In this practical guide, a naturopathic physician provides effective strategies for deterring the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including methods for reducing ticks in the home landscape and herbal protocols for disease prevention and treatment. Disease-carrying ticks are found in all 50 states in the U.S. and, as their numbers rise and their ranges increase, so, too, do cases of tick-borne illnesses. Alexis Chesney, a naturopathic physician specialising in the treatment of diseases transmitted through tick bites, offers a comprehensive strategy for reducing exposure to disease-causing organisms and boosting the effectiveness of standard treatment protocols. With an overview of the tick species present in the U.S. and profiles of Lyme and other top diagnosed tick-borne diseases, including anaplasmosis and babesiosis, this guide gives concerned readers and medical professionals alike a deeper understanding of how tick populations - and associated illnesses - spread, and how to combat them naturally. In addition to covering landscape-management methods for dramatically reducing tick populations around the home, Chesney outlines prophylactic herbal tinctures that provide an additional layer of protection against tick-borne illnesses - an important strategy for those living in high-risk regions, especially in the event of an undetected bite. Chesney also provides options for treating acute tick-borne diseases, if symptoms develop, as well as herbs that can be used in combination with antibiotics to augment their efficacy. AUTHOR: Alexis Chesney, ND, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in the treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. She is a member of and serves as the Naturopathic Medicine Committee Chair for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). She has been featured as an expert on tick-borne illness at the ILADS conference, as well as at other professional and patient-focused conferences, on local talk radio, and in various news publications. Dr. Chesney sees patients at Sojourns Community Health Clinic in Westminster, Vermont, and through her private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts.
