Say good-bye to head lice...

          Head lice (Pediculus capitis) are small six-legged parasites that live on the scalp and neck hairs of humans. Neither able to fly nor jump, they are also unable to burrow into the scalp. Head lice infestation is termed pediculiasis. This is spread through direct head to head contact and through sharing infested personal items such as hats, brushes, combs, clothes, and bed sheets. Anyone can acquire them through no lack of sanitation or personal hygiene of their own as lice are indiscriminate.

          Lice cannot survive for more than a day or so without feeding on a person’s blood, while eggs or nits can remain viable for up to 14 days even while off the human host. Human lice do not survive on domestic animals and thus are not transmitted by pets such as dogs and cats.

           More difficult to spot than adult lice are lice eggs (nits) which are pearly white and are firmly attached to individual hairs close to the scalp. It takes about 8 days for an egg to hatch and an additional 9-12 days for it to attain adulthood.

          Why should you consider a natural lice treatment? Current and familiar over-the-counter treatments contain harsh chemicals and insecticides such as pyrethrin or permethrin. The following are warning statements for over the counter and prescription lice treatments from such sources as the Harvard School of Public Health. They illustrate the potential toxicity of the chemical treatments for lice.

"Check with your pharmacist or doctor to determine which product is safe for your family. Never use these products if you are pregnant or nursing, or on infants under 6 months of age. Follow the directions exactly when using them.

Misuse of these products i.e., leaving them on longer than the directions state or applying more treatments than specified by the manufacturer, puts children at risk for overexposure to chemical pesticides.

Also, children with allergies may be at more risk for allergic reactions to pesticides.

Use caution when dealing with any insecticidal agent, particularly on children. Read and follow label directions. Do not apply any insecticide or other chemical not specifically labeled for use on people. Well-intentioned parents treating their children with toxic or flammable substances have caused several deaths and poisonings. These treatments are very powerful insecticides and may be toxic if not used only as recommended."

           Uncle Harry suggests a non-toxic alternative to chemical lice treatments. Uncle Harry's Lice Away Aromatherapy Mix is made with pure natural oils that lice seriously dislike. These oils are pennyroyal, cedarwood, thyme, eucalyptus and other powerful oils. This special synergy blend is formulated to kill lice and especially lice eggs (nits). Getting rid of lice is much easier than eliminating their eggs. Often lice treatment products are effective for lice but eggs often survive. This causes another lice outbreak to occur shortly after the treatment.

           In addition to using the Lice Away Aromatherapy Oil, Uncle Harry also suggests using his Neem oil, an amazing natural cold-pressed vegetable oil from India, as the ultimate one-two knockout punch. Not one louse will stay in your hair after this treatment. The first step is to apply the Neem oil, which is thick at room temperature. Heat the bottle in hot water so that the Neem oil becomes more fluid. Then apply it by massaging into the hair. Now add drops of the Lice Away and continue to massage. Cover with a shower cap and let it work for a half hour or more. Finally shampoo off using Uncle Harry's Lice Away Shampoo. After the shampoo, apply some more drops of Lice Away, comb it in as a stay-on treatment. Repeat this procedure one or two more times, leaving a two day interval between treatments.

           When using these powerful natural oils on children or sensitive adults, you may choose to dilute the neem oil with olive oil and the Lice Away with water.