Natural Treatments for Lice
If you or your little one are currently suffering with head lice, you probably understand how difficult it is to get rid of them. Because they have been around for thousands of years, they have adapted to the point that it is darn near impossible to get completely free of these little blood-suckers’ grasps. Speaking of their grasp, they have tiny little claws that are specifically designed to allow them to hold on come rain, snow, sleet, or the most powerful chemical you can find. If you are searching for louse treatments without placing potent chemicals in your hair or in your child’s hair, you’ve come to the right place. This article will discuss natural treatments for lice and how to remove them from your hair.
Essential Oils –
Many people who do not want to use potentially dangerous louse-killing chemicals swear by essential oils. In fact, the most commonly used are anise oil and ylang ylang oil. Both of these are known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. In fact, in a recent study, one group of children was treated with conventional chemical shampoos while the other group was treated with these essential oils. In both groups, 92% of children became free of head lice with both different types of treatments. The bonus side of essential oils is that they do not come with irritating side effects the way chemical shampoos can. Often, these come with an itchy head and a rash. Some of these chemicals are even known to be damaging to the nervous and immune systems.
Olive Oil and Citronella -
Many people utilize a mix of these oils in order to keep bugs from gripping the hair as well as laying their eggs. Of course, citronella is a bug repellant, and the olive oil will not hurt your child’s hair at all. In fact, it may make the hair healthier. The mix of these oils is said to make it easier to remove nits and eggs as well. Even baby oil has been used to treat lice, simply by applying it and allowing it to remain for 30 minutes to an hour. Note – You may have to wash the hair several times before the residue from the oil comes out.
Preventing Recurring Infestation -
Along with removing the nits and the bugs from your head or your child’s head, you will need to treat anything else they may have come into contact with. Usually, this means bedding and pillows, stuffed animals, sofas or other furniture, hats, hair brushes, hair accessories, jackets and clothing. One of the ways you can do this without chemicals is to tie everything up into garbage bags or airtight bags. You can really only do this if you have a spare of everything.
Leave them for a month at least. When that month has passed, give them all a thorough washing and drying. Some people believe that drying them on high for an hour is enough to get rid of bugs and eggs on these items. Ensuring that you treat all items will keep lice away from your head and out of your hair!