Although an infestation of body lice can be eliminated by a regimen of personal hygiene and a clean living environment, head lice are more difficult to eradicate. Over-the-counter and prescription shampoos and topical insecticides are standard treatments for both types of lice. However, just as bacteria become resistant to medications, lice develop immunity to human-made pesticide treatments within three to five years, according to Florida Atlanta University associate professor, Shirley C. Gordon. For those who prefer to avoid harsh chemicals and potential side affects, old-time remedies often work as well as commercial products.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, an essential oil extracted from the Australian melaleuca tree, is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter head lice medications. The antiseptic properties of tea tree oil make it an effective treatment for sores and wounds, and it an efficient insecticide. Proponents of tea tree oil say a ratio of 1 oz. of tea tree oil to 8 oz. of shampoo massaged into the hair and scalp, safely eradicates adult lice. Because tea tree oil does not eliminate nits, more than one treatment is necessary.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a botanical pesticide derived from the Neem tree, an evergreen tree indigenous to Southeast Asia. Neem oil is a staple in traditional Indian medicine and been used as an insecticide to repel insects for thousands of years. For the first treatment, a one-to-one ratio of 1 part olive oil to 1 part neem oil is applied directly to the hair and scalp and left in place for several hours. Follow-up treatments with neem oil shampoo is recommended. Neem oil's unpleasant odor may be covered with another essential oil, but you should consult with an herbalist or physician before using essential oils for babies and young children.
Mayonnaise
Head lice breathe from holes in the side of their body, and proponents of a mayonnaise treatment believe covering the holes with mayo will smother the lice within a matter of hours. Room-temperature mayonnaise is applied to the hair, scalp and hairline, covered with a shower cap or plastic wrap and left in place for several hours. To avoid the risk of suffocation or ingestion of the mayonnaise, avoid sleeping during treatment. When the covering is removed, rinse the hair with warm water and use a fine tooth or nit comb to remove visible dead lice. The mayonnaise remedy should be followed with a coconut-oil based shampoo and conditioning treatment, as head lice are repelled by coconut and coconut oil, says the Ayruvedic-Medicines website.
Petroleum Jelly
A comparison of the efficacy of petroleum jelly, vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil and mayonnaise to control head lice, found petroleum jelly to be most effective. As with other oils, the hair, scalp and neckline are coated with petroleum jelly, covered with a shower cap and left in place for several hours or overnight. According to the Safe Natural Cures website, baby oil is an effective way to remove petroleum jelly. Saturate the hair in baby oil, squeeze out as much as possible and rinse several times.
