When Buddhists get a tick....

[Annapurna]

What would a Buddhist [monk] do, if he found a tick tightly hlding on to his skin? Leave it till it falls off?

Ticks can cause Borreliosis or Lyme disease as well as meningitis, and need to get removed as quickly as possible.

Not always can you save the tick, I've never been able to, and honestly, what for? To multiply?


This is not another fleas thread, mind you.

Ticks are a lot more dangerous than fleas, .... well, since we don't get the plague anymore.... plus you have one for several days, and can get a hold of it.

Or what's up with intestinal worms?

[Goedert]

I would let him feed until it die.

Why?
This body is just meat, bones and fluids.
Of course would higiene the body to the tick don't proliferate.

Also would practice much metta to him, and be happy that the tick is safe and happy get food from this body.

[Annapurna]

Goerdert, do you have ticks in Brazil? It doesn't sound like you ever had a tick.

I'm asking because you don't seem to be aware of the massive threat they pose.


If it sits there for days, it will pump dangerous bacteria into your body and make you ill.

If you're ill, you won't be able to work, and sustain yourself, and become a burden for thecommunity, then you live of taxes they paid.

I don't see how that is what a responsible Buddhist would do.

Of course would higiene the body to the tick don't proliferate.

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

Are you saying somebody who is clean won't get ticks?

[Terasi]

I just read Ven S. Dhammika's struggle with bed bugs.

I think it's something like this. He killed 3 bed bugs. According to him, if he simply remove the bed bugs:
(1) they will bite someone else because bed bugs can only drink human's blood (at least the species he caught), and that means he inflicts other people, (2) if they are released somewhere far from human, they will die of hunger. (3) can't imagine how many other bed bugs hiding, waiting to feast on Bhante's blood if he didn't do the genocide immediately.

However, he certainly has killed with full intention, so he had a long discussions with people visiting his blog, and with himself.

So Can Killing Sometimes Be Justified?
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2010/03/on-2nd-march-i-related-my-bed-bug.html

EDIT: In one of the related blogs, he said something about self-defense is not really wrong, or something like that, he had the reasons to support that.
Killing your ticks could fall on this category.

[Fede]

If you spread vaseline petroleum jelly around the mouth area of the tick, where they are attached, they can't breathe, and have to let go, or else they will suffocate.
I removed two such ticks from my dog, and three off a snake, in this way.
I know that intestinal worm eggs are sold to people to accelerate weight loss (tapeworms) and they can be eliminated by drinking a simple worming treatment.

That's absolutely gross to my way of thinking....


I truly cannot tell whether this is a joke or not, but it's not the first time I have heard of such a thing.
It's quite revolting, but the thing is quite a big deal in America owing to obesity being seen as a real problem....

http://www.tapewormeggs.com/

[Annapurna]

Thank you all, Fede, let me reply to you first.

I also heard of oil (vaseline) suffocating the tick, so that it will let go, but then I heard later it shouldn't be done, because the tick gets so stressed it will vomit bacteria and then you got em in your body...Plus, mine wouldn't let go with oil.
I only couldn't get a good hold of it anymore--

They let go of my cats if I turned them around. Not of me. Those I had were very small, and i removed them at once, becuase they longer you wait, the more they have a chance to pass on bacteria.

But the how is not so much my point, it is if. Because I always pull the head off, whether I want to or not.

They won't let go, -so.

[Khalil Bodhi]

Anna,

If your intent is to remove them without pulling their heads off I think it's clear that you didn't intend to kill them. In short, your observance of the precept will remain intact. Metta.

[Goedert]

Goerdert, do you have ticks in Brazil? It doesn't sound like you ever had a tick.

I'm asking because you don't seem to be aware of the massive threat they pose.


If it sits there for days, it will pump dangerous bacteria into your body and make you ill.

If you're ill, you won't be able to work, and sustain yourself, and become a burden for thecommunity, then you live of taxes they paid.

I don't see how that is what a responsible Buddhist would do.

Of course would higiene the body to the tick don't proliferate.

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

Are you saying somebody who is clean won't get ticks?

In Brazil they are called (carrapato).

The female ticks can walk trough the body and put more eggs, when eggs hatch you get more ticks. So higiene in the body and in the rooms or places is also good to prevent this insects from proliferating deseases.

