother is good.

♥ Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is the last of my must haves and again, it’s a really great all-rounder. It’s properties include anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial. It’s not actually a tea, its flowers of the chamomile plant that you make up into an herbal infusion.

As well as being a nice herbal tea to drink, you can use it to relieve colds, soothe upset tummies, help you to sleep, relieve hemorrhoids and treat candida, eczema and allergies. Use it externally for under-eye bags, acne, conjunctivitis, fungal skin infections and abscesses. There is some research suggesting it can be helpful for diabetes and cancer. It’s a wonder herb!

You can buy chamomile flowers in teabags, but I prefer to get the loose tea herbs. Hilde Hemme’s herbals are in most health food stores or online. If pregnant or breastfeeding, please check with your health practitioner before using.

Yes, I know, it’s hard to stop at five natural remedies, but these are my top five that I buy regularly and use. What is in your top five? Are they the same as mine?