Head lice can be a distressing problem to confront. The thought of little critters living on your head and jumping around on your clothes or your bed can make you want to try any solution possible. If you or your child has lice, don't despair as there are herbal remedies to treat the condition. Try juniper berries or poke root to effectively and gently treat head lice, recommends "The Complete Book of Herbs."
Source
Both juniper berries and poke root may be available in the herb section of your health food store.You may also be able to find them growing in the wild. According to "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants,' pokeweed is a plentiful weed in North America and the Mediterranean. Identify it by its pink stems and clusters of deep purple berries. Juniper berries are the round blue fruit of the evergreen juniper bush. Juniper grows in varied climates from Europe to Asia to North America.
Properties
Both juniper and poke root are traditional remedies for skin infections. They both have strong antiseptic action and stimulate removal of toxins from the body. The strength of these herbs is what makes them so powerful against lice, so be sure not to use too much. Poke root can be toxic in large doses and juniper is an emmenagogue that stimulates menstruation. Don't use them while you are pregnant, warns "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants."
Preparation
Prepare juniper or poke root in an infusion. Pour one quart of boiling water over one ounce of the dried herbs. Let them steep covered for up to four hours. Strain out the herbs, add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and apply the mixture to your head. Be sure to cover the entire scalp and hair. Cover with a plastic bag and leave on for 10 minutes. Wash your hair as usual.
Continued Care
This infusion kills the live lice, but you will still have to comb out the lice eggs with a special comb made for this purpose. Look carefully to make sure you have removed all eggs. Repeat the herbal infusion every two weeks until you have applied it a total of three times. This will kill any lice that hatch from eggs later on.
Treat Your Surroundings
Wash thoroughly all clothes and especially bed clothes at the same time you apply the herbal preparation. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to the washing machine and dry everything on high to kill the lice. Talk to your doctor before beginning this or any other herbal treatment.
References
- "The Complete Book of Herbs"; Lesley Bremness; 1988
- "The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants"; Andrew Chevallier; 1996
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