Head lice are only around the size of a sesame seed, but they can easily proliferate in a person's head, spread to other members of the household, and create an embarrassing and irritating itchy ordeal. Children are the most common victims of these blood-sucking critters, so many parents are reluctant to treat head lice infestation using shampoos with pesticides and chemicals that may be harmful if used regularly. For this reason, more people are now opting for natural head lice treatments and home remedies such as head lice olive oil treatment.
If olive oil is a familiar substance, that is most probably because it is commonly seen in the kitchen, and usually used for cooking. But, what is it exactly and how does it help to purge out pesky head lice?
Olive oil is derived from the olive tree, which is commonly grown in the Mediterranean Basin. This oil is widely used around the world, especially for cooking, pharmaceuticals, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and skin care. After the olives are ground, mechanical or chemical processes are used to extract the oil. This oil is sold commercially in several grades, with extra virgin olive oil being the highest grade with superior taste. Extra virgin means no chemical processes were used to produce the oil.
Natural health remedy advocates are known to promote many benefits derived from topical application of olive oil. Women typically use extra virgin oil on the skin as a natural cleanser and moisturizer, and also to condition and repair unruly or damaged hair. Consuming this oil is also reported to have many other health benefits, working as an antioxidant, demulcent (an agent that soothes mucus membranes and alleviates inflammation and minor pain), and a mild laxative.
As for head lice treatment, this oil is used as a smothering agent to kill the parasites through asphyxiation. When applied on the hair generously, olive oil coats the hair along with the lice that have colonized the head. The viscosity of the olive oil suffocates the lice, effectively killing them. A plastic bag or shower cap should be used to aid in the procedure and to prevent the olive oil from spilling or trickling from the head.
After leaving the oil on the hair for two to three hours (or even overnight, as suggested by some specialists), a fine-toothed comb should be used to remove dead lice along with the oil. This part can be messier than the application, so it should be done on the bathroom sink. A laundry basin can also be used to catch the oil and minimize mess.
Because head lice infestation is not easily controlled with a single treatment alone, head lice olive oil treatment should be repeated several times, until no more lice are spotted when the head is inspected. It also important to remember that just like most commercial treatments, natural remedies such as this will require vigilance, patience, and considerable effort to ensure successful eradication of these annoying little bloodsuckers.
If olive oil is a familiar substance, that is most probably because it is commonly seen in the kitchen, and usually used for cooking. But, what is it exactly and how does it help to purge out pesky head lice?
Olive oil is derived from the olive tree, which is commonly grown in the Mediterranean Basin. This oil is widely used around the world, especially for cooking, pharmaceuticals, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and skin care. After the olives are ground, mechanical or chemical processes are used to extract the oil. This oil is sold commercially in several grades, with extra virgin olive oil being the highest grade with superior taste. Extra virgin means no chemical processes were used to produce the oil.
Natural health remedy advocates are known to promote many benefits derived from topical application of olive oil. Women typically use extra virgin oil on the skin as a natural cleanser and moisturizer, and also to condition and repair unruly or damaged hair. Consuming this oil is also reported to have many other health benefits, working as an antioxidant, demulcent (an agent that soothes mucus membranes and alleviates inflammation and minor pain), and a mild laxative.
As for head lice treatment, this oil is used as a smothering agent to kill the parasites through asphyxiation. When applied on the hair generously, olive oil coats the hair along with the lice that have colonized the head. The viscosity of the olive oil suffocates the lice, effectively killing them. A plastic bag or shower cap should be used to aid in the procedure and to prevent the olive oil from spilling or trickling from the head.
After leaving the oil on the hair for two to three hours (or even overnight, as suggested by some specialists), a fine-toothed comb should be used to remove dead lice along with the oil. This part can be messier than the application, so it should be done on the bathroom sink. A laundry basin can also be used to catch the oil and minimize mess.
Because head lice infestation is not easily controlled with a single treatment alone, head lice olive oil treatment should be repeated several times, until no more lice are spotted when the head is inspected. It also important to remember that just like most commercial treatments, natural remedies such as this will require vigilance, patience, and considerable effort to ensure successful eradication of these annoying little bloodsuckers.
SHARE
