Acorns, Ticks, and Lyme Disease

Written By Hugh Asher

28th August 2022

This post looks at ticks, tick bites, Lyme Disease and why the incidence of tick bites can increase when Oaks and other nut-bearing trees have ‘mast years’.

As discussed in this article on ‘mast years and acorns’ describes, Oak trees do not produce the same number of acorns each year, but have ‘mast years’ when they produce a bumper crop. And this isn’t just a bumper crop from one Oak tree - they synchronise their acorn production and all the Oak trees produce a bumper crop. Research has shown major mast years for some tree species are synchronised across all of Northern and Western Europe. So what does this have to do with ticks or Lyme Disease and why is this important, especially in relation to nature-connection activities such as Forest Bathing?

Large acorn crops tend to lead to large increases in both mouse and deer populations as the deer and mice eat the acorns which are high in calories. Deer and mice are often referred to acorn predators, although that sounds a bit sinister! Ticks are major ectoparasites of both mice and deer and as their populations grow, so to do the numbers of ticks that there are. As some ticks are carriers of Lyme Disease, then as the tick population increases, so too does the number of people bitten by infected ticks, and the incidence of Lyme Disease in humans increases.

Therefore, if you go outdoors to connect with nature in places where deer roam, and ticks might be found, you should be extra observant about the numbers of acorns on the ground in Autumn and be especially wary when there appears to be a bumper crop of acorns.

What are Ticks?

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. They can vary in size, but in Scotland they are usually between 1mm to 3mm long. They do not fly or jump but climb on to animals or humans as they brush past. They can be found anywhere there is wildlife, usually in woodland and moorland areas, and are particularly common between March and October. The most common tick in Scotland is the sheep or deer tick.

Removing a tick with tweezers

What to do if you get bitten by a tick

The NHS Website recommends that you use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool that can buy these from pet shops or outdoor supplies shops. They suggest that you:

  1. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

  2. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick.

  3. Dispose of it when you have removed it.

  4. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.

The NHS report that the chance of getting ill is low. Keep an eye on anywhere you have been bitten by a tick. There is no need to consult your GP if you have been bitten and have no symptoms. However, if you develop a rash or experience flu-like symptoms after being bitten, then you should see your GP. A circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite can be an early symptom of Lyme Disease in some people. The rash can appear up to 3 months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within 1 to 4 weeks and can last for several weeks.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme borreliosis or Lyme Disease is an infection with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. If a tick bites an animal carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick can also become infected and can then transfer the bacteria to a human by biting them. It's usually easier to treat Lyme Disease if it's diagnosed early. The disease was named in 1975 when researchers investigated the cause of arthritis among children living in Lyme, Connecticut and realised that it was caused by an infection.

Early symptoms can include:

  • tiredness (fatigue)

  • muscle pain

  • joint pain

  • headaches

  • a high temperature (fever)

  • chills

  • neck stiffness

More serious symptoms may develop if Lyme Disease is left untreated or is not treated early, including:

  • pain and swelling in the joints

  • nerve problems – such as numbness or pain in your limbs

  • memory problems

  • difficulty concentrating

  • heart problems

Some of these problems will get better slowly with treatment. But they can persist if treatment is started late. A few people with Lyme Disease go on to develop long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, which is known as post-infectious Lyme Disease. It's not clear exactly why this happens, but it's likely to be related to overactivity of your immune system rather than continued infection.

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Hugh Asher

I’m Hugh and I’m a Certified Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapy Practitioner, having trained with the Forest Therapy Institute and the Forest Therapy Hub. My purpose in life is to inspire people to improve their wellbeing, and to help people to help and inspire others to improve their wellbeing. I do this through promoting greater nature connection as I am a passionate believer in the benefits to health and wellbeing that nature and increased connection to nature can bring.

Professionally, I have worked for over twenty years supporting people experiencing: mental health problems; autism; learning disabilities; school exclusion; experience of the care system; and a history of offending behaviour. Currently I am the ‘Recovery Through Nature Lead’ in a residential rehab for people experiencing drug and alcohol problems.

I have a PhD in Therapeutic Relationships, but Dr. Hugh makes me sound too much like a Time Lord.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-asher/
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