Home Remedy for Head Lice
From LoveToKnow Hair
People seeking a home remedy for head lice may be quite surprised with nature’s natural cures for treating this parasitic ailment. If you suffer from head louse or have a condition to treat, read on for some natural tips and useful cures.
About Lice
Most common in environments where small children are present; lice, or head louse, are the human version of the pesky canine flea.
Attaching themselves to the human scalp with tiny claws, head lice feed off the blood of their human host and cause itching, scalp irritation, and chronic head lice conditions if they aren’t treated promptly and properly.
There are many ways to treat head lice, the most important rule is to ensure any remedy is executed successfully, as lice, just like the flea, lay eggs and multiply fairly quickly.
Although hardly noticeable from a distance, head lice can be seen by the human eye when the scalp and hair is observed up close.
If you have been affected by a lice infestation or have a small child who has been exposed to head louse from an educational or recreational environment, treating the louse is the first step in ridding them.
When to Use a Home Remedy for Head Lice
There are many reasons to treat head lice with a natural homeopathic remedy. First, the chemicals found in products such as Rid shampoo are much too harsh to use on a child under the age of two. If you are seeking the treatment of lice on a small child or infant, seek professional counsel immediately rather than opt for chemical solutions.
In addition, many people are wary of the chemicals and their effects on the home environment, such is the case with products such as nix shampoo. Others searching for a natural cure for head lice may have a sensitive scalp that is easily irritated by harsh shampoos.
Whatever the reason, there are some home treatment options available for ridding the scalp of lice and their eggs. While no home remedy for head lice is entirely foolproof, the following natural cures are worth a shot if you have your mind set on natural treatment.
Home Remedies for Lice
- Mayonnaise- Found in most refrigerators next to the cold cuts and pickles, mayonnaise to treat head lice is one of the most popular old fashioned cures. Smother mayonnaise on scalp through the ends of the hair and sleep with a shower cap in place. Rinse and shampoo thoroughly in the morning. Check scalp daily for a period of two weeks to discover and treat any future outbreaks.
- Petroleum jelly- Just like the mayo treatment, petroleum jelly is often used as a home cure used to smother lice and their eggs. Work the petroleum jelly into the scalp, through the ends and cover with a shower cap overnight. Be prepared to shampoo hair several times in the morning to remove to petroleum jelly. Try using a dish detergent to cut the grease and remove the residue from the scalp and hair quickly.
- Lice combs- Lice combs, such as the Magicomb are used in educational and medical facilities to comb lice out of the hair naturally, one by one. Although time consuming, this method is very effective and requires no further treatment other than occasional scalp checking.
Other natural products sometimes used to treat lice infestations:
- Olive oil
- Essential oils, such as Eucalyptus, Citrus, or Tea Tree oil (mixed with with olive oil)
- A paste of ground cloves and basil leaves
- Soaking Quassia wood chips in water, and using the solution as a rinse
Protect and Prevent
Treating lice is truly a two step process. First, you must treat the condition, then treat the environment and practice future prevention. Immediately after treating the scalp, make sure all bedding, clothing and pillows used by the lice carrier have been washed thoroughly in hot water.
To prevent future outbreaks, keep children from partaking in scalp to scalp contact while participating in activities such as sports, sleepovers, hair brushing and braiding.
Most importantly, it is crucial that anyone, whether that be adult or child, suffering from head lice be treated at home prior to returning to their normal social activities, in best effort to prevent a widespread epidemic, as lice are highly contagious and problematic to treat if remedies, whether natural or chemical, are not executed immediately.
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This page has been accessed 2,988 times. This page was last modified 17:00, 27 June 2008.
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