It seems that lice are on the rampage once again. The annual school newsletter has been sent out and those itchy little insects are spreading around the kids like wildfire! But it still amazes me how many parents still don't have a clue about how to deal with them. One of my preferred treatments is to use mayonnaise to destroy the head lice and vinegar to dislodge the nits to make it easier to remove them.
Lice treatments for chemical companies are big business. For years if we discovered one of our kids had caught lice we would grab a bottle of lice shampoo from the pharmacy and give their heads a good lathering and hope that would do the trick. But recently a lot of parents like you and I have started to question just what exactly it is that we are rubbing into our family's heads!
Most of these so called "tried and tested" shampoos are actually insecticides and they work by attacking the nervous systems of the lice. The active ingredients in these products could possibly run the risk of being toxic to humans if used frequently in the same way. Over use has already produced lice that are showing a higher resistance to these treatments. Permethrin products are amongst the most common to be experiencing the largest resistance.
Over the years, I think I've tried just about every conceivable way there is to get rid of lice, (yes, including the chemical based pesticides) but I still keep coming back to a simple two part formula. And what's great about this formula is that it's completely safe and natural!
You will have no doubt heard a lot of stories about home remedies and how they're a great natural alternative to the lice shampoos. But do they really work?
A misunderstood treatment is the use of vinegar to kill head lice. Vinegar isn't actually used for killing lice, but it is however perfect for helping to dislodge their eggs or "nits" as they are most often known. The nits glue themselves to the hair shaft and it can be a real chore to shift them. Normal combing through the hair usually doesn't work and even if you use a dedicated lice comb it can be difficult to clear them all.
Through years of trial and error I've found a combination that works very effectively. Mayonnaise to destroy the live head lice and vinegar to dislodge the nits. Finishing with a proper metal toothed comb to remove the debris!
Stage 1 - The mayonnaise is used to basically asphyxiate the lice. You would smother the hair completely with the mayonnaise, cover it with a plastic covering and leave it on for around 2 hours. This usually kills the lice extremely well and you should then shampoo off as much of the mayonnaise as you can. This may take a few "rinse and repeats" to get it all out!
Stage 2 - Next you need to pour a mixture of vinegar and water (approximately 1 part vinegar and 10 parts water) onto the hair and make sure it is thoroughly soaked through. Take extra care not to get any vinegar into the infected person's eyes. Leave this in for around 30 to 60 minutes and then rinse.
Stage 3 - This final step is equally if not more important than the previous steps. You need to use a dedicated lice comb and carefully comb through the hair from root to tip. Separate the hair into 3 to 4 cm sections and really give it a good combing through. After each pass you should wipe the comb clean on a tissue and dip it in vinegar before continuing the combing process.
While there is no guarantee that this will work for you, I've found it to be the most successful lice removal system I've used. Using mayonnaise to kill head lice and vinegar to easily remove the nits is by far a safer alternative to those insecticide shampoos that could be putting the future of your children's health at risk. Before you start wasting money on potentially dangerous treatments why not try out something safe and natural that you may already have sitting in one of your kitchen cupboards at home!
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