Buy yes, I would allow a tick suck my blood for his food, I do this with the mosquitos. Wich all them happy and secure.

An interesting fact is that only female mosquitos that need blood for food. Because they need extra energy to produce the eggs. Male mosquitos usually has as food plants and trees liquid.

Kind Regards.

[PeterB]

To allow a tick to suck your blood is totally irresponsible and very dumb. They are carriers of a disease which can cripple you and/or cause you to go blind. What exactly are you trying to prove ? Don't justify your action by referring to Buddhadhamma , because it isnt anything to do with Buddhadhamma.

[Annapurna]

Anna,

If your intent is to remove them without pulling their heads off I think it's clear that you didn't intend to kill them. In short, your observance of the precept will remain intact. Metta.

Thank you, Khalil Bodhi,


Yes, I always tried to remove them completely, but sometimes the head just stays in.

[Annapurna]

The female ticks can walk trough the body and put more eggs, when eggs hatch you get more ticks. So higiene in the body and in the rooms or places is also good to prevent this insects from proliferating deseases.

I don't think we are talking about the same insect. You don't get ticks from a mother on your body making babies. You get one in the forests, and it will grow big and fat drinking your blood for several days, and then it falls off and lays eggs out in nature, preferrably.

[Goedert]

To allow a tick to suck your blood is totally irresponsible and very dumb. They are carriers of a disease which can cripple you and/or cause you to go blind. What exactly are you trying to prove ? Don't justify your action by referring to Buddhadhamma , because it isnt anything to do with Buddhadhamma.

Do not make a distortion what have been said.

In anyway what have been said was adressed to buddhamma. It was just what one person do, not buddhamma.

If you wanna debate something or wanna try to change this view send trough pm.

[Annapurna]

Arthritis after tick.
In 90 % of all Borreliose cases, the infection takes place after 24 hours.

That's why it is so important to remove it at once.

You can also get severe neural diseases, like paralisations.

I agree with PeterB, it is silly to let a tick suck on you.

Don't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick

[Goedert]

Gt never happen the expirience of a tick in my body. So don't know how the reactions and results would happen.

But if a infection start occurring it is certainly I would remove him paccicaly.

Just let it go...

[tiltbillings]

Do we need to go any further with this thread?

[Annapurna]

I only just started it a few hours ago and you already want to close another thread of mine. It's nice that you ask though.

Please leave it open.

You don't have to monitor this thread, Tilt, if you feel aversion.

[Annapurna]

Gt never happen the expirience of a tick in my body. So don't know how the reactions and results would happen.

infection start occurring it is certainly I would remove him paccicaly.

Just let it go...

I didn't thionk you had one, Goedert.

I had my first tick after I was 30. I was in a forest and when I took a shower in the evening, it was already holding on to me.

An infection usually occurs after 24 hours, and you don't notice it until it is too late and you need heavy medication.


Just read the Wiki link, Goedert, it's interesitng, and you learn more about ticks.

I also started this topic to hear from monks how they would deal with it.

So far none has replied...

[tiltbillings]

I only just started it a few hours ago and you already want to close another thread of mine. It's nice that you ask though.

Please leave it open.

You don't have to monitor this thread, Tilt, if you feel aversion.

First of all, enough with the aversion stuff. It has no place here. Secondly, this thread is already going in circles, repeating itself, and it is offering little that has not already been covered in the flea thread.

[Hoo]

Leave the thread open, Tilt. I'm Buddhist, live in the heart of tick country and am interested in hearing as many differing views as may present themselves because I have this problem as well. I also have decreased immunity due to my chemo treatment which heightens my interest.

I find it hard to believe that this thread is only about 3-4 hours old and you're asking if it's done. It's not like it's taking up space on the shelf that's needed. Give it a cuple of days for people to even see it, reply if they have one, etc.

Hoo

[tiltbillings]

Leave the thread open, Tilt. I'm Buddhist, live in the heart of tick country and am interested in hearing as many differing views as may present themselves because I have this problem as well. I also have decreased immunity due to my chemo treatment which heightens my interest.

I find it hard to believe that this thread is only about 3-4 hours old and you're asking if it's done. It's not like it's taking up space on the shelf that's needed. Give it a cuple of days for people to even see it, reply if they have one, etc.

Hoo

Pretty much the same ground that has been covered, but if it ticks you off to have it closed, it'll stay open. That does not bug me.