Lice!
First let me tell everyone that we have successfully rid our house and hair of Lice! It was a hard a grueling process but alas we are done.
Second, I would like to give everyone some information about Lice and treatments. Since this was my first time as an adult dealing with Lice, I would like to share my hard earned wisdom sprinkled with a little motherly advice.
Over a week ago I stood in the pharmacy aisle looking at the LICE treatments. There was RID, NIX, some generic brands and a bunch of stuff I don’t remember. What I do remember was reading the warnings
· Do not use on infants
· Do not use if pregnant
· Do not use if breast feeding
· Do not use Blow Dryer – containers flammable ingredients.
· Do not leave on hair longer than prescribed
And the list went on and on. Every single one I read had similar warnings. So, not knowing any better I picked up a couple treatments (obviously I had to treat myself too!)
So, home we went. Treatment in one hand and scratching my head with the other.
As I was starting to apply the treatment to Elyzabeth’s head she asked me, “Mommy, why are you putting that in my hair?”
I said, “It will kill the bugs in your hair.”
At which point she started crying, “No mommy… then it will kill me too.”
So, I got to thinking (after all the cleaning was done), what exactly is in this stuff? And here, is what I found out.
1. Permethrin is the main component in several of Lice Treatments, including NIX.
2. There is a concern of “Resistant” lice, however the severity and extent is yet unknown.
3. Permethrin can cause an allergic reaction in people who have known seasonal/floral allergies. Especially Chrysanthemums.
4. Permethrin is a PESTICIDE! The EPA has issued several warnings on this product when used as a pesticide. Which can be found: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm
a. Adult exposure warnings are below the acceptable “risk” for cancer
b. Toddler exposure: “exceeded the Agency’s LOC for toddlers exposed to permethrin through food and drinking water, and through post-application exposure during high contact activities on lawns and indoor surfaces”
a. Fever
b. Stomach ache & diarrhea
c. mild and transient burning and stinging
d. Numbness, tingling, headache and siezures.
Needless to say the treatments for lice have some pretty SERIOUS side effects. I mean after all, it is strictly regulated by the EPA (Environment Protection Agency), the same agency that regulates and controls products like paint thinner & gasoline.
Would you pour gasoline on your kids head?
So, I have found an all-natural alternative. It was highly recommended by 2 co-workers, and I am a believer.
IT is called: HEAD-LICE-GONE. It is a highly concentrated blend of several essential oils (Tea Tree, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Manuka, Rosemary).
I purchased it at an herbal store in South Minneapolis called Present Moments. You can also order a bottle online.
What you do is take 30 drops and place in a “carrier oil.” ( I used Coconut oil also purchased from Present moments).
· Smother head in oil being sure to saturate the scalp and all the way to the ends of the hair.
· Wrap in Saran Wrap for upto 4 hours
· Rinse out hair and comb out nits.
· Repeat as desired.
I did one treatment and it was GONE! Amazing! And, we skipped the “rinse” step and just combed it out with the oil in it then let her go to bed with it still in her hair.
This same oil can be used as a prevention oil as well. Take a few drops of the oil and mix in with your condition and wash as normal. The Tee Tree oil will deter any live lice from taking up residence.
Using it once a week during the school year could possible keep your child from getting head lice at school.
Now, the oil is NOT approved by the medical community, but I am telling you I am a believer. Currently living Pesticide free & lice Free!
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