Occupations and pastimes in which you are consistently exposed to prime tick habitat or in contact with animals that are consistently exposed to prime tick habitat increase your risk for a tick bite. They include:

If you fall into any of these categories, you may want to take additional precautions during tick season. This may include taking an herbal tick bite formula prophylactically — and not only as a response to a tick bite to ward off the potential transmission of TBD, but as part of your daily routine, under the assumption that you will be bitten by a tick at some point, and as noted above, many people who are diagnosed with TBD do not remember ever receiving a tick bite.

Taking an herbal antimicrobial formula daily prepares your immune system for defense against your likely exposure to TBD. For example, if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent and you spend a great deal of time in prime tick habitat, you might take the prophylactic tick-bite formula designed for deer ticks during high tick season. If you are then bitten by a deer tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, whether you are aware of the tick bite or not, the herbs have already activated your immune system and a targeted antibacterial mechanism is already at work in your body in order to decrease your chance of becoming infected. This approach allows for the earliest intervention.

As you’ll see in the formulas later in this chapter, the dosage for the use of the prophylactic herbal formulas as TBD prevention for high-risk populations is less than the dosage you would take after a known tick bite. The lesser dosage arises from the expectation that the formula will have more of an impact on the incoming pathogens from a tick bite because it will already be in your system. It is safe to take these herbal formulas long-term.

It’s important to take the formula that is appropriate for your geographical location. To determine which one(s) are appropriate for you, refer to chapter 1. Consult the maps that display the location of each tick species to determine which ticks pose you the most risk. Confirm that information for your specific location by checking in with your local department of health or cooperative extension office to find out which ticks are transmitting diseases locally. Then look up the formula specific to those particular ticks in the section following.

For example, a farmer in Vermont would consult the maps of tick location and find that deer, brown dog, American dog, and lone star ticks can be found in that state. When the farmer reaches out to the local department of health or agricultural extension office, she or he would find that 99 percent of tick-borne disease in Vermont is transmitted by the deer tick. Historically, the brown dog tick has not transmitted any pathogens in Vermont. At the time of this writing, American dog ticks do not carry disease in Vermont, and although the lone star tick has been reported in Vermont, it is not considered to be established there. So, if the farmer, whose occupation carries a high risk for tick exposure, wishes to protect her- or himself against tick-borne disease, the tick to focus on would be the deer tick, as the primary vector of Lyme disease, and the farmer could take the formula designed for deer tick bites.

The Prophylactic Tick Bite Formulas

These prophylactic tick bite formulas are multi-herb tinctures — that is, alcohol-based extracts of specific herbs used in combination. In the Resources section, you’ll find details on some trustworthy suppliers from whom you can buy good-quality tinctures. A couple of them offer these exact multi-herb formulas; others offer single-herb tinctures that you can combine in the ratios given in the formulas. If you want to make your own tinctures, the Resources section also offers details on which companies are the best sources for herbs.

The dosage of these formulas depends on what you are using them for. If you are at high risk for a tick bite and want antimicrobial protection during tick season (for deer ticks, whenever outdoor temperatures are above 28°F/−2°C), you will need only about half the usual dosage to discourage tick-borne pathogens from establishing an infection.

If you receive a tick bite, prophylactic treatment calls for the full dosage. In addition, I recommend using a natural biofilm buster like serrapeptase at 120,000 units (or 500 mg) twice daily on an empty stomach; see the herbal prophylactic protocol in chapter 5 for more details.

The formulas should be taken on an empty stomach, which means 30 minutes before food and 2 hours after food. If you are unable to use alcohol-based herbal extracts, Woodland Essence (see Resources) has each of the single herbs used in the tick bite formulas available as a glycerite (a glycerin-based herbal extract), except for andrographis. Consult a trained holistic health-care professional if you plan to take a tick bite formula for more than 3 months for further guidance on dosing, side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, and pertinent medical history.

Index of Key Herbs
Andrographis paniculata	Andrographis
Cordyceps militaris	Cordyceps, orange caterpillar fungus
Cordyceps sinensis	Cordyceps
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta	Cryptolepis
Houttuynia cordata	Houttuynia, chamelon plant, bishop’s weed
Polygonum cuspidatum	Japanese knotweed
Salvia miltiorrhiza	Red sage, dan shen
Scutellaria baicalensis	Chinese skullcap

Make Your Own Tick Bite Prophylactic Tincture

In this section, we will focus on the tincture used to treat deer tick bites, which is the prophylactic formula we use most commonly in my practice. You could use these instructions as a template for making the other tick bite formulas as well.

