Been too long

Returned to work for about six weeks - only to be sent back to leave after I had medication changes that left me on the floor. So stinking sick and tired of the danged prescription world. I am ready to try anything besides another pill. Really. I've signed up to see a Chinese medicine doctor the beginning of April and I hope it goes good.

The Cure for Lice

Oh, how I hate lice. The little girls that love to play with my sweet Faith's waist length hair. I am going to craft a hair bow that says "hands off" or something similar... it drives me bonkers that kids touch or put their hair things in her hair and give her lice! BAH!

In my battle with lice, the one thing that has always bothered me was the treatment to get rid of it was "not to be used more than once after the first treatment" - uhhh.... hm. I didn't like that so well. So I started researching and talking to other mommies and this is what I came up with.

This time, Faith only had maybe 5 nits. So we were on day one of one louse I'd imagine. I'll check her head daily for the next week just to be sure we don't have any more crawlers. Listerine is the best remedy yet, it's not expensive, and easy to do. Squirt or spray bottle it onto dry hair. I put a wash cloth over their eyes so it doesn't drip into them and tell them to tilt their head back. Then shower cap over their head and let it sit for 10 mins. My kids like to play in the tub while it sits on their head. Good time to sing songs, ask about their day, etc. Then, I just put coconut conditioner from Suave on their head after the ten minutes is up and use a lice comb (from Sallys or linked to the one I use that's on Amazon.com) to comb through and thoroughly comb for a good while. Supposedly coconut is something lice don't like? I dunno, but you need something to slick up the hair so the comb will glide through. Then use a regular black comb (also from Sallys a whole box for a dollar and some change) to comb through the scalp, then rinse. She smells minty for a few days but at least she's clean! And then you can have a clean mouth after! HA HA HA! I think the whole treatment costs maybe 10 bucks? And you can still use everything you have left over and over...

I will shampoo her the following day.

Here's my theory - and this is only a theory but it makes sense. The eucalyptus, menthol, and thymol in Listerine are all antiseptic and cleansing, thus dissolving glue that hold nits on and maybe even the nit egg? (Remember, this is theory) The alcohol in it gets the louse drunk (maybe like a tick gets drunk, at 21% alcohol anyone could ha ha ha!) and can't breathe so they don't run and they die, but they get combed out I have never seen a live one after the process. All I know, the lice treatments in a box are dangerous and you can't repeat them more than once. (so why in the world are they still allowed, especially if lice are becoming immune to the whole product?)

Here's the active ingredients in Listerine"
Eucalyptol 0.092%
Menthol 0.042%
Methyl salicylate 0.060%
Thymol 0.064%
(all anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque)

This is what I use:
Listerine
Suave Coconut Conditioner
Nit Free - Lice Comb on AMAZON.com
Sally #10 Styling Comb

The trick to make sure that it doesn't come back - strip all bedding, then remove pillows, stuffed animals, anything with fur (yes even boots, coats or hoodies) their backpack and wash it hot, dry it hot. If it can't be laundered, many stuffed animals can't - double bag them and put them in the garage or storage. I use two black trash bags or kitchen bags and leave them for two weeks. Then vacuum everything off. Vacuum the floor and then toss the bag or empty the container into a shopping bag and throw into dumpster or trash can immediately. I use my iron on steam setting to steam the mattress as well. Then do daily checks.

Another thing - and this is kind of gross. Flat iron them. They pop, and it's kind of nasty sounding, but nits don't stand up to high heat, and they are sure to die. The bad part, you have to still get the louse/lice that are crawling on the scalp.

I hope this helps you out there. There is relief from lice. It sucks. But at least you know you can survive it! :)

*Modified Feb 21 2017 to update lice comb link