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Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

Howdy readers, nice to see you back again for some more healthy living advice. It’s little old Olivia here back again in full force; glad to say that I finally beat my sinus headache and I’m feeling great.

During my ailment, I got mad support, love, and encouragement from one of my readers who told me that they were also down with a case of Lyme disease.

So while I was working on my sinus headache, I also decided to return the favor and try to find the best treatment for my new best friend. This follows the month of May which was Lyme Disease Awareness Month. And as a special treat, the reader asked that I spin a little humor in there because hey… a chuckle here and there never hurt anyone!

So, today we’ll be talking about one of the most faithful insects to walk the face of the earth – ticks. That’s right, ticks are faithful because once they find someone they like, they stick to them like glue.

But all potentially lame jokes aside, lyme disease is an incredibly serious condition. It might seem mild at first, but there’s nothing simple about a condition that shares symptoms with a stroke.

That’s why today’s segment is focused on finding out what lyme disease is and how it presents itself in the human body. We’ll also look at the main culprit responsible for causing the disease and what western medicine has to offer.

And as always, I’ve got Mother Nature’s little helpers to treat lyme disease naturally and effectively. So stick around guys (pun intended), because you just landed in Olivia’s ultimate guide to everything you need to know about Lyme Disease.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

Also referred to as Lyme borreliosis, lyme disease is a highly infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria spread by ticks. It is transmitted when an infected deer tick or black-legged tick bites a human.

The chance of getting lyme disease depends on what kind of tick bites you, where you were when it bit you and for how long the tick was attached to you. Typically, the tick must be attached for anywhere between 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread.

Lyme disease is more common in the Northern Hemisphere; it is estimated to affect over 300,000 people annually in the States and 65,000 in Europe.

Initially, the disease was misdiagnosed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis back in 1975 in Old Lyme. It wasn’t until 1981 that it was correctly described and given the name lyme disease.

So, how do you know that it’s lyme disease and not a flu or other insect bite? Let’s check out all the symptoms that will help you pin point the ailment.

Signs And Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

Initially, the early signs and symptoms of lyme disease are very mild. In fact, a large number of people mistake them for the flu. These include chills, sweats, muscle aches, nausea, and joint pain. However, the most common tell tale sign has to be the expanding area of redness followed by a rash.

If untreated, symptoms may proceed to more severe ones such as heart palpitations, crippling migraines, and inability to move one or both sides of the face otherwise known as Bell’s Palsy. Patients have also reporter repeated episodes of joint swelling and aches months to years after the initial infection.

Once an infected tick latches on your skin for over 30 hours, it might take about 10 days for the symptoms to appear. Since lyme disease affects multiple systems in your body, it can produce a broad range of symptoms. To categorize all of them, lyme disease is medically described in three stages. These include:

1. Early localized infection

This stage occurs when the infection has not yet spread throughout the body. Only the area where the infection or tick first came into contact with the skin is affected. The classic sign of lyme disease is usually a circular, outwardly expanding rash that occurs roughly 3 days to a few weeks after the bite.

Typically, the innermost portion remains dark red and becomes thicker and firmer while the outer edge remains red. Then, the portion in between clears, giving the appearance of a bull’s eye. This red rash might be warm and uncomfortable, but generally painless.

2. Early disseminated infection

Within a few days or weeks after initial infection, the bacteria starts spreading all through the bloodstream. Issues may start developing at sites across the body that had nothing to do with the original bite.

Various acute neurological problems could also occur including severe headaches, neck stiffness, abnormal skin sensations, inflammation of the spinal cord, meningitis, and facial palsy. Other symptoms include mood changes, sleep disturbances, and memory loss with abnormal heart rhythm.

3. Late disseminated infection

After a few months of living with lyme disease, inadequately treated patients may go on to develop chronic symptoms that could affect several body parts.

This includes the joints, eyes, brain, nerves, heart and other organs. An array of disabling symptoms could occur including impairment of sensory function in lower extremities, numbness, shooting pains, tingling, insomnia and subtle cognitive difficulties.

