Remedicated

If you have children, lice is probably an issue that concerns you. Although you can get lice at any age, the closeness of children in schools makes kids more likely to acquire the bugs.

The treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics is an over-the-counter chemical that you apply twice, the second application a week after the first. While this method may be effective, it contains harmful substances that you may just not want seeping into your child’s skin. Or maybe your child’s lice have grown resistant to the type of chemical treatment you’re using. What else can you do, short of shaving your child’s head?

Folk remedies for head lice have been abundant for as long as anyone can remember. Most of the home remedies involve smothering the lice and their eggs so that they suffocate and die. Others rely on the bugs’ natural dislike of some herbal substances.

1. Mayonnaise. Not Miracle Whip or any other mayonnaise substitute, mind you. The thick and greasy texture of mayonnaise has been used by many mothers to smother lice and their nits (eggs). You apply it liberally to the affected person’s head, cover it all with a shower cap, and leave it on overnight. The next morning, wash the hair thoroughly and use a nit comb (a small, very fine-toothed comb) to remove lice bodies and nits.

2. Olive oil soaks. With the head over the sink and protective cloths covering the clothing, saturate every last strand of hair with olive oil. Leave the olive oil on for 30 minutes and then comb with a nit comb. Wash the hair with dish soap to remove the oil. Repeat the process every other day for two weeks.

3. Tea tree oil. You can buy tea tree oil shampoo at just about any retailer these days. If you would prefer, it’s also effective to put a few drops of tea tree oil into your child’s regular shampoo. Then comb the hair very carefully with a lice comb to remove the bodies and nits.

When you use any lice treatment, it’s very important to treat your bedding, soft toys, and head coverings. Lice die without a host within 48 hours, so put those things that can’t be washed into an airtight plastic bag for 2-3 days to kill the little bugs. For the things that can go in the washing machine, wash them on hot and then dry them on high for at least 30 minutes.