A tincture is an alcohol extract of dried or fresh plants with medicinal properties. The alcohol is part of the menstruum, the liquid solvent that pulls active constituents from the plants soaking in it. The alcohol makes up a specific percentage of the menstruum, while the rest is made up of water and sometimes a small amount of apple cider vinegar. To prepare a tincture, you must know the ratio of the total weight of herbs to the volume of the menstruum. For the deer tick bite formula, we will use a ratio of 1:5 for dried plants and 1:2 or 1:3 for fresh plants:

In a 1:5 tincture, 100 grams of herb is used per 500 mL of menstruum.
In a 1:2 tincture, 150 grams of herb is used per 300 mL of menstruum.
In a 1:3 herb tincture, 100 grams of herb is used per 300 mL of menstruum.

I have deep appreciation and respect for Bonnie Bloom’s work as an herbalist. She has humbly given me permission to share her instructions on how to make deer tick bite formula. Making this formula is not simple! To obtain the level of medicinal value I expect in a formula like this, I recommend that you either follow these directions exactly or purchase the tinctures from a trusted source.

Supplies

Mortar and pestle, very clean coffee grinder, blender, or Vitamix high-speed blender
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta: 100 grams of dried root
Houttuynia cordata: 150 grams of fresh aerial parts (or 100 grams of dried aerial parts)
Polygonum cuspidatum: 100 grams of dried root (or if freshly dug, 100 grams of fresh root)
Uncaria tomentosa: 100 grams of dry bark
Scale
Measuring cup or measuring cylinder
8 widemouthed quart jars with tight-fitting lids
190-proof ethyl alcohol
Spring water
Apple cider vinegar
Spoon
Cotton T-shirt or polyester material
Rubber gloves

Herb	Plant Part	Weight to Volume	Menstruum Proportions
The Deer Tick Bite Prophylactic Formula
*Cryptolepis sanguinolenta*	Dried root	1:5 (or possibly 1:7; see the instructions in part 1)	60% alcohol, 35% spring water, 5% apple cider vinegar
*Houttuynia cordata*	Fresh aerial parts (preferred)	1:2	65% alcohol, 35% spring water
*Houttuynia cordata*	Dried aerial parts (if that’s all that is available)	1:5	65% alcohol, 35% spring water
*Polygonum cuspidatum*	Fresh root	1:3	50% alcohol, 50% spring water
*Polygonum cuspidatum*	Dried root	1:5	60% alcohol, 40% spring water
*Uncaria tomentosa*	Dry bark	1:5	60% alcohol, 35% spring water, 5% apple cider vinegar

Notes on Tincturing

100 grams of dried herb equals approximately 3.5 ounces; 150 grams fresh herb equals about 5.25 ounces.
With dried herbs, you will lose 30 to 40 percent of the volume of the menstruum used to tincture, even if you strain and press carefully. Fresh herbs, though, will give you 100-plus percent of the volume of the menstruum you used; the moisture from the fresh plant matter will add to the total volume of liquid.
These instructions will give you approximately 1,200 mL (1.25 quarts or 40 ounces), which will provide full-dosage treatment for approximately 2.5 months.

Part 1: Tincture the Dried Herbs

Dried herbs are frequently tinctured in a 1:5 ratio of herb weight to menstruum volume. Houttuynia is best tinctured from fresh plant material (see part 2), but if you must use dried houttuynia, follow the procedure described here. For our purposes, tincture each herb separately.

1. Grind the dried herb to a moderately coarse powder. Using a scale, measure out 100 grams of the dried ground herb and put it into a widemouthed quart jar with a tight-fitting lid. (Since cryptolepis is very hard, you may need a Vitamix or comparably sturdy blender to grind it. If you can’t achieve a moderately coarse powder of cryptolepis with your blender, you’ll end up with a larger volume and may need more liquid than is called for in order to cover it; you could increase the herb-to-menstruum ratio from 1:5 to 1:7.)
2. Prepare the menstruum using the appropriate proportions of alcohol, spring water, and apple cider vinegar:
- Cryptolepis sanguinolenta: 60% alcohol, 35% spring water, and 5% apple cider vinegar. For a total of 500 mL, combine 300 mL of alcohol with 175 mL of water and 25 mL apple cider vinegar.
- Houttuynia cordata: 65% alcohol and 35% spring water. For a total of 500 mL, combine 325 mL of alcohol with 175 mL of water.
- Polygonum cuspidatum: 60% alcohol and 40% spring water. For a total of 500 mL, combine 300 mL of alcohol with 200 mL of water.
- Uncaria tomentosa: 60% alcohol, 35% spring water, and 5% apple cider vinegar. For a total of 500 mL, combine 300 mL of alcohol with 175 mL of water and 25 mL of apple cider vinegar.
3. Pour the menstruum over the dried herb powder and stir until all of the powder is wet. Seal the jar with its lid.
4. Set the jar in a spot at room temperature and out of direct light. Let steep for 21 days, shaking vigorously frequently.
5. Thoroughly wet and then wring out the T-shirt or polyester material.
6. Strain out the powdered herb by pouring the tincture through the wet T-shirt or polyester material into a fresh jar. Wearing rubber gloves (both because alcohol is drying to the skin and to keep the tincture clean), wring out any liquid you can from the remaining wet pulp, adding it to the tincture in the jar.

