Research ~~- On Health

NATURAL TIC AND FLEA REMEDY

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Tip off the Greenpeace website:
If your animals are infested:
wash them well with soap and water,
dry them thoroughly,
and use this herbal rinse:
Add 1/2 cup (125ml) fresh or dried rosemary to a quart/litre or boiling water.
Seep for 20 minutes, strain, and allow to cool.
Spray or sponge evenly onto your animal and allow to air dry.
Do not towel down as this will remove the residue.
Make sure your animals are dry before letting them outside.


There is also a plant extract called Neem, which is available in a flea/tick spray for pets through MotherNature.com.


citrus peel extract (d-limonene) works well for dogs, not good for cats


Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder comprised of microskeletons
of deceased diatoms, which are a type of algae (both fresh water and
sea water varieties occur). You sprinkle the powder on your pets
and your carpets, and the fleas die from dehydration. As a foster
care provider for hundreds of dogs, this stuff has been a miracle.

How it works:
When applied to the animal's fur, DE scrubs on the hard exoskeletons of fleas.
The tiny granules of silicon (think finely ground sand) work in the tiny holes of the flea's respiratory system and in the joints of the fleas.
Every time the flea moves or breathes, the silicon grinds away at the exoskeleton, eventually killing the flea through blocking/maiming the respiratory holes or by water loss, as the exoskeleton helps keep in the flea's body water.
D.E. works the same way when applied to carpets instead of fur.

How to use DE:
1) Wear a mask and put one on your animal. Even though DE is nontoxic, you don't want to get it in your lungs.
2) Sprinkle the DE along your dry animal's spine. Massage it along the body, working your way carefully to the extremities, avoiding the eyes.
3) Spread some diatomaceous earth on the floor. For carpet, brush it in and leave for about four days. Then vacuum it up to remove most of the fleas in the carpet.
4) Repeat the application frequently during an infestation. You should notice a decrease in fleas within a couple days.

NOTE: Make sure not to use the kind of DE used in swimming pools. Use natural diatomaceous earth; it is available in gardens supply centers, some health food stores, and from natural-pet catalogs.