School's back in session, and though it's a distasteful subject, Head Lice is a topic that we should cover. Believe it
or not, head lice is actually a subject I'm quite passionate about -
because typical lice shampoos and medications are toxic, and have
become
less and less effective due to head lice building an immunity to the
chemicals that are used to treat them. My take? Why even use the
toxic, medicated lice shampoos if they may or may not work?
If you're like me, preventative actions make me feel more in control, and gives me peace of mind. Unlike head lice shampoos and medications which should only be used on infected people, Coconut oil can be used preventatively, as well as to treat head lice, as often as you'd like/need, without any harmful side effects. What's not to love about that? Coconut oil is a safe and effective (yes, sadly, I can personally vouch for this method) treatment option.
How to use it:
First rinse your hair in apple cider vinegar, leaving it until it dries completely. This will help break down the, "glue" that holds the eggs to the shaft of the hair. After the vinegar is dry heat the coconut oil until it's melted, then soak the head, scalp, behind the ears, and eyebrows; leave on for 60+ minutes. Wrap your head in a towel - or plastic wrap, with adult supervision - to keep the oily mess off your clothes. (An added bonus: coconut oil is a great conditioner.) It is very important to treat every member of your house hold (pets are not generally carriers). You also need a lice comb, to rid the head of bugs and eggs, if present. Remember if there are any eggs accidentally overlooked, they will hatch out approximately 7-9 days later; repeating this method may be advisable. There is great information about head lice in this article, which gives very helpful information on natural treatment options - as I said I can personally vouch for the coconut oil method; it is effective:
http://www.
If you're like me, preventative actions make me feel more in control, and gives me peace of mind. Unlike head lice shampoos and medications which should only be used on infected people, Coconut oil can be used preventatively, as well as to treat head lice, as often as you'd like/need, without any harmful side effects. What's not to love about that? Coconut oil is a safe and effective (yes, sadly, I can personally vouch for this method) treatment option.
How to use it:
First rinse your hair in apple cider vinegar, leaving it until it dries completely. This will help break down the, "glue" that holds the eggs to the shaft of the hair. After the vinegar is dry heat the coconut oil until it's melted, then soak the head, scalp, behind the ears, and eyebrows; leave on for 60+ minutes. Wrap your head in a towel - or plastic wrap, with adult supervision - to keep the oily mess off your clothes. (An added bonus: coconut oil is a great conditioner.) It is very important to treat every member of your house hold (pets are not generally carriers). You also need a lice comb, to rid the head of bugs and eggs, if present. Remember if there are any eggs accidentally overlooked, they will hatch out approximately 7-9 days later; repeating this method may be advisable. There is great information about head lice in this article, which gives very helpful information on natural treatment options - as I said I can personally vouch for the coconut oil method; it is effective:
http://www.
The CDC website has fantastic information with detailed cleaning instructions:
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/
- For anything that cannot be washed in hot water, or ironed, bagging the items and leaving them sealed for 2 weeks is the best option.
- Be sure to wash all bedding for the entire family - it's a pain, but it's worth it, to get things eradicated quickly.
- Be sure to wash all hair items, combs, brushes, hats, helmets, headgear, etc. in hot soapy water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.
- Wash all linens, bath towels, bedding, or otherwise in hot water, and dry on high.
- Remember to clean your car seats! Vacuum them first, and if possible wash and dry them.
- Are you one of the fortunate people who have a sanitize cycle on your washer or dryer? Use it!
- Wash
any clothing or linens that come into contact with the coconut oil with
a few drops of dish detergent to get out the greasy residue/potential
coconut smell.
~Hannah Spagnola
