Believe it or not, there is something grosser than popping pimple videos on YouTube, i.e. videos with removal of ticks! However, although it may be unpleasant to watch, some experts claim that this type of home removal of ticks is not as dangerous as one may think and it may actually be of aid, but others disagree. The video went viral quickly after it was published on Facebook so let us learn more about it.
Video of Tick Removal Went Viral
The short video portrays a woman with a tick in her arm who is applying peppermint essential oil onto the tick. She then waits for a bit and the tick comes out on its own out of the woman’s skin.
Why Are Ticks Dangerous?
These parasites, as explained on Healing Life Is Natural, feed on our blood and the blood of animals. Unfortunately, they are also known to transmit up to 12 different types of illnesses, including Lyme disease. This bacterial disease is manifested by a circular rash and it is triggered by a bacterium which is transmitted by black-legged ticks or deer.
The illness is manifested by symptoms similar to flu, including tiredness, loss of appetite, headaches, and fever. When caught in the early phase, it can be addressed with antibiotics, however, when not treated timely, the symptoms can be experienced years after the infection and this long-term condition is known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.
According to statistics by the CDC, there are approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. on a yearly basis. And, the longer a tick is present on the host, the higher the risk of passing the bacteria if it carries it. Since the transmission of the illness can occur after the tick has been attached to the skin for 36 to 48 hours, it is best to remove the tick as soon as we find it.
Removal of Ticks Requires Caution
Even though the method shown on the video may have been successful, medical experts are advising people not to eliminate the tick with this oil because it can cause it to secrete saliva and thus, speed up the spreading of the bacteria. Hence, below, learn the suggestions by the CDC on how to safely remove a tick…
Take tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as you can and then firmly, pull it upwards with a steady and firm pressure. Do not twist or move the tick because this may cause some of its parts to break off and stay in the skin (if this happens, try to remove the parts with tweezers; if you cannot do this with ease, leave the skin alone to heal and seek medical help). If you have successfully removed the tick, cleanse the area and the hands with rubbing alcohol, soap and water, or an iodine scrub.
The tick needs to be submersed in alcohol and then placed in a sealable bag and flushed in the toilet. Never crush it with your fingers!
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