Spice keeps ticks at bay

THE tiny tick – the bane of ramblers, runners and dog walkers alike – has met its match in turmeric, the yellow Indian spice that is a staple of the curry cookbook, according to Bristol University scientists.

Researchers tested turmeric on the parasite in the lab, in the wild and on dogs. They found a squirt of its essential oil was more effective at deterring the pest, which spreads potentially lethal Lyme disease, than chemical repellents marketed to do the job.

Publishing their work in the journal Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, lead author Penny Goode said: ‘I was surprised [at how effective it was].’