Join Now!
Login
Whole Person Wellness Program
Personal Wellness
more
Employee Wellness
more
Certified Coach Training
more
Home
About Us
AdvisoryBoard
Contact Us
Healthy Living
Healthy Kitchen
Healthy Woman
Healthy Man
Healthy Child
Healthy Aging
Fitness Center
Expert Columns
Wellness
Wellness Center
Emotional Health
Healthy Brain
Healthy Relationships
Healthy Sleep
Healthy Stress
Healthy Weight
Mind/Body Health
Spiritual Health
Tai Chi & Qigong
Wellness Inventory
Yoga
Expert Columns
Alternative Therapies
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Breath Therapy
Chinese Medicine
Chiropractic
Energy Medicine
Guided Imagery
Herbal Medicine
Holistic Dentistry
Homeopathy
Massage & Bodywork
Mind/Body Medicine
Music & Sound Healing
Natural Vision Care
Naturopathic Medicine
Nutritional Medicine
Osteopathy
Reiki
Professional Center
Expert Columns
More Alternative Therapies
Health A-Z
ADHD
ADHD
Allergies
Alzheimer's
Arthritis
Asthma
Back Pain
Brain Health
Breast Health
Cancer
Depression
Diabetes
Emergency /First Aid
Eye Health
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Heart Health
High Cholesterol
Menopause
Obesity & Weight Loss
Pregnancy
Prostate Health
Sleep Health
Expert Columns
All Conditions
Expert Columns
Event Calendar
FREE NEWSLETTER
*
Alpha
*
Alpha
*
!
Health Centers
Aging Well
Alternative Medicines
Brain Health
Children
Eating Well
Emotional Health
Fitness
Healthy Weight
Men
Relationships
Sleep Well
Spirituality
Stress
University
Wellness
Women
Key Services
Event Calendar
Expert Columns
First Aid
Recipes
Wellness Inventory
Welcome Center
Medicial Mistakes?
How many people each year suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death after a hospital visit?
from 46,000 to 78,000
from 78,000 to 132,000
from 132,000 to 210,000
from 210,000 to 440,000
What Doctors Don't Tell You: Head lice
Share
What Doctors Don't Tell You
© (Issue 185)
A woman writes
in to say that her 7-year-old son has head lice; as his hair is very short, it’s easy to comb through. She’s also treating herself, however, and she’s got very thick, shoulder-length hair. It’s hard to get the nit comb through all the hair. What’s out there that works? Apparently nothing chemical will work in the long term, as the little creatures are adept at becoming quickly immune to treatment. One thing that keeps them at bay, however, is to comb sodium laurel sulphate free Green People conditioner through the hair every 3 days. Follow this with the Bug Buster kit, which UK residents can obtain on prescription. However, one GP uses regular mayonnaise on her own child! Before going to bed, completely cover the head with mayonnaise, then wrap cling film tightly around the head. Cover the pillow (it stains). Repeat the process once a week for 3 weekends, washing it out with shampoo and some washing-up liquid. Another reader suggests searching health food stores for quassia chips (wood chips from the quassia amara tree). Boil these in water for about 10 minutes, then strain the liquid and massage into the hair without rinsing. Before adding the quassia liquid, comb the hair repeatedly with conditioner and a nit comb. Another option is a product called DELACET – a “unique dual-action flower extract” free of artificial colours, additives or preservatives – that is available on NHS prescription. It does not require prolonged combing and is suitable for all hair types. One woman recommends neem oil brushed through the hair and preferably left on overnight (again, it would be wise to cover the pillow with an old towel to prevent staining). You could also try rinsing the hair with vinegar. You can use it neat, or dilute it with enough hot water to reach a comfortable temperature for pouring over the head. With your thick hair, lean over the bath and brush the hair downward before wetting it. For a short-haired child, probably sitting in the bath is easiest. Then soak the hair and scalp with the vinegar solution and start combing. Be aware that it stings if you get it in the eyes, and it also seems to sting the scalp the first one or two times you use it. It works in several different ways: First, it knocks out the little dearies so they can't run away from the comb. This means you only have to go all round the head once or twice instead of many times. The second way the vinegar works is to loosen the glue that holds the eggs to the hair. Some of these will come out in the comb, and some will be rinsed away later. After the initial wet combing, the hair may be too dry to allow the shampoo to lather, so rinse again with vinegar solution and then apply the shampoo and lather it up. You can comb again at this stage too. Finally, rinse as normal with plain water. The vinegar seems to continue working at loosening any nits still clinging to the hair, and these come out more easily the next time. Prevention would of course be a lot easier – combing the hair with a little lavender oil each morning seems to work a treat. And there’s a theory that head lice like sugar, so diet may play a part.
Comments
Add your comment
About The Author
What Doctors Don’t Tell You
is one of the few publications in the world that can justifiably claim to solve people's health problems - and even save lives. Our monthly newsletter gives you the facts you won't...
...more
Related Articles & Links
on Lice
From Our Friends
Popular Related Articles/Areas
2
Oregon Heart Researchers Find Fish Oil Supplements May Be Harmful To Patients With Abnormal Heart Rhythms
3
Integrative Medicine and Integrated Health Care Round-up #44: June 2011
4
Connections
5
Head lice
6
MOBILE PHONE MASTS: Now our police are getting sick
7
BACK TO SCHOOL I: And back to the head lice
8
HEAD LICE:
9
Plantar fascitis (policeman’s heel)
10
Disease Management for Depression Eases Expenses
Popular & Related Products
Certification Training
Wellness Workbook
Lab Tests Women's Health
ZENMED Skin
Repair System
Employee Wellbeing
Whole Person Wellbeing
Popular & Featured Events
2019 National Wellness Conference
October 1-3, 2019
Kissimmee, FL USA
Additional Calendar Links
Dimensions of Wellness
Home
Wellness
Health A-Z
Alternative Therapies
Wellness Inventory
Wellness Center
Healthy Kitchen
Healthy Woman
Healthy Man
Healthy Child
Healthy Aging
Nutrition Center
Fitness Center
Discount Lab Tests
First Aid
Global Health Calendar
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
Disclaimer:
The information provided on HealthWorld Online is for educational purposes only and IS NOT intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Are you ready to embark on a personal wellness journey with our whole person approach?
Reduce stress
Improve work-life balance
Enhance your health/wellbeing
Learn More/Subscribe
Are you looking to create or enhance a culture of wellness in your organization?
Whole person approach
Increase engagement
Enhance performance
Learn More
Do you want to become a wellness coach?
Whole person focus
Dimensional wellness model
ICF Approved
Learn More
Free Webinar