Lice are wingless insects that live on the scalps of humans and feed off their blood. Without proper treatment, lice can make the roots of the hair weak and eventually fall out. In extreme cases, lice can cause fevers in the person who has them, says Home Remedies Web. There are home remedies to use to eliminate these pests naturally and safely.
Onions
Natural-homeremedies.org notes that the juice of an onion can be very effective against lice. Extract the juice from an onion into a small bowl and massage into the hair and scalp, leaving it on for three to four hours; the sulfur content of the onion juice kills the lice. Make sure to wash your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice from your scalp. Continue this treatment for three days, because lice eggs take that long to hatch.
Vinegar and Water
Combine two teaspoons of vinegar with six teaspoons of water, immerse a wad of cotton into the mix and before bed, apply a generous amount into the hair, especially the roots, and then wrap a cloth bandage around the head. The next morning, wash the mixture out of your hair. Do this twice a week; the vinegar and water will completely remove the lice, says natural-homeremedies.org.
Garlic
Natural-homeremedies.org says that garlic is another good treatment for the removal of head lice. Grind a garlic clove into a fine paste and mix with lemon juice. Massage the mix into the head prior to going to bed. In the morning, wash the hair thoroughly. The pungent chemicals of the garlic will kill the lice overnight, and in the morning, a head bath will remove the dead lice. Continue this treatment for four to five days.
Tea Tree Oil
Home-remedies-for-you.com suggests that for one month, after washing your hair, add a few drops of tea tree oil to the rinse water. The oil has an active ingredient called terpinen-4-ol, which has been shown to dislodge lice from the scalp and kill them. They also suggest that if there is an infestation of head lice, to be sure to use separate towels and pillows; washing them regularly. All combs and brushes should be sterilized by cleaning them with a few drops of tea tree oil.
Oil or Vaseline
Wise Geek says that applying either oil or vaseline to your hair overnight will suffocate adult lice, while also conditioning the hair at the same time. It also says that you can combine the oil or vaseline with a few drops of eucalyptus oil, which is a natural insecticide. Patience must be used with this treatment as it will require several washings with shampoo to remove all of the oil or vaseline. Once the oil or vaseline is removed, use a fine-toothed comb to remove the dead lice.
