Dr. Melanie Austin’s Homeopathic Lice Treatment
This is a picture of eggs (called "nits") on the hair.
For background material go to: DermNet
Don’t Panic!
You or your child did not get head lice because of your hygiene or anyone else’s. You got unlucky, that’s all!
Here’s a simple treatment that works.
1. Go to your local supermarket or pharmacy and get a long metal hair pick called a lice or nit comb.
2. Combine a 50:50 mixture of baking soda and thick crème rinse
3. Divide hair into 6ths
4. Pull nit comb through crème rinse mixture then through a small section of hair starting at the scalp…..repeat until entire head is done
5. Wash hair out thoroughly
6. Apply small amount of Cetaphil cleanser to hair and comb through
7. Then blow Cetaphil dry – this works to suffocate the lice (you hair will feel as if you have a light styling gel dried in it)
8. Wash nit comb daily by pouring boiling water over it….if you boil the comb, the teeth will loosen and fall out
9. At night rub small amount of extra virgin olive oil into scalp – if there are active lice this will prevent them from adhering to the hair shaft and getting a nightly “blood meal.”
Repeat this process daily until no further lice or nits are present
Continue this process then every other day for 7 days
If nits are present...continue process until all nits are gone then every other day for 7 days
Check all family members for nits – treat everyone who is infested
Check in your local community if there is a “Nit Picker” a professional who removes lice. If you can see the “nit picker” its well worth the money in the time and effort spent. But if you’re fastidious about the plan you can manage yourself. Keep in mind, it is labor intensive, but WORKS!
Other Management:
So you know what to do with your head…..
Now we have to prevent re-infestation
1. Wash all sheets, blankets comforters and pillowcases in hot water and dry in dryer
2. For those items that can’t be washed, toss in the dryer for 20 minutes
3. For those items which can’t be washed or dried, seal in plastic bag for 2 weeks
4. Pillowcases, sheets and towels should be washed daily until no nits are
present
5. Carpeted areas should be vacuumed
6. Upholstered furniture should be steam cleaned once you’ve see a “nit
picker” or as soon as no further nits are present
Your pets can not carry lice and thus should not be treated!
A Poem – attribution unknown
Share a thought
Share a ride
Share a feeling …deep inside
But never share a hat or comb
Or lice will make your head their home!
Melanie Austin is a native New Yorker. She is a graduate of Smith College, Suny Downstate in Brooklyn (M.D.) and a well-respected mid-western pediatric residency program. After residency Dr. Austin indulged her wanderlust and worked for year as a locum tenens in places like Dodge City, Kansas. She now understands the true meaning of "Git outta Dodge!" She also volunteered with the Maryland Militia and went to New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The armed forces put up with Major
Dr. Austin for two weeks, and then gratefully accepted her letter resignation. She was HONORABLY discharged. In June 2006 Dr. Austin finally married her fiancée, Greg. They are both living happily in the Boston area with their cat Brooklyn and their rescue doggy Katrina.