Home Remedies for Head Lice

Head lice are tiny parasitic insects found living amongst human hair. These tiny parasites are wingless and feed on blood which they draw through the scalp. Though these lice only feed on small amounts of blood at a time, they may cause itching and irritation on the scalp. They are a common problem, especially amongst young children. Though not dangerous, head lice can spread from the head of one person to another very easily. They can cause infections and wounding of the scalp due to persistent itching and scratching. People living in unclean and crowded places are more prone to head lice. These tiny wingless creatures are of a grayish brown shade and are extremely tiny, at the size of a pinhead upon hatching, and full grown specimens reaching a size of around 3mm. Head lice are incapable of flight and unlike fleas they cannot jump, nor can they swim. So the only mode through which they can spread is through direct contact. An infestation can progress quite rapidly as the female louse lays eggs towards the base of hair, near the root. These are extremely tiny and near impossible to notice, which is why very often people suffer recurring infestations as they tend to discontinue treatments for head lice as soon as the symptoms of a lice infestation disappear. While home remedies for head lice can help control the problem they may not serve as natural head lice cures or best head lice removal treatments as simply eliminating the full grown lice or reducing their numbers will not suffice.

Treatments for head lice infestations need to be intensive in part because of the short life cycles of lice, which also implies that they have rapid breeding cycles. Once hatched a louse will reach maturity within six to ten days and the female will start to lay eggs on the seventh day itself. So whether you are using medicated shampoos or home remedies for head lice, the treatments for head lice need to be rigorous and regular. The treatment needs to be kept up for at least a week, so as to ensure that no hatchlings survive the six or seven day period to reproduce further. Head lice feed on blood in the scalp.

Although head lice can be picked up by anyone with hair, the problem is most prevalent among children because of their lifestyle. Children spend a large amount of their time in the company of other kids and in close proximity with them at schools and nurseries. For the same reasons a head lice infestation can spread rather rapidly in households where conditions are cramped and unhygienic.

Home remedies for head lice are extremely popular, but most results are not scientifically verified. There can be no guarantee that any natural remedies for head lice removal will actually cure the problem, which is why it is advisable that in addition to natural treatments for head lice you also use medicated over the counter, or prescription shampoos. Home remedies for head lice are a viable option for those with sensitive skin, as some medicated products could cause irritation to the scalp. But it is important that you are observant when using any home remedies for head lice and if you find that there are no observable results immediately seek medical treatment.

Symptoms of Head Lice

itching, crusting, and redness on scalp. Sometimes head lice do not show any symptoms. Repeated scratching of lice bites may cause skin infections. These infections may lead to swollen nodes resulting into lumps on the neck and behind the ears.

It should be noted that the itching, which is a typical symptom of head lice is not actually caused by the bite or movement of the head lice, but by an allergic reaction. This symptom would therefore be absent in individuals who do not have an allergy and in other cases allergic reactions may simply take longer to set in, possibly as long as three months.

Another symptom that may be observed is a rash on the back of the neck that develops due to louse droppings, which again cause an allergic reaction.

It is hard to detect an infestation simply by inspection as it would be impossible to differentiate between unhatched eggs or the remnants of eggs, which are termed as nits. The other problem with this method of detection is that nits may even be present for sometime after successful treatment. The use of a fine toothed comb, meant specifically for lice removal, can help with detection of an active lice infestation.

Causes of Head Lice

Head lice are extremely contagious and are passed on from one person to another. This is especially true in group settings and areas where there are a lot of people living or working in a confined space. Schools and child care centers are some of the examples of group settings where head lice can be spread. Though these lice don’t have wings, these parasites can pass on from the hair of one person to another through a head to head contact. Sometimes, sharing of bedding, linen, and clothes can also cause these head lice to pass from one person to another. Close physical contact is the leading cause of the spread of head lice. The notion that head lice infestations are caused or spread due to a lack of hygiene is actually quite untrue. Head lice are primarily spread through direct contact with an infected person, by which we mean head to head contact. This is why children are most vulnerable to head lice infestations, because of the amount of time they spend in close contact at nurseries or playschools. Similarly, the myth of poor hygiene being responsible for infestations may be attributed to the fact that head lice infestations are a lot more common among poorer populations or in developing and under developed countries. This however has more to do with overcrowding and a lack of personal space.

Head lice infestations to a much lower extent may be caused by sharing bedding or clothing, particularly head gear. This is not horribly common however as lice cannot jump and are incapable of flight, which means they cannot travel very far from their host. Moreover, they cannot survive away from a host for an extended period.

Causes of Body Lice

Unhygienic conditions like not taking bath daily, not wearing washed cloth and so on are the primary reasons for body lice. A direct contact with the person having body lice will transmit body lice. Body lice are mainly seen in people from underdeveloped countries.

Causes of Pubic Lice

Pubic lice are transmitted by direct sexual contact. Using condoms does not provide any protection from pubic lice.

A point worth noting would be that lice cannot be spread to humans from pets or vice versa. It should also be pointed out that the lice responsible for bodily infestations are quite different from head lice. While body lice can serve as carriers of diseases like typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever, head lice cause no such diseases.

Home Remedies for Head Lice

For head lice problem wash your hair with vinegar. It will kill all the nits in two days. Apply coconut oil to your head after shampoo and condition. Add ten to fifteen drops of tea tree oil into shampoo bottle and use it daily. Rub Listerine mouth wash on your head. This will kill all the lice. Massage your head with mayonnaise and comb it after 2 hours. This will kill all the lice and their eggs. Apply a mixture of lemon and butter on your head, wait for 15 seconds and then rinse your head.

