Natural Head-Louse Treatment
Just taking a peek at the warning labels on the most popular medical treatments for head lice will make you want to seek natural treatment. In fact, some of those chemicals have been proven to be toxic to the nervous and immune systems. That is not something you want to put on your child’s head. The question is, do natural treatments work? That is what we will address in this article so you will know what your options are when it comes to treating head lice.
Anise and Ylang Ylang Test -
A recent study was done where researchers divided infected children into two groups. In one group, researchers treated the children with anise and ylang ylang essential oils, both of which have antifungal, antiviral, and insecticidal properties. The other group was treated with the common drugstore chemical shampoos for killing lice and their eggs. In both groups, the percentage of children who were treated and cleaned of head lice was 97%. However, the anise oil and ylang ylang oil do not carry the hazard of potential side effects that have been reported with the chemical shampoos and sprays. Obviously, this treatment works and without the damaging effects of traditional shampoos.
Bug-Busting Method -
This method is for parents who do not want to risk applying anything to their children’s hair and involves frequent combing and bug removal. You start by using ‘nit combs’ to remove live lice. You can use a bowl of water to put them into as you find them. This will show you how many you have found. Simply go through each section of the hair a couple of times and remove each and every live louse you can get – you will also need to remove as many of the eggs as you possibly can. A bit of olive oil worked into the hair does make it easier to get the bugs and nits out. You will need to perform this busting method every four days to ensure that you get the lice that have recently hatched. You will also need to wash your child’s sheets every night for a week – this way, any lice that fall from your child’s head to the pillow or sheets will be removed in the wash and not able to reproduce.
Why Choose an Alternative Louse Treatment?
The chemical-based shampoos and rinses are full of dangerous chemicals. There are reported side effects like rash, skin infection, trouble breathing, and even damage to the central nervous system. Many parents do not want to place this on their children’s heads, so they opt for an alternative louse treatment. Many of them are just as effective as the chemical ones without the risk of side effects that come with the store-bought or prescription lice removers.
Ensure that you check every person’s head who lives in the house with you or who comes over frequently. Tell your child not to use someone else’s hair brush, comb, hats, or other hair accessories. This will keep your chances of getting head lice very low.