What works for headlice?

[Sadystar]

I am so desperate! DD started Waldorf nursery several weeks ago and promptly got nits, I seem to have hers under control, but I just cannot seem to do anything that completely gets rid of mine. I have used oils that I have had success with before, conditioner/combing method and to my shame permethrin shampoo and some awful chemical insecticide lotion, that seemed to seriously reduce the problem but then made me feel anxious and stupid for risking it (I'm pregnant). I am going crazy! I have got terminator lice!

I bought some quassia bark a while back because I remember using a quassia preparation in the UK before that seemed to work. Does anyone know what I should do with the bark or have any other natural suggestions for stopping me itching like a loon?

TIA Sadystar

[vioburn]

Check out this thread...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=984799

[Sadystar]

Thanks though I wouldn't like to leave those particular oils on a pregnant head for any time. I'd be interested to hear where you got the tea tree tip from AFAIK it doesn't have a reputation as an insecticide or deterrent.

I was hoping that someone who might have used quassia might come forward.

Sadystar x

[htcamommy]

Oh I can so help with this one!! I too used not only the over the counter shampoo but at one point even the perscription shampoo which sent my then 10yo dd in screaming fits as it burnt into her scalp. So what works... nothing. No chemical, oil, or shampoo completely kills the egg. All eggs have to be removed which is way easier said than done expecially on your own head. ( I too know this from personal experience and I have a head of THICK, CURLY hair). We combatted this problem for a year and a half until I became pregnant with ds. Then I too said enough with all the chemicals!! There is a website with a detailed instruction plan on how to get rid of them & its something like 21 days to lice free. I can't find it right now but I can explain the just of it to you.
Okay go to the pet section of your local discount store & buy the GOOD metal flea combs & a calender.
Circle todays date, tomorrow and the next day.
The trick is that you are going to get all the "egg layers" out. After that you are going to get the rest out before they become "egg layers"
So you comb your head till the comb is clean today, tomorrow and the next day. This will be EXAUSTING
Now count three days from your last day & circle that day & the one after it
When these faithful days occur comb, comb, comb again.
Repeat these steps for 21 to 27 days.
The thing is that baby lice are to small to catch in any comb & nits are impossible to completely remove. By combing your hair every three days you are allowing the louse to get big enough to catch in the comb but not old enough to lay eggs (5-7 days old).
I REALLY hope this helps. I encourage you to use this in addition to oils ( Whole Foods makes a "lice shampoo" which is really just oils similar to those mentioned in pp's). This will help speed the process & make you feel more productive.

[Sadystar]

Thank you, that really explained things to me....especially why the problem seems to get better only to get very much worse in a few days. I conditioned and combed again today and got 4 big boys out, I'm still itching in a couple of places so I guess I didn't get em all. I have long thick hair (all the thicker for being pregnant) and it's finding the time to be so thorough. Right now DP is away for several weeks and I'm looking after DD and everything else (we live up a mountain, no road, loads of animals, food growing, wood chopping etc) just takes up so much more time than if I lived in the burbs. How long do you reckon is long enough in order to be thorough?

[htcamommy]

Well during our visit from our "head friends" we usually spent about 15/20 minutes a session. More in the beginning, less as time contiued. I still comb our hair at least once a week with the comb. Just comb it everytime you wash it. Also I kept my hairbrush in the freezer & used it to get out the knots before I used the comb. This made things ALOT faster!!!

[EmsMom]

I agree with pp about the combing at least every three days. I prefered daily combing, actually twice a day for all kids in the house. Daily change of pillow cases. I kept old towels on the back of all upholestered chairs so they could be changed after use to prevent passes any living lice from one head to another. I also removed all stuffed animals from the bed and bagged everything for 3 weeks. I really thing that it was worth it to comb (with the good METAL nit comb (looks like this but I got mine at the local drug store: http://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Pro.../dp/B000HIBPV8) two or three times a day. It was more time at the beginning but it was less of a chance of missing something and letting it lay another egg. I have read that you can't comb yourself. But I didn't have anyone to comb me out regularly. So I combed my hair in 4 different directions and I did it many times a day (maybe 8?) It seemed excessive but it was quite effective. I started in the middle of my head and went right back covering the whole scalp. Then I did the other side. Then I put my head down and combed the other way. Then I did the whole head to the left and then the whole head to the right. Because I couldn't actually see anything, it was the system I worked out for the best coverage and it was really no big deal to do myself a whole bunch of times a day for a week or so and then I slowly slacked off to once a day and then once every few days. I still comb everyone once a week of so. I have read that a hot blow dryer slows the buggers down alot so they are easier to comb out. Tea treel oil might also work when added to shampoo. I never used any chemicals and I had the school nurse check the kids and there were no live bugs or nits when she checked so my system worked! Good luck -- it is a huge pain but when you really get serious about it is goes away pretty quickly.

[Taedareth]

Sadystar - you poor mama! Did you find something that worked?

[floridasix]

I've always used mayonaise with success. It's a bit freaky and as the day wears on, it starts to drip and get downright scary but it's worked for us. Don't forget to wash your carseat.

Here's the link about the mayo:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_640.html

[Sadystar]

Originally Posted by Taedareth

Sadystar - you poor mama! Did you find something that worked?

Yeah I ordered some Delacet from the UK - I'd used it before when I worked in a primary school. It's a mixture of tincture of larkspur and vinegar.

Other than that, I comb DD every two or three days when she's in the bath, so I'm pretty much on top of it. I don't seem to get them that way.

[rabbithorns]

My daughter had a terrible lice infestation when she was 16. Her hair is really thick and was about shoulder length. The poison shampoo didn't work well and it took me 6 hours to comb through her hair and try to remove all stragglers and nits. Must have missed some because 2 days later she still had some lice and a few new nits.

Covered her head in olive oil - scalp and hair - totally soaked in it. Taped a plastic bag over that. Left it on 24 hours while washing all her bedding, etc. and separating her from everything - dolls, etc. - which went outside.

The lice were all gone or dead; the last few nits combed out easily because of the oil. After washing, I went through again and looked for nits and dead bugs.

But part of the deal was separating her from her infested room (at 16 she didn't spend any time in any other area of the house) for 24 hours. Without a host, the lice won't survive more than that. I also sprayed her room with lice spray...but I think that was overkill (no pun intended).

Hope that helps. I swear by the oil treatment. Lice can hold their breath or something which is why washing hair doesn't drown them, but they can't hold out for 24 hours of oil. Blow drying also kills them so you might want to follow an oil treatment with a good hot dry and a periodic one as well to discourage future visitors.

[buttercupmama]

You can try cassia obovata too. Make a paste with water, apply it for as long as you want--at least overnight--then rinse and condition as usual. It has an added bonus of giving hair beautiful shine and thickness too.