Part 2: Tincture the Fresh Herbs

For tincturing fresh herb matter, we use a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio of plant weight to menstruum volume.

1. Chop the fresh herb into small pieces. (If you’re using knotweed root, you may need to use clippers to chop it into small chunks.) Using a scale, measure out the chopped fresh herb and put it into a blender. For houttuynia, we use a 1:2 ratio of plant weight to menstruum volume, so you would need 150 grams of the herb. For Japanese knotweed, we use a 1:3 ratio, so you would need 100 grams.

2. Prepare the menstruum using the appropriate proportions of alcohol and spring water:

Houttuynia cordata: 65% alcohol and 35% spring water. For a total of 300 mL, combine 195 mL of alcohol with 105 mL of water.
Polygonum cuspidatum: 50% alcohol and 50% spring water. For a total of 300 ml, combine 150 ml of alcohol with 150 ml of water.

3. Add the menstruum to the chopped fresh herb in the blender. Blend until mashed.

4. Transfer the contents of the blender to a clean jar. Seal the jar with its lid.

5. Set the jar in a spot at room temperature and out of direct light. Let steep for 21 days, shaking vigorously frequently.

6. Thoroughly wet and then wring out the T-shirt or polyester material.

7. Strain out the plant matter by pouring the tincture through the wet T-shirt or polyester material into a fresh jar. Wearing rubber gloves (both because alcohol is drying to the skin and to keep the tincure clean), wring out any liquid you can from the remaining wet pulp, adding it to the tincture in the jar.

Part 3: Combine the Tinctures in the Appropriate Ratios

See the formulas earlier in this chapter for the appropriate tincture ratios. For the deer tick formula, you’ll combine Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Houttuynia cordata, Polygonum cuspidatum, and Uncaria tomentosa tinctures in a 1:1:1:1 ratio — that is, in equal parts. (Though if you have slightly more or less of one or two herb tinctures, it will not change the overall efficacy of your extract.)

1. Add 60 mL of each tincture to a 240 mL bottle (that’s about 8 ounces total).
2. Label the bottle with the name of the formula it contains. Store in a cool, dark spot, where the tincture will keep for up to 3 years.
3. Use the tincture according to the directions for deer tick bite prophylaxis described earlier in this chapter.

Side Effects and Contraindications

Chapter 4Herbal Prophylaxis for Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease

Why Prophylaxis?

Prophylaxis for High-Risk Populations

The Prophylactic Tick Bite Formulas

Deer Tick Bite Formula

American Dog Tick Bite Formula

Lone Star Tick Bite Formula

Brown Dog Tick Bite Formula

Gulf Coast Tick Bite Formula

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick Bite Formula

Ornithodoros Tick Bite Formula

Make Your Own Tick Bite Prophylactic Tincture

Notes on Tincturing

Part 1: Tincture the Dried Herbs

Part 2: Tincture the Fresh Herbs

Part 3: Combine the Tinctures in the Appropriate Ratios

Key Herbs and an Enzyme: Profiles

Andrographis paniculata

Side Effects and Contraindications

Cordyceps militaris, C. sinensis

Side Effects and Contraindications

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta

Side Effects and Contraindications

Houttuynia cordata

Side Effects and Contraindications

Polygonum cuspidatum

Side Effects and Contraindications

Salvia miltiorrhiza

Side Effects and Contraindications

Scutellaria baicalensis

Side Effects and Contraindications

Serrapeptase

Uncaria rhynchophylla, U. tomentosa

Side Effects and Contraindications

Latin Name	Common Name
Index of Key Herbs
I refer to the plants used in the prophylactic formulas by their Latin name, rather than their common name, because it is a more specific identifier. Plants can have multiple common names, and a common name can be used for more than one plant. Houttuynia cordata, for example, can be called houttuynia, chameleon plant, or bishop’s weed, among other common names. And the common name sage can be used to refer to many of the plants in the Salvia genus, including the species Salvia miltiorrhiza, which I use in some of the prophylactic formulas. In contrast, the Latin name designates just a single species.
Andrographis paniculata	Andrographis
Cordyceps militaris	Cordyceps, orange caterpillar fungus
Cordyceps sinensis	Cordyceps
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta	Cryptolepis
Houttuynia cordata	Houttuynia, chamelon plant, bishop’s weed
Polygonum cuspidatum	Japanese knotweed
Salvia miltiorrhiza	Red sage, dan shen
Scutellaria baicalensis	Chinese skullcap