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Tea tree oil is a popular homeopathic deterrent, and coconut shampoo and conditioner is also recommended. Always treat bedding, mattress, stuffed animals and winter coats and hats/scarves. Things that can go into the dryer -DO IT. Bag stuffed animals, because the dryer can ruin beautiful materials the toys are made of.
I am not fond of tea tree oil's smell especially when you send your child to school smelling like a medicine chest. I used cinnamon oil to improve the smell. Always mix only 2 drops into a quart of water. Never make it stronger or cinnamon oil will irritate skin. But I found that a light mist on the hair and spritzing the coats and hats eliminated the head lice plague!
Of course, use caution! I think food grade cinnamon powder would also work. Dust items in a garbage bag, sparingly and mix some in hot water for the spray bottle.
Compared to expensive and caustic chemicals, it works fantastically. Very inexpensive, very effective, and very Natural. The bottle of cinnamon oil did my kids for years and I shared it with others plagued by the insects. No one ever complained about the smell.
Between occurrences use coconut shampoo and conditioner and continue to maintain the bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals. You may never hear the words "head lice" again.
By Linda from Flint, MI
Related: 
Getting Rid of Head Lice
By
07/18/2010
I am about to switch over to coconut oil after an expet on the autism website sent in an article on its benefits of topical use, reducing fever and many other skin uses and such. I am going to earthclinic.com to research it further. Also I am going to put the cinnamon powder in some water and spray..and also the Tea tree oil is something I am going to try, the kids came home from VBS full of lice.
By
05/25/2010
Wish I'd known about this a few years back. I ended up shaving my children's heads... my daughters looked like Sinead O'Connor that summer.
By
05/21/2010
I think tea tree oil is the most used product in my medicine cabinet. I continually find more things to use it on. I've also heard so many good things about coconut oil, which I've just bought and can hardly wait to start using.
Below you can read previous posts and comments about this topic. The discussions on this page has been archived 1 time. Select a discussion and read the feedback here.
(Archived May 20, 2010)Safe Natural Treatments for Head Lice
Treatment#1
Combine 1/2 tsp. each of Eucalyptus, Pennyroyal and Rosemary. Then add 2 1/2 tbls. pure olive oil. An Adult needs to try the mixture on his/her skin to make sure it doesn't burn. If it does, add more olive oil. After washing your child's hair with very hot water (as hot as the child can stand!) Comb the oil mixture through hair with a regular comb (throw away kind) Then use a flea comb, comb out any nits or eggs. Tie a cotton scarf around child's head and leave on over night. It may tingle, but if it burns wash out immediately and dilute the mixture and try again.
THE NEXT MORNING
Wash hair with a good tea tree shampoo. This should take care of the lice, however if necessary repeat the treatment. To prevent lice (when it has been reported in your child's school) rub tea tree oil or sassafras oil into the scalp.
Treatment#2
A natural alternative to killing head lice is to use mayonnaise. Cover the entire scalp and hair with mayonnaise, cover with plastic wrap and leave on about half an hour. Shampoo and remove all the nits or eggs.
Treatment#3
For best effectiveness, use a safe, pure soap like Botanic GOLD and carefully follow the directions below. Every step is important.
On a dry head, start at the nape of the neck along the hairline and work around the head saturating the hair as you go moving towards the crown where the hair is tied up. Remove the clips or pony tail and continue to apply the soap using enough to completely saturate the hair.
Massage the head and work into lather then comb through hair to ensure coverage (use a metal, regular toothed comb). Wrap or tie the hair back up on top of the head. Every ten minutes or so, massage the hair until 30 to 40 minutes have past. DO NOT RINSE AND DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY. (Reapply if necessary to keep moist.) The next day, follow the instructions above "THE NEXT MORNING".
NOTE: DO NOT USE Botanic Insecticidal Soap.
Sanitation Instructions for ALL Treatments
Lice are highly contagious and it is extremely important that they are eliminated as fast and completely as possible. When lice are first detected, it is wise to launder everything with which the infected person has come in contact. Use hot water and a non-toxic liquid soap.
About The Author: Copyright 2005 Wayne McDonald
Wayne McDonald is a Health Practitioner, a Public Speaker and founder of http://www.ourFamilysHealth.com - an on-line health directory of complimentary health care professionals.
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