Lice comes in second to the common cold in terms of communicable conditions among schoolchildren, according to MayoClinic.com. The chemicals in over-the-counter lice treatments cause many families affected by lice to seek alternative treatments. Less toxic options often work effectively in treating lice outbreaks, but results vary. With any lice treatment, combing out the lice and their eggs along with washing all soft materials in the home helps prevent another lice outbreak.
Smothering
Applying a thick substance to the hair may smother and kill the lice. Petroleum jelly and mayonnaise are often recommended for this purpose. Use a new jar of mayonnaise that hasn't been in the refrigerator, so it is warm. Apply either the petroleum jelly or mayonnaise in a thick layer, covering all hair, behind the ears and down the neck slightly. Put a tightly fitting shower cap over the hair to prevent dripping. Leave the hair for at least two hours. Petroleum jelly can stay on overnight. Mayonnaise should be washed out the same day, because it can turn poisonous when left out of the refrigerator, according to the Safe Natural Cures website.
Getting the mayonnaise or petroleum jelly out of the hair takes some effort. Mayonnaise should come out after a few washings with shampoo. To remove petroleum jelly, cover the hair with baby oil, rubbing it in to saturate the hair. Squeeze out as much as possible. You then need to wash the hair at least three times using Dawn dish soap and hot water, according to Safe Natural Cures. Make sure the water isn't so hot that it burns the child.
Shampoo
A homemade lice shampoo offers a nontoxic option. Safe Natural Cures recommends mixing 5 tsp. pure olive oil or pure coconut oil with 5 drops each of tea tree oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. Stir in a small amount of regular shampoo, and apply all over the hair, leaving it on for an hour. Put on a shower cap to prevent it from dripping. Rinse and shampoo again, followed by combing with a lice comb.
DrGreene.com recommends a similar lice shampoo with fewer essential oils. His recipe uses 3 tbsp. of olive oil, 1 tsp. of tea tree oil and 1 tsp. of either rosemary oil or eucalyptus oil. Mix the oils with regular shampoo, and use in the same way as the previous recipe.
Some of the essential oils may present a health risk, according to Safe Natural Cures. Any of the oils can be omitted, depending on your situation. Children under the age of five may experience respiration difficulties from peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil. Peppermint oil and rosemary oil may be harmful to pregnant women. Peppermint oil may also raise blood pressure. Check with your health care provider if you're unsure about the possible side effects.
Vinegar
Using vinegar makes it easier to remove the nits from the hair. Rinse the scalp and hair with vinegar after shampooing. The vinegar weakens the "glue" that holds the nits onto the hair. Some of the nits may wash completely out of the hair with the vinegar, while others will be left behind. A lice comb helps you remove the remaining nits from the hair. Combining this method with a natural lice shampoo or smothering method increases its effectiveness.
Heat
Applying heat to the head may help kill the adult lice and the nits, according to the DrGreene.com. One method is to blow dry the hair for 15 minutes twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The heat method must also include combining out the nits with a lice comb to be effective. Combining the heat method with over-the-counter lice treatments may decrease the effectiveness of the treatment, because the heat deactivates it.
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