Head Lice

1. Try some olive oil.

- This kitchen staple is thought to be an excellent smothering agent.

-  Lice supposedly suffocate and die when the ooze plugs their breathing holes, but it needs to be applied overnight under a shower cap because lice can survive without breathing for hours.

- You'll also have to comb to remove nits, but the olive oil should help loosen them from the hair shafts.
 

2. Dunk your hair in a bathtub

- You could try drowning lice by immersing hair under water in the bathtub. But chances are it won't work all that well.

- Various reports suggest lice can survive total submersion for many hours at a time.

- Not even chlorinated pool water can kill off head lice, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3. Try some petroleum jelly or hair gel

- There's not a lot of research that proves that applying thick, hair-stiffening styling gel or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) kills head lice, although like olive oil, many moms swear by it.

- The goo supposedly suffocates the bugs by clogging their breathing holes.

- One study found petroleum jelly worked better than other home remedies. However, the National Pediculosis Association cautions that Vaseline may not work and is difficult to remove. (Styling gel should be easier to wash out.)

- Here's one approach: Coat the hair and scalp, cover it overnight with a shower cap, and wash out the next morning. Comb for nits.

- Repeat the treatment one week later.

4. Prevent head-to-head contact

- Lice are just as happy to invade a squeaky clean head as a dirty one,so frequent washing is no guarantee of preventing an infestation.

- The best advice is to avoid head-to-head contact. And don't make it easy for them to crawl from one head to the next. Keep long hair in a tight ponytail or braid.

- Other tips: Don't share combs, brushes, barrettes, hats, scarves or pillows.

- Adding a couple drops of an essential oil, such as tea tree oil, to your own grooming products to ward off the bugs.

5. Coconut oil

- Coconut oil is a common treatment for people with dry skin and hair.

- Coconut oil is a popular treatment for dry skin and hair.

- The researchers behind a  2010 study in Brazil explored the effects of several natural head lice remedies and compared the results with those of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.

- Of the tested remedies, the team found that pure coconut oil was the only effective treatment. Within 4 hours of applying the oil, an average of 80% of the head lice were dead.

- The two most effective medicated shampoos killed 97.9% and 90.2% of lice in the same period.
People can purchase coconut oil in many health food stores and online.

6. Tea tree oil

- Tea tree oil is a popular home remedy for many skin conditions because of its antimicrobial properties.

- In a 2010 study, researchers measured the effects of a tea tree and lavender oil blend on head lice in 42 people.

- After three treatments at weekly intervals, 41of the participants no longer had head lice. This success rate is comparable to that of many prescription and OTC treatments.

- However, other research assessing tea tree oil as a treatment for head lice has found the remedy to be less effective.

- Also, tea tree oil can sometimes irritate the skin and may cause a rash or itchiness.

- Learn more about the potential health benefits of tea tree oil here. This product is available for purchase in some pharmacies, health food stores, and online.