Originally published February 27 2010
How to Get Rid of Head Lice Naturally
by Fleur Hupston
(NaturalNews) Head lice are easily transmitted by head-to head contact or by sharing combs, brushes or caps. Infestations are common in school children but this is not an indication of poor hygiene or dirty hair. Lice lay their eggs along the base of the hair shaft, close to the scalp. Conventional cures include the application of strong smelling insecticides or shampoos which can be harmful to health, especially in the case of small children. Go the natural route in preventing and treating head lice infestations.
Preventing Head Lice
Do not think a problem with lice will not affect you or your family. Inspect your child's head regularly for lice and nits, paying particular attention to the hairline, neck and areas above the ears. If there is an outbreak at your child's school, be even more thorough. To repel lice, comb the hair twice a week with a comb dipped in a mug of warm water containing a few drops of tea tree oil.
Treating Head Lice
Ensure that the affected family members use separate towels and face cloths and wash bedding, pillowcases and brushes in hot water.
Use a fine toothed nit comb to remove lice from the hair, working through the hair section at a time. Repeat the treatment regularly and newly hatched lice will gradually be removed. Diligently repeating this process for at least two weeks is one of the most effective ways of removing head lice without the use of insecticidal shampoos.
Essential Oils to Treat Lice Infestations
To kill lice and soothe an itching scalp, add two drops each of lavender, geranium and eucalyptus oils to a teaspoon of natural, unscented body lotion. Massage into the scalp and leave for 30 minutes to an hour. Run a fine-toothed, nit comb through the hair, then rinse well. Make a final rinse by adding two drops each of eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and geranium oils and 3 teaspoons of vinegar into half a jug of water. Rinse and leave the hair to dry naturally.
Nigella Sativa is said to be an excellent cure for head lice and other skin parasites. One cup of finely ground seeds blended with a cup of apple cider vinegar, filtered and then applied to the hair is said to be an excellent natural cure for head lice.
Be sure to visit a qualified homeopath if a child's scalp becomes inflamed or infected or if the above treatment proves to be ineffective. Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should exercise caution when it comes to the use of certain essential oils or herbs and it would be best to get the advice of a homeopath or herbalist in this case.
Sources:
http://aromatherapy.suite101.com/article.cfm...
Where There is No Doctor, page 200, by David Werner, Published by The Hesperian Foundation, 1994 edition.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026868_Nigella_Sa...
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestio...
About the author
Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer. She is passionate about natural, healthy living and is currently studying to be a naturopath. She divides her time between writing for Natural News and various other sites, home schooling her children and studying part time.
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