Causes And Risk Factors Of Lyme Disease

To date, the prevalent cause of lyme disease is bacteria from several species of ticks. Most of these ticks are no bigger than a poppy seed making them incredibly tough to spot.

To contract the disease, an infected tick must bite you and stay attached for about 36 to 48 hours. Other than that, there are some factors that put you at risk of developing lyme disease. These include:

  • Spending time in grassy and wooded areas where ticks are prevalent and thriving. Children who spend plenty of time outdoors in high risk areas are at risk of getting lyme disease.
  • Having exposed skin is also another risk factor if you live in areas where ticks are common. Ticks tend to attach easily to bare flesh, so if you’re wearing a T-shirt and Shorts, prepare to get bitten.
  • Not removing the ticks properly and promptly could also heighten the risk of lyme disease since you give the bacteria more time to enter the bloodstream.

Prevention, Treatment And Remedies For Lyme Disease

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

Prevention

As with all insect-related ailments, prevention of Lyme disease primarily involves decreasing your risk of experiencing a tick bite under all circumstances.

The best measure would be to avoid areas where deer ticks and blacklegged ticks live; including most wooded, bushy areas in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

However, this isn’t often effective since ticks have found effortless ways to make it into your home – including hitching a ride on your favorite pet. That’s why you need to take extra measures when it comes to preventing lyme disease and tick bites. They include:

  • Covering up, especially when in wooded and bushy areas. Wear long pants tucked into your socks with some hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt or jacket, a hat, and gloves. If there are trails, try to stick to those and avoid long grassy areas. Light colored clothing also seems to help make ticks more visible before it can attach itself.
  • Using repellent on your skin, clothes and camping gear could also help keep ticks at bay.
  • Be vigilant, check your pets, children, and even yourself routinely if you live in high risk areas.
  • If you spot any attached ticks, remove them immediately to reduce the risk of getting bitten. The best way to remove ticks is by pulling it out with a pair of tweezers as close as possible to the skin. Try to do this without twisting and without crushing the body or decapitating the tick.
  • Preventive antibiotics – As explained, the risk of transmission of lyme disease increases with the duration of attachment. So, if the tick has been there for a couple days or is already engorged, a single dose of doxycycline within 3 days after removing the tick could reduce the risk of lyme disease.
  • Vaccination of lyme disease was becoming popular when FDA approved a recombinant vaccine for it back in 1998. But that didn’t last long since numerous class action lawsuits were filed due to adverse side effects and health issues accompanying the vaccine. Eventually, sales plummeted and the vaccine was withdrawn. Currently, there are about three different vaccines available and they all being tested on dogs – Does that sound like something you’d like to try? Didn’t think so.

Treatment

In many cases, lyme disease is usually curable with antibiotics. But the specific approach to this treatment will depend on what stage of the disease you’re at.

For the early stages, they can be effectively treated with oral medications including amoxicillin, doxycycline, or cefuroxime which generally offer rapid cures.

If the antibiotics fail to cure the rash in about two weeks, then the disease might advance to later stages which will require the use of intravenous drugs such as penicillin G and rocephin.

If the disease advances, then the symptoms might become more severe and painful. In this case, analgesics and pain relieving medications might be prescribed. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, and other analgesics to cut down pain, fever, and general discomfort.

For extremely inflamed and swollen joints, the doctor might take things a bit further and remove fluid using a needle and syringe – Ouch!

Can Essential Oils Help With Lyme Disease?

With the ugly truth about lyme disease medications right in front of your eyes, you’re no doubt wondering where to turn for help.

Western medicine always has an answer for everything; but sometimes, it ain’t the right one. Now, I’ll be the first to admit; most of the symptoms that come with lyme disease can be brutal, debilitating, and recurrent.

That’s why it’s only natural that people rush for OTC pain killers, pharmaceuticals, and unverified drugs. But if we’re being honest, over the counter antibiotics, and pain medications just aren’t for everyone. Frankly, I don’t think it’s worth risking your overall health for just a few moments of temporary relief.

So, where does our journey to all natural treatment start? With the best essential oils of course – earth’s kindest gift to mankind.

