All #Natural Lice Treatments

All Natural Lice Treatments by Tammy Mahan, Healthline.com

When one thinks of lice, we generally picture tiny little bugs crawling around in our hair. Head lice are the most common type of lice. However, there are three types of lice; head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.

Most parents are concerned with head lice so we will look at those natural treatments more in-depth than the other two types of lice. However, we do not want to simply ignore the other body and pubic lice, so I will also provide a natural treatment for them.

All three types of lice can be successfully treated and eliminated with natural treatments. Natural treatments and remedies are much safer for the body than over the counter treatments. With a natural remedy, whether you make it yourself or purchase it from a reputable store, you are pretty much guaranteed that it is all natural and no fillers were used.

Natural Treatments for Body Lice & Pubic Lice

Herbal treatments include Azadirachta indica (Neem), Rosemary and Lavender these herbs have great antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. You will need a large amount of these herbs to treat an infestation of body or public lice. I recommend visiting an herbalist or visiting an all-natural health store and purchasing a lotion or shampoo that is all-natural and contains one or more of the herbs listed above.

Natural Treatments for Head Lice

According to DrBenKim.com, “to kill the lice, apply a large amount of olive oil on the hair, saturating it from the roots to the ends. Then, put on a shower cap and leave on overnight. This will suffocate the lice. In the morning, comb out the hair with a metal nit comb, wiping the comb often on a towel soaked in vinegar. This will help remove the dead lice and the eggs. This process will need to be repeated every 3 days or so for 21 days.”

Dr. Ben Kim also suggests washing all linens, clothes (recently worn), towels, washcloths, any hair accessories that can be washed and, stuffed animals in hot water for at least 20 minutes.

Vacuum all the furniture in your home and vacuum the front and back seats your car. Also, boil your hairbrushes and combs for 10 -15 minutes.

There are also a few common household items that will kill the lice and the eggs.

• Mouthwash – You can either use a spray bottle to spray it on just make sure the entire scalp and hair is saturated. Wrap the hair into a bun and place a shower cap on the head. Let it sit for a few hours and the lice and eggs will fall out.

• Mayonnaise – Cover the scalp and all of the hair in mayonnaise, pile the hair up into a bun on top of the head, place a shower cap on the hair and let it sit for an hour or two. The mayonnaise will kill the lice and loosen the eggs. Then, use a comb to remove the eggs.

• Baking Soda and Lemon Juice – Combine the two in a bowl and make a loose paste. Apply the paste to the scalp and hair. Wrap the hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap leave on for a few hours. Wash the hair and the dead lice and the eggs will fall out.

Be sure to check the hair over the next week (just as you would if using an over the counter shampoo) to make sure all of the lice and eggs are gone. It is rare you have to repeat any of these natural treatments but it does happen sometimes.

Resources:

http://www.healthline.com/

http://drbenkim.com/head-lice-treat-prevent-natural.html

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised second edition, Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., page 499

Tammy Mahan is a medical and health writer who has spent the last 20 years working in the health care field. Writing for Healthline.com allows her to share her medical knowledge with others.

Disclosure:

This article was written exclusively for TheOliveParent.com. All information presented here has not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be used in place of a professional. Please visit your doctor or certified herbalist for advice and diagnosis.