Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be medical advice or prescriptive. Always do your own research first and check with your medical provider.
Tick season is here, and if you’ve ever pulled one off yourself or your kid, you know that low-grade panic that sets in. Here’s the thing though, a calm, prepared parent is the best defense your family has. You don’t need to live in fear of ticks, you just need a smart, holistic plan that supports your body without dousing your skin in DEET.
This is the tick toolkit I keep on hand for my own family, broken into two parts: prevention, and exactly what to do the moment you find one.
Layer Your Defense: Holistic Tick Prevention That Actually Works
The trick to natural tick prevention is layering. No single spray catches every encounter, but stacking the right tools makes ticks far less likely to land on you and much less likely to latch on.
- Spray your skin and clothes. I rotate between Earthley’s Pest Aside and their Bug Shield. Both are formulated with essential oils ticks legitimately hate. Reapply every couple of hours when you’re outside.
- Wear a tick sticker. These tick stickers go right on clothing and use natural plant aromas to mask your scent. A no-brainer for kids who might be going to summer camps or field trips without you when you won’t be there to re-spray them.
- Treat your yard. This was a game-changer for us. Sunday’s tick & mosquito yard spray is non-toxic, kid-safe, and pet-safe. You can spray your lawn without worrying about what’s seeping into the soil or your dog’s paws. I have zero worries about my little running around barefoot in the grass.
- Tie back long hair. Braids, buns, and wear hats. Anything that keeps hair off the neck and shoulders.
- Do a tick check before you walk inside. Use a tick glove or run a lint roller down legs, arms, and clothes before you step in. Then strip and shower within two hours, and toss clothes in the dryer on high heat for ten minutes, that kills any stragglers.
Daily tick checks are non-negotiable in the warm months. Behind the ears, in the hairline, armpits, belly button, behind the knees, and the groin. Make it part of bath time so it doesn’t feel like a big production.
You Found a Tick. Don’t Panic! Here’s the Step-by-Step.
Stay calm. I know easier said than done. But a calm parent removes a tick correctly, and that matters more than speed.
- Use a tick key, not your fingers. A tick key gets the whole tick out without squeezing the body. Slide, pull straight up, absolutely no twisting.
- Do NOT use oils, Vaseline, soap, or rubbing alcohol on a tick that’s still attached. I cannot stress this enough. I see this recommended in Facebook groups all the time. Anything that stresses the tick out makes it more likely to regurgitate its stomach contents, and any pathogens back into you. Just remove it using a tick key.
- Save the tick. Drop it in a small ziplock bag. Write the date on the bag. Stick the bag in your freezer. You may want to send it for testing.
- Wash and treat the bite. Clean the area with soap and water then spray Active Skin Repair and let it dry, then mix bentonite clay with a pinch of andrographis and a little water into a paste. Or mix the andrographis with this charcoal Black Drawing Salve from Earthley. Apply over the bite and cover with a Band-Aid. Refresh every 2-4 hours over the next 24 hours. This pulls toxins out and calms local inflammation.
The Holistic After-Bite Tick Toolkit *
This is the toolkit I have ready to use for my family any time we get a confirmed bite. Everything below is in my Tick Bite First Aid Kit on Fullscript for easy ordering.
Homeopathics
Ledum Palustre 30c or 200ck, Apis Mellifica 30c, Arnica Montana 30c, and Belladonna 30c
Ledum Palustre every 3 hours for the first 24 hours. Then two times a day for 1 week. Then 2 times a week for 1 month, then 1 time a week for 1 month
The Apis Mellifica is to help with any swelling and rash that might happen. 3 times a day for 3 to 5 days.
Arnica 30c can be helpful if there is any achiness.
Belladonna 30c is helpful if there is any heat coming from the rash, a fever or general feeling like crap because of the bite.
Support the Immune System after a Tick Bite
A top Lyme herbalist, Stephen Buhner, believes that once the tick is removed and the immune system is supported right away it can reduce the chances of tick-borne diseases developing. Astragalus, Olive Leaf, Japanese knotweed, Elderberry. Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3 & K2
Astragalus helps deep immune support, especially during a stressor.
Olive leaf is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that’s been used for centuries.
Japanese knotweed is rich in antioxidants that support immune regulation and is used widely in herbalist Lyme protocols
Elderberry is a gentle antiviral and immune support, easy on kids.
Vitamin C from whole food sources is easily absorbed by our bodies to support the immune system.
Zinc acts as an antioxidant and is immune supportive.
Vitamin D3 with K2 for extra immune support. Low levels of vitamin D can weaken our immune systems.
Nosodes can be helpful too like a Tick Pathogen Nosode or a Lyme Pathogen Nosode if any illnesses are already suspected or confirmed. Ask your practitioner whether they fit your situation.
*Note: I’m not prescribing these exact steps. This is just what I keep on hand and would do for my family. Always do your own research and make your own decisions about what you believe is best for your family.
Where to Send a Tick for Testing
If your primary doctor doesn’t offer tick testing (most don’t), you can mail the tick yourself.
In the U.S.:
- TickReport (UMass Amherst Laboratory of Medical Zoology) — fast, affordable, well-respected. Results in 1–3 business days.
- IGeneX — specialized in Lyme and co-infections, with the broadest pathogen panels.
In Canada:
- Geneticks — the first private tick-testing lab in Canada, accepts ticks from any province. Results in 2–5 business days.
Results tell you exactly what pathogens (if any) the tick was carrying which gives you and your provider a clear picture of what you may be dealing with.
Tick Myths
❌ You only need to check for ticks in the summer
Truth: Tick bites can happen any time, especially in the spring, summer and fall
❌ The tick won’t transmit any diseases to your if it was attached for less than 24 hours
Truth: There’s no universal safe window — some pathogens can transmit in hours, and a few much faster, so don’t assume a short attachment means you’re in the clear.
❌ If you don’t see a bulls eye rash there is nothing to worry about
Truth: Not everyone develops a bullseye rash whether or not Lyme has been contracted
❌ Lyme isn’t everywhere so don’t worry about it. I know I grew up thinking it was only an Upstate New York problem…that’s the city kid in me
Truth: Lyme is everywhere PERIOD.
❌ Lyme is easy to diagnose
Truth: Lyme can take years to diagnose. Some practitioners use muscle testing and bioresonance alongside bloodwork to help diagnose.
❌ Taking antibiotics alone will clear things up
Truth: Taking antibiotics alongside herbal and homeopathic remedies is a whole body approach to supporting the body’s immune system in fighting off any tick-borne illnesses
❌ Lyme disease is the only thing to worry about from ticks
Truth: There are many diseases and parasites ticks can transmit like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tularemia, Alpha-gal syndrome, Babesiosis and more…
When to Loop In Your Provider
Always reach out to a trusted provider after a bite, even if you feel great and removed the tick ASAP.
Watch for a bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, joint aches, or headaches in the days and weeks that follow. But remember, symptoms don’t always pop up right away or at all.
A holistic minded Lyme-literate practitioner will be your best ally if you need to dig deeper. I personally would reach out to my Naturopath ASAP.
You don’t need to be afraid of tick season and stay locked up indoors. Take precautions, yes and still enjoy the time outside.
Keep a calm head, a stocked first aid kit, and a body that’s well-supported. My entire tick toolkit is on Fullscript and I believe it’s better to have everything I need at home and not need it, than to need it, panic and not have anything on hand.
Disclosure: If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may earn an affiliate commission. It’s at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog.
Krystal Sanchez, CNC, CHC — Certified Nutrition Consultant & Health Coach specializing in fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and children’s health. Founder of Live Well With Krystal, LLC