Essential oils now hold an unofficial record for some of the most ancient natural medicines available. These ethereal oils come packed with the concentrated essences, flavors, fragrances, as well as medicinal compounds of the source plant material.

The right oils will not only help fight off any infection in the body, but they’ll also give your immune system a hearty boost. This helps in reducing your body’s vulnerability to irritants, threats, and other similar risk factors that could play a part in the development of long lasting complications.

Although there are literally hundreds of essensh oils that could help with lyme disease, I’ve only selected the most potent and effective ones for the job. Check them out below.

5 Essential Oil Recipes For Lyme Disease

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

Recipe 1: Tick and Lyme Repellent Lotion

Ingredients:

  • 18 drops Vetiver  
  • 20 drops Clove Bud 
  • 14 drops Oregano 
  • 12 drops Ylang Ylang 
  • 4 oz Fractionated Coconut oil (carrier oil)
  • Spray bottle

Method:

When it comes to lyme disease, prevention is the key. This especially applies to people who live in high risk areas including Northern US coastlines.

If you are vulnerable to tick bites, you need to prepare your family for the potential of bites and transmission of lyme disease. And it all starts with a homemade repellent lotion that is safer and more effective than commercial options.

To make use of this recipe, blend all the essential oils in a nonreactive container and mix in the fractionated coconut oil. You can also use a different carrier oil of choice. Pour the lotion into a glass spritzer bottle and periodically spray your arms, ankles, legs and other exposed parts of your body. This will keep all ticks and biting insects (away from you and your family averting the risk of bites and lyme disease.

Recipe 2: Roll On Blend for Advanced Lyme Disease

Ingredients:

  • 10 drops Clove Bud 
  • 12 drops Bergamot 
  • 8 drops Cinnamon Bark 
  • 5 drops Oregano
  • 2 oz Jojoba oil (carrier oil)
  • Roll on bottle

Method:

If you missed the preventative stage and already developed lyme disease, it’s never too late to start treating it.

Naturalists know that applying essential oils to the feet is the most effective way of benefiting from the medicinal properties of these precious oils; especially for kids. Combined with foot reflexology, this rub can really reach various parts of the body and help combat even the advanced symptoms of lyme disease.

To make use of this recipe, combine all the above oils in a roll on bottle and shake thoroughly to give them a good mix. Roll the mixture onto your feet and then deeply press and massage all areas. Repeat with the other foot and cover up with some socks before going to bed to make sure you don’t mess the sheets.

Recipe 3: Pocket Pal for On Spot Lyme Cure

Ingredients:

  • 2 drops Tea Tree 
  • 3 drops Cinnamon Bark 
  • 3 drops Clove Bud 
  • 2 drops Frankincense 
  • 15 ml (1/2 oz) of coconut oil (carrier oil)

Method:

If you live in areas that are high risk for ticks, then you’re going to need a quick and clever way to treat yourself in case you spot a tick on you. This recipe will allow you to not only kill any harmful, disease causing bacteria, but also heal the area that the tick was attached to.

To make use of this recipe, start by mixing all the ingredients in a small glass bottle and shaking it thoroughly. Carry the mixture everywhere you go and use it once you realize that there’s a tick stuck to your skin. Clove and Cardamom essential oils play their role as the strongest and most potent antimicrobial duo capable of fighting off bartonella and borrelia infections while frankincense relaxes the muscles and stimulates the immune system to start the healing process.

Recipe 4: Tick Bite Soothing Cream

Ingredients:

  • 6 drops of Lemongrass 
  • 3 drops Cinnamon Bark 
  • 5 drops Peppermint
  • 3 drops Cardamom 
  • 1 oz Jojoba or grapeseed (carrier oil)

Method:

As much as repellents might chase ticks away, the effects of their bites stay with you for much longer. To clear the bites and heal your skin faster, here’s a blend you can make at home.

Start by mixing all the essential oils with your choice of carrier oil to make them safer to use on the skin. Apply topically every day until the skin irritation subsides. Since this is a tick bite, try to stay within the bull’s eye to avoid irritating unhealthy skin. With this blend, the redness, inflammation and even wounds left behind after a tick bite should heal much faster. 

