How to Rid Your Child of a Head Lice Infestation Using Natural Non Toxic Herbal Home Remedies

Perhaps you are one of the lucky few who by some miracle avoided the dreaded head lice experience in childhood. Now as a parent you find yourself staring in disbelief at a headful of lice and a plethora of tiny translucent oval shaped eggs, known as nits! These persistent buggers are now covering the locks of your beloved child! How could this happen and what are you going to do about it? First off, take a deep breath, everyone gets head lice at one time or another. In no way does a head lice infestation reflect on the cleanliness of your home, your child or your parenting. Phew! First things first, grab your shower cap and slap it onto your child's head. Wash your hands and pull your own hair into a hat to protect yourself from jumpers-that's right, lice can jump from person to person. Start by stripping all the bedding from your child's bedroom, including pillowcase. Machine Wash in hot soapy water with 1c distilled white vinegar added to the wash. There is no point in washing the kids head before you clean, as they will likely get reinfected if you do. Also, don't forget to clean your child's hairbrush and hair supplies in hot soapy water! One thing accomplished, so far so good.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 100g or 1/2c Fenugreek Seed Powder (you can buy the whole seeds & grind to powder in a coffee grinder)
• 25g or 1/4c Artemisa Powder
• Nit comb or a dog flea comb
• Box of Neutral Henna (does not dye hair, but conditions hair)
• Distilled White Vinegar
• Teatree oil shampoo

1. Now comes the fun part, trusting your gut instinct that all the insecticide shampoos at the conventional grocery store are not only ineffective (trust me on this one), but extremely toxic to your growing child, the environment and noticably damaging to the hair itself. So what else can you use? Please, no matter what you have heard, do not use dog shampoo, lamp oil or vaseline- seriously not a good idea. Step 1 is to choose a natural non-toxic environmentally friendly solution to this problem and I have just the remedy!

2. Ready, set, let's go. Its time for a trip to your local Health Food Store or Herb Shop. Here is your shopping list: 100g or 1/2c fenugreek powder, whole seeds can be ground to a powder in a coffee grinder. 25g or 1/4c artemisia powder, alternately artemisia leaf can be ground to powder. A box of Neutral henna, this is the type of henna that WILL NOT dye your hair, so relax you will not be a flaming red head at the end of this treatment! Don't forget teatree oil shampoo and a nit comb for removing eggs. Now it is time to head home and start mixing up this killer concoction, that is non-toxic for you, your child, the environment, but NOT the head lice. Feel free to pause for a moment of wicked cackling!

3. Eradication begins! Hehehe...Grab your kid (gently), toss them in the tub, tip their head way back and saturate straight white vinegar into their hair. This is stinky and a hand towel should be held at the hairline to avoid any vinegar in the eyes. Leave the vinegar on while you get mixing. In a small pot bring 1c vinegar to a boil, add 1/2c cold water and pour into a glass bowl. Now add the 1/2c fenugreek powder, 1/4c artemisia powder, 1/4c henna powder, and 1/4c teatree shampoo. This gloppety glop will be thick, gooey and messy. When mixture has cooled to a comfortable temperature begin massaging into your child's hair, massage for 5 minutes and then cover with shower cap and wrap head in towel. Let sit for 1 hour and then rinse thoroughly. Grab your nit comb and get busy removing all the nits. Nit removal is crucial!! Repeat procedure in a few days if anymore nits or lice remain, though in most cases this is a one treatment wonder if nits are thoroughly removed. Repeat as needed.
   
   With patience, perserverance and a bit of humor you will have survived head lice!

Tips & Warnings

• Deep breaths
• Humor
• For external use only