Topic: Herbal remedy for natural deer-borne killer.
Melanie Reber
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Member # 3707
posted
Herbal remedy for natural deer-borne killer.
By Jeremy Watson
THEY are the noble monarchs of the glen, running wild on the Scottish hills and providing a major draw for tourists and hunters alike.
But red deer in Scotland are being dosed with a herbal remedy to stop the spread of tick borne-disease which can be fatal to humans.
Trials of a compound containing a combination of 10 herbs and other plants including garlic, thyme and walnut, have been carried out among deer herds in three areas of the Highlands and Islands.
The concoction is aimed at killing ticks which carry a range of infections such as tick-borne fever and Lyme disease.
The incidence of tick-borne disease in the UK has risen five-fold in the past decade, according to experts, because of an explosion in numbers of the insects caused by mild winters.
In Scotland, the number of cases of Lyme disease - caused by the bacterium borrelia spread by insects - rose from 10 a decade ago to 177 in 2006.
Although rarely fatal, it can cause muscle pain, serious flu-like symptoms, paralysis, blindness, arthritic, neurological, psychiatric and cardiac problems.
The ticks are normally carried on animals such as sheep, deer and cattle, but can be transferred to humans walking through undergrowth.
One high-profile victim is US President George Bush, who is believed to have contracted a mild version while out mountain biking in Maine in 2006. The progress of the disease was halted by antibiotics.
As the largest land mammal in Scotland, red deer can carry thousands of blood-sucking ticks, which are about the size of a grape pip, on their hides.
The herbal blocks change the composition of tick saliva, which solidifies and leaves the insect unable to feed. Without nutrition, the insect dies.
Three estates, which have not been named - in Islay, the Cairngorms and near Inverness - have helped biologists conducting the trial over the last three years.
Hundreds of deer have been fed the herbal combination in feed buckets and the results will be published in a scientific journal later this year.
If proved to be successful, the technique could be used on herds throughout Scotland. The country's population of wild deer - red, roe, sika and fallow - is estimated at around 500,000 animals and rising due to a lack of natural predators and a warming winter climate.
Roy Brown, visiting professor of biology at Birkbeck College, London, and an authority on ticks, said the trial began three years ago and is due to end in June.
He said: "The ticks are feeding on the deer, which are feeding on the herbal products. They get into the deer's bloodstream, stop the ticks feeding and they wither and die. More testing is needed but it appears to be a successful technique."
A former nurse who contracted Lyme disease in Scotland is Katrina Anderson, 48. She was bitten by an infected tick 17 years ago and expects her ordeal to continue for the rest of her life.
"The symptoms are arthritic pain and muscle pain," she said. "Your whole body is sensitive and aches. I also get headaches and tinnitus."
Anderson, who is vice-chair of Borreliosis and Associated Disease Awareness UK, says the medical profession is still misdiagnosing the condition.
Top tick tips
Tick numbers are growing because of climate change, more people visiting the countryside and a rise in the number of host animals such as deer.
The main ways to protect yourself against ticks are:
&149 Use a Deet insect repellent that is effective against ticks;
&149 Avoid wearing shorts or skirts in rural and wooded areas and tuck trousers into socks;
&149 If possible, cover up all exposed skin with protective clothing;
&149 Removing a tick as soon as possible minimises the possibility of a disease being transferred. Examine your skin for ticks and remove them with fine-tipped tweezers; do not burn them off. They tend to seek out warm, damp areas such as the groin, armpit and back of the knee, making self-inspection important.
* Published Date: 16 March 2008 * Source: Scotland On Sunday * Location: Scotland
The herbal blocks change the composition of tick saliva, which solidifies and leaves the insect unable to feed. Without nutrition, the insect dies.
Q. It is my understanding that most ticks can survive a very long time w/out feeding. I have read accounts of up to three years.
So, I wonder if this remedy does more to the tick's anatomy than only prohibiting it to feed?
Perhaps this is why the study has lasted for so long?
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luvs2ride
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And we can eat these herbal concoctions too.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Keebler
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Carol in PA
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quote: In Scotland, the number of cases of Lyme disease - caused by the bacterium borrelia spread by insects....
I know this is picky, but ticks are not insects.
Ticks and spiders are arachnids. Arachnids have eight legs and two body segments. Insects have 6 legs and 3 body segments.
-
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Geneal
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Since when is there a "milder" form of Lyme...as in President Bush's case?
I like the idea of a herbal cure.....but are they just spraying the animals?
Here, they'd have to spray hundreds of acres as we know we have ticks everywhere.
I haven't come in contact with any cattle, sheep or deer lately.
I do like the idea though.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Melanie Reber
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Hey Miss Geneal, I believe the article mentions that the deer are fed this herbal stuff that gets into their bloodstream. SO when the ticks feed on them, it immobilizes the tick's ability to continue feeding.
"Hundreds of deer have been fed the herbal combination in feed buckets..."
The problem would be getting every deer to eat the herbal remedy. But as you know if you have ever lived with deer, they will eat just about anything!
