Summer Wellness, Tick Safety & Gluten-Free Treats
As summer settles in, we're making room for more time outdoors, family traditions, and simple joys. This month, we're sharing practical tips for tick safety, thoughtful summer wellness, and a few fun finds to help you enjoy the season while caring for your health.
Happy Father's Day
Fatherhood is about more than providing for your family. It's about building a legacy.
Through your example, your values, and the choices you make every day, you're helping shape the future of those you love. Whether you're teaching healthy habits, encouraging resilience, creating family traditions, or simply being present, your influence reaches further than you may realize.
The small, consistent investments you make today have the power to impact generations to come.
Thank you for showing up, leading well, and caring deeply for your family. We are grateful for all that you do, and we wish you a very Happy Father's Day.
A New Home for Functional Now!
We are so excited to share some big news: Functional Now is moving!
Through your support and trust in our practice, God has blessed Functional Now in incredible ways, and we are grateful to announce that we have purchased our own building.
Our new address:
8271 Cornell Rd., Suite 720
Cincinnati, OH 45249
Over the past several weeks, Ashley and her family have spent countless weekends preparing the space. They've been knocking down walls, painting, praying over the building, and getting everything ready to welcome and care for you well.
Our hope is to begin seeing patients in the new location starting in July. Until then, please continue to assume that all in-person appointments will take place at our Kemper Road office. We will communicate an official moving date as soon as everything is finalized.
If you have appointments scheduled during our first week in the new space, we'll send individual reminders to ensure you have the correct location.
Thank you for trusting us with your care and for sharing Functional Now with your friends and loved ones. We are deeply grateful for this community and excited to see what God has in store for this next chapter.
Tick Season Is Here: What to Do After a Tick Bite
With warmer weather comes more time outdoors, and unfortunately, more exposure to ticks. Prompt action after a tick bite can help reduce the risk of complications, so it's helpful to have a plan before you need one.
How to Remove a Tick
If you find an attached tick, remove it as soon as possible using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can and pull straight upward with slow, steady pressure. Avoid twisting, crushing, burning, or applying substances to the tick while it is attached.
Once removed, clean the area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Many families choose to apply a drawing salve, such as Earthley's Black Drawing Salve, or a bentonite clay poultice to the bite area afterward. We also recommend saving the tick whenever possible. Place it in a sealed plastic bag, label it with the date, and store it in the freezer. Having the tick available can be helpful if testing becomes necessary.
Testing the tick itself can provide valuable information before symptoms develop. Resources such as Ticknology, TickCheck, and TickLab offer tick testing services, or you can discuss testing options with your Functional Now provider.
What Symptoms Should You Watch For?
After a bite, continue monitoring for symptoms. While the classic bullseye rash receives a lot of attention, it is not present in every case.
Other symptoms may include:
Fever or chills
Fatigue
Headaches or brain fog
Muscle aches
Joint pain
If symptoms develop, please reach out to us promptly.
Some individuals choose to discuss preventive or supportive measures with their provider rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. Options may include preventive doxycycline when appropriate, topical products, homeopathic remedies, vitamin C, or herbal immune support such as Andrographis paniculata. Your provider can help determine the most appropriate approach for your individual situation.
Tick Prevention Tips
The best strategy is prevention. After spending time outdoors, perform a thorough tick check and shower as soon as possible. Pay special attention to commonly missed areas, such as:
The scalp and behind the ears
Under the arms
Behind the knees
Between the toes
Around the waistband or bra line
When hiking or spending time in wooded areas, tuck pants into socks and consider wearing light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Permethrin-treated clothing and gear can provide additional protection, while picaridin-based products may be applied directly to the skin according to label instructions.
A few additional strategies that many families find helpful include using a lint roller on clothing after outdoor activities and keeping tick removal tools readily available in vehicles, backpacks, and first-aid kits.
Your landscaping choices can also influence tick populations around your home. Plants such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, garlic, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and catnip may help create a less hospitable environment for ticks. Mint is often considered a natural deterrent, although it can become invasive if planted directly in the ground.
If possible, remove invasive plants such as Japanese barberry, honeysuckle, garlic mustard, and other dense ground cover that can create favorable tick habitat. Encouraging native bird populations may also help support natural tick control.
Products such as Cedarcide and Wondercide are additional tools some families use as part of a comprehensive tick prevention plan.
Homemade Tick Repellent Recipes
Recipe #1
1 to 2 tablespoons witch hazel
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
7 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops geranium essential oil
10 drops lemongrass essential oil
15 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
Recipe #2
1 cup witch hazel
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 drops clove essential oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops thyme essential oil
As with any essential oil preparation, test on a small area first and follow appropriate dilution guidelines. Homemade essential oil mixtures should not be relied upon as a substitute for proven tick repellents.
For additional information on post-bite support strategies, we recommend Taylor Dukes Wellness's Tick Bite Protocol.
Gluten-Free Funnel Cakes in Cincinnati
Our founder, Ashley, recently discovered a fun treat that was a hit with the whole family. While out and about, they stopped by Nola's Funnel Cakes, and everyone was impressed.
Their funnel cakes are gluten-free, celiac-safe, and vegan, making them a great option for families navigating food sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances without feeling like they're missing out on something special. Ashley's girls loved them, and the whole experience felt like a classic fair-style treat with a more thoughtful ingredient list.
If you're looking for a fun summer splurge with a better-for-you spin, this one earned a big thumbs-up from the Functional Now crew!
Have a Story to Share?
We're so grateful you've trusted us with your health, and we would truly love to hear from you. Your story not only encourages our team, but can also help others who are looking for answers and hope.
If you're willing to share your experience, please fill out our story submission form. You'll have the option to include your name or remain anonymous.