Recipe 5: Lyme Bomb Capsule

Ingredients:

  • Drop of food grade Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud or Oregano
  • Olive oil
  • Veggie capsules

Method:

Don’t get cooking just yet; there’s just one more crucial piece of cautionary info I’ve got to share. When it comes to taking essential oils internally, it’s critical to ensure that you only use 100% pure, non-GMO, organic, essential oils that are GRAS and heavy metal free. And as I always say, please consult your doctor prior to ingesting any essential oils.

To make the lyme bomb, fill your capsule with a drop of Oregano or Clove or Cinnamon essential oiland top off with olive oil. Take just a single capsule after meals twice a day until the symptoms of your lyme disease ease up. Do not use this recipe for kids…simply go for Recipe 1-4 which are all topical application for the little guys.

Home Remedies For Lyme Disease

Essential Oils For Lyme Disease: The Tick Bite That Really Sticks With You Essential Oil Benefits

1. Immunity Boosting Foods

The best way to overcome lyme disease at home is by naturally boosting your immune system, managing the root causes and reducing inflammation. Some of the best foods that naturally raise immunity include:

  • High-antioxidant foods such as vegetables, fresh fruits, berries and leafy greens
  • Bone broth contains natural amino acids that improve gut health and enhance immunity function
  • Probiotic foods such as amasai, kefir, yogurt, raw goat’s milk, sauerkraut, kimchi and kvass provide good bacteria which has a huge impact on your overall health and immunity
  • Vitamin D naturally boosts the immune system and plays a role in decreasing inflammation
  • Studies show that medicinal mushrooms promote an adaptive immune system which helps control autoimmune reactions. These can be found in various supplement forms and have been proven to reduce reactions to inflammation and stress. Medicinal mushrooms boost an intracellular antioxidant called superoxide dismutase (SOD) that protects your cells. The best shrooms for the job include cordycep, reishi and maitake mushrooms.
  • Magnesium is an electrolyte with literally hundreds of roles in the body. This ranges from supporting nerve signaling to minimizing muscle aches. Many people are magnesium deficient, and those with lyme disease can’t afford to run low since stress and illness only increases the body’s need for more.

2. Enough Rest and Stress Management

Whether physical or emotional, chronic stress has been proven to weaken the immune system and increase your risk of falling ill. What’s more, stress triggers inflammation and can cause hormonal imbalances.

To prevent lyme disease from spreading and worsening, you must first address your stress. This includes getting plenty or rest and relaxation, balancing that with funtimes and throwing a little physical exercise in there.

Parting Shot

There you have it my loyal readers, another in depth and informative segment on everything you need to know about lyme disease. With this information, preventing and treating the disease should be as easy as ABC.

I hope my new favorite fan finds something in here that will not only help them overcome the disease, but also prevent it from recurring.

And like I always say, don’t be too quick to trust your health and wealth to pharmaceutical giants that just see you as a statistic. Here at Olivia’s, we see you for what you really are; a fellow human being in need of some real help and advice on this long, loving road we call life…

Rating: 5

Jana

Saturday 18th of March 2023

Thank you for this site, very helpful information! I had very late stage Lyme and was suffering hellishly for two years. Took 5-6 months of best Lyme antibiotics that made me only worse. Then started rubbing good quality essential oils on my neck and started progressing. Then starting occasionally ingesting EOs in capsule and progressed even more. I am still in treatment, but I already have good days. I was very close to desperation when I discovered EOs that have been lifesavers for me. I find EOs much more effective for Lyme treatment than antibiotics.

Olivia

Sunday 26th of March 2023

Hi Jana,

Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Olivia

Michelle Chapman

Sunday 19th of September 2021

hi Olivia. what are the possible effects of lime disease on baby if the mother had lime disease whilst being pregnant?

Olivia

Wednesday 22nd of September 2021

Hi Michelle,

Apologies, you will need to check with a doctor as I am unqualified to comment on this.