Carol, you are correct of course.
Luvs, I am not in any rush to try this myself. Plus, the remedy stops the tick from feeding once it has ALREADY bitten the deer. This would NOT stop disease from being transmitted through the initial bite or until the herbs kick in and do what they do.
So, to me...this seems like a good pest control attempt, but it does not in anyway eliminate all ticks from the same places we reside.
Ticks will still hitch rides on other creatures.
Daise, I too look forward to the follow-up reports. I think this is a pretty good idea that should be explored further. I'm not so sure it is 'the answer' but it is a step in the right direction!
Yes, Keebler, it IS about time. Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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bettyg
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posted
all, be sure to go to activism and read the post on deer in conn. and the NEW MEMBER'S post edoc about deer org, etc. check out their site!
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luvs2ride
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Melanie,
You said:
I am not in any rush to try this myself. Plus, the remedy stops the tick from feeding once it has ALREADY bitten the deer. This would NOT stop disease from being transmitted through the initial bite or until the herbs kick in and do what they do.
That is too bad. Not only are herbs actually good for you, but any tick, mosquito or fly that bites you will spread your lyme disease to the next person it bites.
All of us who are infected, are carriers.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Melanie Reber
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quote:Originally posted by luvs2ride: Melanie,
You said:
I am not in any rush to try this myself. Plus, the remedy stops the tick from feeding once it has ALREADY bitten the deer. This would NOT stop disease from being transmitted through the initial bite or until the herbs kick in and do what they do.
That is too bad. Not only are herbs actually good for you, but any tick, mosquito or fly that bites you will spread your lyme disease to the next person it bites.
All of us who are infected, are carriers.
Luvs
.............................
Good morning Luvs,
I guess I am not completely sure what you are trying to get across in the above statement.
Are you saying that it is too bad that I personally don't want to rush to try this... because w/out it, all bugs that bite me will then spread MY disease?
Including flies and mosquitoes?
And this herbal remedy will certainly 'be good for me' just because it is made from herbs?
I certainly DO agree with you that all of us who are already infected are then carriers. But I will wait on the rest of my answers until I make certain that I am understanding your statements.
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luvs2ride
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Yes, you understood me correctly.
However, of course there are certain herbs that are not good for you. Arsenic for one. I assume they also are not feeding arsenic to the deer.
Most herbs are simply food and quite safe to ingest. In fact, "simply" is way to simple a description for a food that provides us with such medicinal benefits as do most herbs.
The ones named in the article, garlic, thyme and walnut are certainly safe to eat.
Why would you be so hesitant to try them?
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Melanie Reber
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Hey Luvs,
Thanks for explaining. I hope we can agree on the following points.
1. Just because a substance is primarily herbal or pharmaceutical does not make it automatically `good for you'. This is why trials are completed, whether they be short or long term. To make sure possible adverse affects are found.
I'm not sure it is productive to debate which herbs are `good' or `bad'. But I hope we can agree that until we know what exactly is being used, besides the three mentioned, we really can't comment on efficacy for human consumption.
2. We can not be certain that this herbal substance will also work on the saliva of mosquitoes and flies. This has not been established.
3. We don't really know the mechanism that makes this work on ticks as of yet either. How long does it take to work? Hours perhaps? If so, this will not affect most soft ticks that feed and transmit diseases very rapidly. Nor would it affect mosquitoes or flies who also feed rapidly.
So, personally...I would prefer to wait and see. This does NOT mean that I am against the process. Actually, I am excited that it is happening! That is why I posted it.
Please understand that I am NOT trying to be oppositional or argumentative. I am only explaining why I would hesitate to jump on the bandwagon until all studies have been completed. And why I feel more needs to be explained before I would fully endorse this substance.
Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
This is certainly interesting.
Deer are only one reservoir for the Lyme bugs, however, so in most areas, the tick-infested rodents might also have to be fed some kind of herbal concoction to make a real impact on tick populations.
Deer have rather sensitive digestive systems, so I certainly hope this herbal combination was previously studied for safety on the subject animals.
And are garlic, thyme, and walnuts safe or effective for all mammals and birds that might be exposed to it?
Not necessarily. Both garlic and walnuts can be poisonous or toxic to dogs, as can be raisins, grapes, and macadamia nuts (but onions are actually worse), according to some recent studies. Cats are even more sensitive and less able to handle toxins.
That's one of the tricky things about using whole foods or herbs for treatment: the effects don't always translate well to other species.
Still...... this is an interesting idea and will hopefully pay off in some way.
As for me, I'm waiting for someone to open an online, mail-order Western Fence Lizard business so I can get me some of those lizards. We might as well `cure' Lyme in the ticks that manage to survive the herbal deer-feeding program. Wonder if WF Lizard blood would cure fleas and mosquitoes, too?
(Yes, I'm sure there would have to be a multi-million-dollar environmental impact study done before we can ever get our own WF lizards, but I can always hope.)
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Wonder if WF Lizard blood would cure fleas and mosquitoes, too?
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