Herbal Remedy For Head Lice

A Herbal Remedy for head lice is an alternative to the commercial products that are becoming less and less effective.

As with many strains of bacteria and viruses, lice have been able to build up a resistance to the active ingredients in the most common insecticidal shampoos for treating and preventing head lice.

That makes it more and more difficult for parents in their attempts at getting rid of lice. 

Oh well, you probably don't want to keep dousing your child in pesticides anyway!

Did you know that there are natural alternatives to the old standard head lice treatments (like Nix, Rid, etc.) that have harmful chemicals? Here are a few for you to check out, followed by a do-it-yourself mixture that you can make up at home if you prefer.

If you want to make your own herbal remedy for head lice, here's the simple recipe to do so. It's just a matter of mixing essential oils with any cheap brand of shampoo and conditioner.

Personally, I like to use the olive oil method of killing head lice and then use an herbal shampoo like this recipe as a preventive measure when you know you'll be around possible lice carrying company. ;)


To a 12 ounce bottle of normal shampoo add...

• 10 drops of Eucalyptus oil
  
• 5 drops of Geranium oil
  
• 5 drops of Lavender oil
  
• 5 drops of Neem oil (if you can't find the neem oil, leave it out)
  
• 5 drops of Thyme oil
  
  

To a 12 ounce bottle of normal conditioner add...

• 20 drops of Peppermint oil
  
  

You can get all of the essential oils in organic form at excellent prices at either Puritan's Pride if you can't find them locally.

Shake the bottles well before using them so that the oils are mixed well throughout.

1. Shampoo the hair thoroughly with your special herbal lice shampoo and rinse well.
   
   
2. Apply the special herbal conditioner and allow it to set on the hair for as long as possible before combing it out. 
   
   
3. De-tangle the hair with a wide tooth comb first. Then, using a head lice comb (or fine tooth comb), comb through the hair from scalp to end. Go over the entire head one tiny section at a time. Be sure to rinse the comb after each stroke.
   
   

Don't forget to clean the house! No, I'm not talking about your regular housekeeping. There are a couple of simple things you need to do to be sure you don't reinfect yourself or your child.

Wash sheets, pillow cases, towels, face washers, hats, clothes worn in the past couple of days and anything else that you think may have had contact with the hair lice.

Also vacuum the sofa, chairs, car seats, etc., where the head may have rested. Even though lice can only survive for 24 hours without a head to bite, they could easily climb back on you or someone else who sits in the same place and start the whole cycle all over again.

If you have a herbal remedy for head lice that you'd like to share or some other anecdote, please pass it on below.

To your good health!

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