Holistic Home Remedy for Safely Removing Lice from Body and Home

More than 12 million Americans, mostly children and school professionals are infested with lice each year.

Lice also infect pets and animals, which require the same treatment as head lice.

Also called head louse, this parasite is an insect and technically named Pediculus humanus capitis.

Home Remedy for Head Lice - Safely Remove Lice From Head and Home

People suffering from the problem of having head lice are usually very anxious to learn how to get rid of head lice.

But before looking at the treatments and herbal remedies, it is essential to know what head lice look like.

Head Lice PictureThese small creatures are scientifically categorized as "Pediculus capitis" and are tiny, wingless parasites that feed on human blood and cause severe itching in the head. Pediculosis is the term used for the infestation of the body or hair with adult lice, larvae and eggs.

In addition to the human body, lice also infect animals and pets. They are highly contagious and spread quickly from one person to another, mainly at group-settings like schools, colleges and offices, to name a few. They have specially adapted claws that enable them to crawl and cling to your hair.

There is more than one home remedy for head lice removal that is safe and natural, so you don't have to use toxic products.

How to Get Rid of Head Lice

You need to follow the following steps to rid yourself of head lice:

Step 1:

  • Before starting with the hair cleaning process, you need to ensure that the work area is not carpeted and remove all rugs, towels or clothes that are lying around. The lice often tend to make homes in these items whenever they are disturbed.
  • Next, Tie you hair at the crown, if your hair is long.
  • Dip a cotton swab into a safe cleansing liquid and clean the ears and paint a ring around the outer portion of the ears and the hairline around the head. Keep the head dry and start at the nape of the neck along the hairline and keep saturating the hair, as you move towards the crown where the hair is tied.
  • Then apply the lice cleanser in a manner that saturates the hair completely. Massage the head properly and work till the lather is well formed.
  • Then comb through the hair, to ensure total coverage and tie or wrap the hair up again, at the crown.
  • Keep massaging the scalp at an interval of every ten minutes for about 30 to 40 minutes.
  • Reapply the cleanser and work till the lather is formed and follow the same process for 20 minutes.
  • Allow the cleanser to soak in and then rinse it off.
  • Dry your hair and comb it with a nit comb, in order to remove any remaining lice.
  • If possible do the nit picking in daylight and use hot water and a non-toxic liquid cleanser on the head.

Step 2:

  • Once the home based treatment for head lice has been completed, launder all jackets, clothing, bed linen, pillow covers, hair combs, brushes, doodads, rugs, ribbons and mats.
  • These should be washed at 140 degrees or you may not kill the eggs and lice that are lingering. In order to get the best results, pre-soak or pre-wash for at least 30 minutes before the final wash.
  • In addition to washing exposed items, vacuum clean the carpets, furniture and car seats and remove the plastic bags used in the vacuum cleaner immediately after finishing and properly dispose so you will not reinfect the home.
  • It is very important to eliminate the existence of lice from your body and the surrounding areas. This is the only way to get rid of the consistent irritation. Besides the natural treatment, proper sanitation and hygiene are very essential.

Commercial Products

If you're interested in learning more about natural head lice remedies you can use at home, here are three we recommend:

  1. Naughty Nits Hair Oil
  2. Naughty Nits Shampoo
  3. Naughty Nits Spritzer

 


Share |

 

 


What do you think? Please enter your comments below.

 

comments
 
By Davyn
2009-01-03 21:50:09
 

Question for Dr. Leia: I have mysteriously caught head lice in my hair. The problem is that my hair is in dreadlocks and I don't want to cut my hair. Do you have any suggestions for removing head lice from dreadlocks? Kerosene was suggested, but not my first option. Cutting my hair is the last option, so if you have any suggestions please let me know.

 
By Dr. Leia Melead
2009-01-03 21:51:59
 

Dr. Leia's Answer: Dear Davyn, Kerosene seems like a very toxic solution to your problem. Fortunately, I have found a few alternative solutions which just may work for you! The first method is to try to smother the lice in oil, using either olive oil, mayonnaise, or petroleum jelly. Apply the oil, then wrap the whole head in plastic wrap, being careful to catch all of your dreadlocks in the wrap and then cover tightly with a towel and leave on overnight. It sounds messy, but worth a try. However, be careful with the petroleum jelly, since it might not be too easy to wash out. The second solution is heat. The journal of Pediatrics recently published a study using a custom-built hot air machine called the LouseBuster. It showed that in only 30 minutes, that 100% of all the lice were killed, and 80% of the eggs. If you are unable to obtain a Lousebuster, you might want to try using your hairdryer for 30 minutes on low temperature, being careful not to burn your hair and your scalp and skin. There are also safe shampoos on the market that may also help, but you will want to make sure you repeat the application to ensure that you kill all the eggs. Good luck in your endeavors, and please let us know of your success. Dr. Leia Melead

 
By Jane
2009-02-07 19:57:59
 

There is a professional head lice removal specialist out there that doesn't use pesticides and they come to your home, remove all the head lice and nits for you. Try Nit Picky if you are in Oregon or Orange County, California Area. They are awesome.

Enter Your Comment or Question:


Name: (required)

E-mail: (required)

Security Code: (required)

Your e-mail address will not be displayed and will remain confidential.


 

Security Code to enter
Security Image

Please enter your comment or question below:

characters left    

By commenting here you grant HeartCore Corporation a perpetual license to reproduce your words and submitted name/web site in attribution.

 

Page Protected by Copyscape - Do Not Copy  |  healthynewage.com is © HeartCore Corporation 2001-2010