Head lice are harmless, but they are still nothing to rejoice about. Despite all the parental efforts, every year about 12 million kids in America get affected. The infestation becomes itchy and sore. As a result of constant scratching, secondary infections can develop in some cases.
Eradication campaigns have been trying to eliminate this little wingless insect, but to no avail. Head lice are easily transmitted, and most often leave their host when (s)he interacts with another person – hugging, touching, sharing objects. Young children, who are in close contact with each other during their everyday activities, are the most often affected group.
Here I present a simple home remedy that has been proven to be effective and that will take away the annoying symptoms once and for all.
Vinegar and Listerine treatment for head lice
You need:
Listerine mouthwash
White vinegar (find here more surprising household uses for white vinegar)
Shower cap or plastic bags
Lice comb
Shampoo (you can make your own natural shampoo here)
Step 1:
Soak the child’s head with Listerine until all hair is completely wet. Gather the hair and put it in a shower cap or plastic bag. Let it sit for an hour or more. The child can carry on with the usual activities, just make sure the seal on the cap or around the bag is tight and all the wetness is kept at the scalp. If a child has been scratching prior to treatment, s(he) might complain of a burning sensation, but this is not dangerous. Listerine contains alcohol, eucalyptol, thymol, menthol, and methyl salicylate, which are toxic for lice, but safe for humans.
Step 2:
Remove the bag carefully. You will probably see many dead lice inside the bag. Rinse the hair, so you get rid of all the Listerine.
Step 3:
Douse the head with white vinegar, massage the scalp gently and apply the bags again. Leave it on for another hour.
Step 4:
Rinse the vinegar and then shampoo the hair as normally. This treatment might help make the hair thicker and shinier.
Step 5:
Use the lice comb to comb out dead lice and eggs. Vinegar loosens the glue the females use to attach their eggs, so you can easily comb the eggs out.
Aftercare:
Lice don’t seem to like the smell of Listerine, especially the spearmint aroma. Put some Listerine in a spray bottle and mix it with water. Spray the hair regularly (for example, before your child goes to school), as long as the danger of re-infestation exists.
Boil wash the affected person’s bedding and clothes to make sure you’ve eliminated all the blood-sucking insects.
Some see head lice more as a cosmetic rather than a medical problem. Lice are of course uncomfortable to live with, and it’s best to remove them as soon as possible, but they are not disease carriers. They might even increase your immunity and help you (or your child) build a natural immune response to the more dangerous body louse, which has been known to transmit serious diseases.
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