Lice, head
Head lice are small, wingless, parasitic insects that live in hair, biting and sucking blood for nourishment. Head lice commonly occur in children and are highly contagious. Infestations are often accompanied by redness and itching. Diagnosis is simple when the small gray, round eggs are seen attached to the base of the hair follicle. Use a hand lens to help make them visible.
Treatment Plan for Lice, head
Herbal treatment can sometimes cure the condition, though skillful and persistent application is often necessary. This treatment may be preferable to 1% lindane cream (Quell) which can have side effects. Malathion should be avoided. For severe cases, a 1% pyrethrin cream rinse is now available. Make an herbal rinse by diluting apple cider vinegar 50-50 with water, adding 1 ounce of quassia, centaury, and rosemary tincture, essential oil, or strong tea to 10 ounces of water and rinse the scalp several times daily. Make sure to keep linens, clothes, combs, and other articles sterilized, and avoid contact with others that may be infected.
Related Lice, head conditions
Additional Ailment
Herb
Application
No additional ailments found.
The information given here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. The information is drawn from numerous sources—both traditional medicine practice, from the clinical experience of many herbalists currently practicing, and supported by decades of scientific research from the author. The research most consulted includes human clinical trials that help to determine the most effective and safe herbs for various needs, the best doses, and types of preparations.
The information offered in this database is not intended as a substitute for any that may have been prescribed by your health practitioner or physician.