Medical information and safety limits

Medical information is general, not individualized

Tick-borne diseases can produce overlapping symptoms, and the correct diagnosis may depend on exposure history, physical examination, blood counts, organ-function tests, microscopy, PCR, serology and other testing. Information that is accurate for one organism, disease stage or patient may not be appropriate for another.

Personal experience is not clinical proof

Statements about what I personally used or what I felt helped me describe my own experience. They do not establish that the same intervention will help another person. Experimental, botanical and mechanistic research is labeled according to evidence level and should not be interpreted as a claim of proven human efficacy.

Prescription drugs and supplements have risks

Prescription antimicrobials, antimalarials, herbs, tinctures, essential oils and supplements can cause adverse effects, interact with medications, affect pregnancy or breastfeeding, and be inappropriate in specific medical conditions. Do not use published study doses or another person's regimen as a substitute for individualized medical advice.

Do not delay urgent care

Seek prompt medical evaluation for severe or worsening symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, jaundice, dark urine, uncontrolled fever, a rapidly worsening rash, neurologic symptoms, signs of shock, or other symptoms that feel emergent. RMSF, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and severe babesiosis can worsen quickly, and appropriate treatment may be time-sensitive.

External sources

Links to CDC, IDSA, PubMed, medical journals, laboratories and other external resources are provided for reference. External content can change and is governed by the source's own policies.