Easy Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Lice
Neem Leaf
The traditional method of treating head lice has been the use of OTC (over the counter) remedies that only require one or two doses to be rid of head lice. These treatments contain insecticides that kill the lice and can be toxic to the recipient.
What is Head Lice?
Head lice or lice or insects that feed on the blood of humans while living on the skin and laying eggs on the strands of hair located on the human body. A lice infestation brings intense itching, red oozy sores and the eggs that appear as tiny white specs in the hair. Lice suck on the human host several times daily causing the host to scratch and irritate the skin. Lice will also cling to clothing and bed linen, but need the host to multiply by laying the eggs and feeding on the blood.
Lice spread through personal contact between the human hosts and the infested clothing or bed linens. Children swap off items such as hats, brushes, clothing items, and even stuffed toys that aide in spreading an infestation to the point of an epidemic of head lice in schools or other common gathering places. Lice cannot live without the blood of its human hosts for more than a few days, although eradicating the infestation make take several treatments and washing of all infected clothing and bed linens.
How to Recognize an Infestation
Itching is the first sign of the lice infestation. The lice may have been present for weeks before the sores and red irritations are noticed on the scalp. If lice is suspected, taking 10 oz of rubbing alcohol and applying to the hair and scalp, rubbing the head with a towel for 30 seconds to check for lice. The towel will have the lice that fell off the hair after the alcohol lifted the oils off the shaft of hair.
After an infestation is diagnosed, a plan of treatment is needed to be determined. There are several methods of treatment; many are safer than OTC treatments with its insecticides. Home and herbal remedies are safer, non-toxic, get results, and can ward off re-infestations in the future.
Home Remedies
Apple cider vinegar mixed with mayonnaise can be applied to the hair, wrapping the head and leaving on from 30 minutes to several hours to remove head lice. Wash hair after the time applied to remove the lice and clean the hair. Lemon juice and Apple cider vinegar can be mixed together with olive oil to treat the head lice and moisturize the scalp to aid the sores from the head lice to heal.
Herbal Remedies
Olive oil can kill the lice by suffocating them. The essential oil, eucalyptus, can be mixed with the olive oil by adding 2-3 drops to form a mixture and them applying to the scalp and hair. The essential oils, rosemary, eucalyptus, and geranium, can be added to shampoos to get rid of head lice and to prevent re-infestations of lice. Treating the hair with essential oils and leaving on over-night can treat the scalp and kill the lice. Wash the hair after leaving the essential oils for this extended period of time.
Neem (is a large oaklike tree that’s native to India) and turmeric can be effectively used for the removal of lice. The leaves and seed oil of Neem contain compounds that appear to be active against many insect pests. A paste of neem and turmeric (four parts neem to one part turmeric) is used to rub all over body( including hair) and it seen much effective for lice removal and skin beauty.
After the head lice have been killed by either the home or herbal remedy, the lice and eggs must be removed to stop a re-infestation after the eggs hatch. Herbal and home remedies may need to be repeated several times and each treatment needs to be followed with combing the hair from the root out and catching all the lice and eggs with a towel, comb or sticky tape. All clothing, stuffed animals, bedding and other members of the family must be treated as well. Don’t forget to treat the mattresses, furniture and other items where lice can be found to get another human host.
Head lice infestations are not dangerous, but can cause sores and irritations to the one infected. Treating the head lice naturally is safer as some lice have been discovered to become immune to the insecticides found in chemical head lice treatments.
Many view head lice as a sign of poor hygiene and being dirty. This is far from the truth, head lice is an insect looking for an opportunity to find a human host to feed on. It is not a matter of hygiene, good or bad. It is merely a bug looking for a meal, in this case, human blood. Keep check on hair, especially the hair of children, during the weeks that head lice is being rumored to be spreading. Keep essential oils of eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and geranium available to mix in shampoos to begin a prevention program. A few simple steps and ingredients will repel the head lice completely and not make head lice the annoyance it can be.
Neem (is a large oaklike tree that’s native to India) and turmeric can be effectively used for the removal of lice. The leaves and seed oil of Neem contain compounds that appear to be active against many insect pests. A paste of neem and turmeric (four parts neem to one part turmeric) is used to rub all over body( including hair) and it seen much effective for lice removal and skin beauty.
Category: HERBAL REMEDIES
