How To Get Rid Of Lice Super Fast At Home

How To Get Rid Of Lice Super Fast At Home

Head lice are a persistent and easily communicable cause of infestations, particularly in school-aged children but also in adults.

You will find how to get rid of head lice super fast at home in this article.

The head louse feeds on its host’s blood

The head louse, whose scientific name is Pediculus humanus capitis, is a small insect measuring from 2 to 3 millimeters long.

It lives on the human scalp and feeds on its host’s blood.

©Gilles San Martin

The head louse bites the host’s scalp, injects saliva into the bite, and then sucks its victim’s blood.

The saliva contains anticoagulants that prevent the blood from clotting, which would make it impossible to drink.

The itch on the scalp is caused both by the louse’s bite and the injected saliva.

Symptoms of head lice infestation

Symptoms of head lice infestation include:

  • An itchy scalp or itching at the back of the neck or behind the ears
  • Head lice eggs (nits) that look like dandruff on hair shafts and clothes
  • A crawling sensation on the scalp
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Blepharitis

The life cycle of the head louse

The life span of the head louse is about 30 days.

The female lays approximately 8 nits (eggs) a day1.

She cements the nits on human hair follicles with glue that she secretes.

©Gilles San Martin

It takes about 8 days for a nit to hatch and release a nymph1.

Besides, it takes 10 days for a nymph to mature and become an adult1.

After that, the cycle can begin again.

The life cycle of head lice

Problems associated with head lice infestation

In addition to intense itching, head lice can cause a feeling of poor hygiene and despondency.

Victims of head lice can be subjected to stigma at school or the workplace.

Some schools even send infested children home.

Furthermore, head lice can cause iron deficiency anemia2.

Iron

The usual treatment for head lice consists of washing hair with a shampoo that contains a pesticide.

The problem is that pesticides are toxic. Furthermore, head lice are often resistant to them.

Moreover, if head lice have spread to other parts of your body, such as the eyelashes and the eyebrows, they will continuously re-infest your scalp after the use of the anti-lice shampoo.

How to get rid of lice super fast at home

To avoid continuous re-infestation, it is recommended to use a systemic treatment as opposed to a topical remedy, such as shampoo.

A systemic treatment is a remedy you take orally and cures your whole body.

There has been increased interest in oral anthelmintic therapies, such as Ivermectin3, to overcome resistance to topical treatments.

However, Ivermectin is a neurotoxin that can cause potential neurotoxicity in children and pregnant and breastfeeding women3.

Here are two natural home remedies that will help you to get rid of head lice super fast at home in a systemic manner without harming you.

1. Brewer’s yeast

Regular consumption of brewer’s yeast (or nutritional yeast) helps your body to get rid of head lice super fast at home. Also, it prevents perpetual re-infestation.

Brewer’s yeast is a microorganism used for the fermentation of beer.

Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), nutritional yeast

It is made from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of single-celled fungus.

Brewer’s yeast is also used as a dietary supplement given its probiotic properties and high B vitamins and minerals content.

Vitamin B1 repels head lice

Brewer’s yeast is a natural source of vitamin B1 (thiamine).

Vitamin B1 acts as a lice repellent.

Once ingested, oral thiamine is excreted through the pores along with perspiration and repels insects, such as lice, mosquitoes, and fleas.

Dosage

AgeDaily dosage
15 years – Adult1 teaspoon
12 – 14 years3/4 tsp.
9 – 11 years1/2 tsp.
6 – 8 years1/3 tsp.
3 – 5 years1/4 tsp.

Mix the powder with water and drink it daily until the itch is gone.

Related: 3 Best Natural Home Remedies For Ticks

2. An anti-parasitic herbal tincture

Benefits of an anti-parasitic herbal tincture

There is a second solution to get rid of head lice super fast at home and avoid perpetual re-infestation.

This remedy is based on a similar strategy that treats the whole body instead of treating only the scalp.

Now Foods antiparasitic anti-parasitic herbal blend tincture for blepharitis.

This solution consists of taking orally a blend of three anti-parasitic herbs in the form of a tincture.

Each of these herbs eradicates the head louse at a different stage of its life cycle.

Tincture description

The blend contains:

  • “Green” Black Walnut Hulls (Juglans nigra)
  • Wormwood Herb (Artemisia absinthium)
  • Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)

extracts, which eliminate adult head lice, nymphs, and nits, respectively.

A herbal remedy for each stage of the head louse’s life cycle.

This type of blend is available on the internet. The brand Now Foods for instance has a tincture called “Green Black Walnut Wormwood Complex”.

Now foos green black wormwood walnut complex.

Dosage

Take the dosage recommended on the label of the dietary supplement mixed with water until the itch is gone.

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Summary: How to get rid of lice super fast at home

A systemic (oral) treatment for head lice allows you to overcome the problem of continuous re-infestation when lice have migrated to other parts of your body.

Brewer’s yeast and the black walnut-wormwood complex tincture are natural remedies that kill head lice at each stage of their life cycles.

When you take them orally, they prevent re-infestation without harming you.

Both remedies are not necessary. You can use either of them.

Related: Top 13 Foods That Kill Parasites

FAQ: How to get rid of lice super fast at home

Can head lice go away on its own?

Yes. If your immune system is strong enough, a mild or moderate lice infestation can go away on its own. People who have a weak immune system are more susceptible to head lice.

Also, seawater and sun can help you to get rid of head lice.

What causes head lice to begin?

A person may get lice after petting an infected cat or dog. Head-to-head contact with someone who already has lice, to do a selfy, for example, is also a possible cause.

Sharing objects such as brushes, eyelash extensions, clothes, hats, sheets, or pillows also presents a risk.

Can head lice live on pillows and sheets?

Yes, head lice can survive on pillows and sheets without feeding on their host for about 2-3 days.

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