I've debating sharing this, but I feel it is such a common issue and one that deserves serious holistic attention, that I'm going to put it out there. A while back, we had lice. Blech, I know!
Now that is it over and conquered, I can admit to myself that we didn't ALL have lice, but at the time EVERYTHING made my skin crawl. I had phantom itches for over a week, yet never found a bug or egg on me.
And now that it is over, I can also say IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL!
I made WAY too big a deal out of the whole thing. I researched it (like I research everything) - to the n-th degree. And did everything short of lighting my house on fire. But honestly, I don't think most of that mattered.
Here's the truth:
- Lice does NOT mean you are a bad parent and/or have dirty/neglected kids! Lice actually prefer clean hair to dirty hair!
- You do NOT need to scour every surface of your house or move out! Lice can only live 1-2 days off a host.
- Nothing needs to be done with your pets. Lice are species-specific and only eat human blood.
Here are my tips to you to plan ahead, be prepared, and not freak out.
Rather than spend $40+ on one high-toxic nit/lice removal kit, try this safe and natural home remedy that is much cheaper, works for EVERYONE in the house, and has other great benefits/uses as well.
Supplies needed:
Terminator Nit Comb ($10)
Olive Oil, any quality ($2)
Vacuum
Washer/Dryer
Garbage Bags
Recommended Supplies:
Vinegar
Shower Cap ($1)
Tea Tree Oil ($22)
Lavender Essential Oil ($25)
Theraneem Shampoo and Conditioner ($10 each)
Directions:
- Optional - Coat hair in vinegar (dilute to tolerate). Vinegar helps break down the "glue" that holds eggs to hair.
- Combine 2oz olive oil with 15 drops tea tree oil and 5 drops lavender oil. Olive oil immobilizes and eventually suffocates the lice. Tea tree and lavender EOs help kill them and the eggs and the smell helps prevent re-infestation.
- Apply olive oil or olive oil/EO mixture to hair (especially at the scalp).
- Cover with shower cap.
- Resources varied on how long to leave this mixture on the head. The minimum I saw was 20 minutes, some sources stated 2-3 hours, others said it required 12 hours minimum to kill lice. I choose to leave it on for several hours, but with a good nit comb (like the terminator) this was probably overkill (pardon the pun). That said, with a good nit comb, the entire olive oil step could also be deemed overkill…the lice can also be fairly immobilized with conditioner.
- While you wait. Remove all bedding, couch pillows, stuffed animals, etc and wash in hot water. Items that cannot be washed should be placed in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes or bagged for 2 weeks (the lifespan of the eggs). Vacuum all fabric surfaces you or your children may place their head on (couches, mattresses, carpets, dog beds, etc.)
- Here is the important part! Comb with the Terminator comb VERY well. Go over the hair in at least 3 directions, until all lice, eggs, and nymphs are removed. Be sure to rinse the comb in hot water after each pass through the hair. Note: Nit combing is easier with conditioner in the hair.
- Use a shampoo and conditioner that contains Neem oil (like Theraneem) for 2+ weeks to prevent reinfestation. Alternatively, add 1 drop Tea Tree or lavender oil when shampooing. Again, these scents deter bugs from infesting. These options can be used long term.
- Use nit comb every 2-3 days for 2-3 weeks to catch new hatchlings before they have a chance to lay new eggs.
Best wishes!
Note: I am not a medical doctor. The information provide within this document are based on my personal experience. You may receive different results.
The information presented herein is not presented with the intention of diagnosing or treating any disease or condition. This information is for educational purposes only. No responsibility is assumed by the author nor anyone connected with this website for the use of this information and no guarantees of any kind are made for the performance or effectiveness of the recommendations provided.
This information has not been evaluated by any Food and Drug Administration, nor has it gone through rigorous double-blind studies required before a particular method or product can be deemed truly beneficial or potentially dangerous and prescribed in the treatment of any condition or disease. |