Regards, Olivia

Olivia

Friday 29th of June 2018

Comment from K:

Such a blessing to see you address Lyme...I went undiagnosed for 5 yrs. & nearly died. 5 of our 8 kids have Lyme or a co-infection. It is wicked. Oils have helped me sooo much! I recently heard Dr. Z. say feet aren't so great...hmmm - that's how I began & then internally. Where do you find smaller glass bottles?

Blessings to you!!! Luv your site!!!

Olivia's Response:

Thank you. Indeed, EO are helpful to deal with Lyme, as also proven in various studies.

You can find smaller glass bottles here.

If you need any further help, please don't hesitate.

Heather

Tuesday 26th of June 2018

Hi Olivia,

I really enjoy your posts, and generally appreciate the information your share. However, in this instance I have to question it. As someone who has been stricken with Lyme disease, I know there is no substitute for antibiotics in ridding the body of this hideous bacteria. To suggest that essential oils are enough to tackle such a pervasive infection is wrong: If that were the case, we wouldn't have seen the incredible increase in lives saved from infection since the introduction of antibiotics.

I am not a proponent of casual use of antibiotics, and have always shied away from them for myself and my family. Lyme Disease, however, is seriously debilitating, and the bacteria is robust.

Without antibiotics I would be in a very bad way now. I did not have the bullseye rash, so there was no obvious mark of Lyme. I simply felt unwell and my joints ached. By the time I was diagnosed, (within 8 days of being bitten), the bacteria had completely invaded my system: My joints were painful and I had a strange blistering rash which was nowhere near the bite site. My physician told me that my heart, nervous system and brain were vulnerable and I had to have antibiotics immediately. In that instance, I willingly complied.

I have since met individuals who were not as lucky as me in getting treatment in time. They are afflicted with joint problems, nerve problems and brain problems. One woman recently died as a result of contracting Lyme 10 years earlier. By the time she was treated the disease had caused heart issues, and she succumbed to congestive heart failure.

Perhaps essential oils can play a part in preventing insects from biting, including ticks, but there's no substitute for antibiotics when it comes to tackling the bacteria once it's in our systems. I want people to know that, because I fear there are individuals out there who will believe essential oils are enough and they will pay a very steep price with their health.

Olivia

Tuesday 26th of June 2018

Hi Heather,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experience of Lyme disease. It is indeed very sad and in your case, antibiotics has been a life saver.

If I may add some references about not using antibiotics to treat Lyme diseases and some additional references about the impact of essential oils on ticks.

Success Treating Lyme Disease Naturally Without Antibiotic Drugs

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25199555

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26359641

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23218220

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21845941

And thank you for reading my newsletters on a regular basis. If you have any other queries, please don't hesitate.

Regards, Olivia

Peggy

Monday 25th of June 2018

This is truly amazing if these oils work, esp for advanced Lymes. My big question is: Do you have any documentation of these oils for use? You sound sure, and I really really want it to be true and this easy, but if so it should be published in major medical magazines because Lymes is a HUGE deal, as you said, and more prevalant than previously thought. My cousin suffers greatly from this. They barely figured out what the cause was, and figure it was from a bite at least 1 decade ago, and may even have been from a mosquito, not a tick. (new research) I also have a concern--I used to use Tea Tree for many bug bites but recently when i used it for "swimmer's itch" the bites I used eo on got larger and redder. Another person who knows oils told me sometimes Tea Tree does such a good job of keep the bacteria from spreading outward that it traps it in, below the levels where the oil penetrated.

Olivia

Monday 25th of June 2018

Hi Peggy,

Sure, there’s been a lot of research done on the effect of essential oils on lyme disease. One such credible resource is below from the US National Library of Medicine: Selective Essential Oils from Spice or Culinary Herbs Have High Activity against Stationary Phase and Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi Remember to always dilute an EO in a carrier oil prior to topical application. It could also be you are having an allergic reaction to tea tree oil, you can use a substitute instead as per post below: https://essentialoilbenefits.com/essential-oil-substitutes/ If you need more info, please don’t hesitate.

Regards, Olivia