Headlice : Alternatives To Chemical Treatments
The problem with traditional chemical remedies are that they are creating more and more resistant strains of head lice. Scientific researchers estimate that up to 90 percent of lice infestations do not respond at all to chemical treatments for that very reason. However, the good news is that there are many natural treatments to choose from that are both successful and completely safe for you and your loved ones.
One effective treatment for headlice involves tea tree oil. Tea trees are native to Australia and produce a fragrant oil with antifungal and vermicidal properties. Visit your local health food store to find a lice treatment with tea tree. Popular tea tree treatments include special shampoos, conditioners, and hair oils.
Another way to take care of headlice that may seem unconventional is mayonnaise. Really, any thick oil-based substance effectively suffocates and kills lice. To use mayonnaise as a lice treatment, just slather large amounts of mayonnaise or a similar substance in your hair, cover with a shower cap, and leave it to work overnight. In the morning you can comb out all the lice and their eggs. It may be necessary to do this again for the next few nights, just to make sure that your treatment fully works.
A very effective method of lice removal is shaving a child’s head. If the hair is very short, the lice cannot hold on. Also, it is easier to comb out lice and nits when the hair is short. It is, however, important to make sure that it will not cause great emotional distress to the child to be sporting a shaved head.
Finally, a viable treatment involves simply repeatedly combing lice and nits from the child’s head. This treatment will need to be repeated twice daily for up to two weeks, but promises certain success without use of chemicals. However, it can be time intensive, so many parents use this treatment only as a last resort.
Using chemical treatments for the removal of headlice is not only potentially dangerous for your family, but also often ineffective. As if that weren’t bad enough, chemical treatments tend to create more resistant lice populations. Herbal and manual home remedies for head lice are safe and effective. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before undergoing any herbal treatment.
Tea tree oil is a very good treatment for headlice. Tea trees grow in Australia and make a very fragrant oil that has anti fungal properties. Your local health food store will have a lice treatment with tea tree oil. Some treatments that will have the oil will include special shampoos, conditioners, and hair oils. Another effective, though severe treatment, that should be discussed is shaving the child’s head for lice removal. Herbal products are good home remedies for head lice, which are safe and effective. However before undergoing any herbal treatment, always first check with your doctor.
- norman horowitz