All of these claims are simply based on word of mouth and are not verified with clinical trials. While some of these home remedies for head lice may work for some individuals they may not work for others. In addition, the extent of success with these homemade, natural or herbal treatments for head lice can vary greatly. According to some individuals a few of these home remedies for head lice may actually work when it comes to lice removal, but fail to remove the infestation as the eggs survive only to re-infest the hair within a week.

Although the risk of infestation spreading through contact with clothing, linen, or any head gear is highly unlikely it may still be wise to play cautious and cleanse all of these objects thoroughly with detergents. If there are others in your household who you are in constant or frequent contact with, it would be advisable for them to also go through the entire lice removal treatment as their symptoms may not show up for days or weeks. The risk of a recurrence would be high if you have passed on the head lice to any other members of the household.

Diet for Head Lice

There is no specific diet for head lice. However, since head lice suck blood from the scalp, you should increase the iron content in your diet to prevent iron deficiencies.

Other Suggestions for Head Lice

Head lice may recur anytime in a crowded setting. If you can, avoid crowded places. Sharing of personal items like clothes, bed linen, and bedding should be avoided as far as possible so that head lice are not transferred through an infected person.

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Home Remedies for High Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of the essential ingredients of the body. Although it is essential to life, it has a bad reputation, being a major villain in heart disease. Every person with high blood cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attack or a stroke. Most of the cholesterol found in the body is produced in the liver. However, about twenty to thirty per cent generally comes from the food we eat. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per 100 millimetres of blood. The normal level of cholesterol varies between 150 - 200 mg per 100 ml. In blood, cholesterol occurs in combination with certain lipids (fats), hence, known as lipoptroteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins: a low density one (LDL) and a high density one (HDL). The low density lipoprotein is the one which is considered harmful and is associated with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels. The higher the ratio of LDL to the total cholesterol, the greater will be the risk of arterial damage and heart disease. HDL, on the other hand, plays a salutory role by helping remove cholesterol from circulation and thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

High Blood Cholesterol Causes

Hereditary

Hypercholesterolaemia or increase in cholesterol is mainly a hereditary disorder.

Excessive consumption of rich foods

It is also caused by taking rich foods and fried foods: excessive consumption of milk and its products like clarified butter, butter, and cream; white flour, sugar, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, and ice cream; and non-vegetarian foods like meat, fish, and eggs.

Smoking, Drinking and Stress

Other causes of increase in cholesterol are irregularity in habits, smoking and drinking alcohol. Stress has also been found to be a major cause of increased level of cholesterol.

High Blood Cholesterol Home Remedies

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Lecithin

Lecithin, also a fatty food substance and the most abundant of the phospholipids, is beneficial in case of increase in cholesterol level. It has the ability to break up cholesterol into small particles which can be easily handled by the system. With sufficient intake of lecithin, cholesterol cannot build up against the walls of the arteries and veins. Lecithin also increases the production of bile acids made from cholesterol, thereby reducing its amount in the blood, Egg yolk, vegetable oils, wholegrain cereals, soyabeans, and unpasturised milk are rich sources of lecithin. The cells of the body are also capable of synthesizing it as needed, if several of the B vitamins are present.

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Vitamins

Vitamins B6, choline, and inositol are particularly effective in reducing the level of blood cholesterol. Wheat germ, yeast, or vitamin B extracted from bran contain high quantities of these vitamins. Vitamin E also elevates blood lecithin and reduces cholesterol. The patient should take liberal quantities of vitamin E-rich foods such as sunflower seeds, safflower, soyabean oils, butter, and sprouted seed and grains.

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are valuable in lowering high blood cholesterol. They contain a substantial quantity of linoleic acid which is the fat helpful in reducing cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. Substituting sunflower seeds for some of the solid fats like butter and cream will, therefore, lead to great improvement in health.

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Coriander Seeds

Regular drinking of a decoction of coriander seeds helps lower blood cholesterol. It is a good diuretic and helps stimulate the kidneys. It is prepared by boiling two tablespoons of dry seeds in a glass of water and straining the decoction after cooling. This decoction should be taken twice daily.

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Ishabgul

The herb psyllium husk has been found beneficial in the treatment of high cholesterol level. The oil of the seeds of this plant should be given for lowering blood cholesterol. It contains fifty per cent linoleic acid. This oil is more active than safflower oil, and one teaspoon should be taken twice daily.

High Blood Cholesterol treatment using Fibre

The amount of fibre in the diet also influences the cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol can be lowered by taking diets rich in fibres. The most significant sources of dietary fibre are unprocessed wheat bran, whole cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, rye; legumes such as potatoes, carrots, beet, and turnips, fruits such as mangoes and guavas; and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lady’s fingers, lettuce and celery. Oat bran and corn bran are specially beneficial in lowering LDL cholesterol.

High Blood Cholesterol Diet

Avoid Rich Foods

To reduce the risk of heart disease, it is essential to lower the level of LDL and increase the level of HDL. This can be achieved by a change in diet and lifestyle. As a first step, foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats, which lead to an increase in the LDL level, should be reduced to the minimum. These foods are eggs, organic meats, cheese, butter, bacon, beef, and whole milk.

Avoid food with animal origin; Avoid palm and coconut oil

Virtually all foods of animal origin, as well as two vegetable oils, namely, coconut and palm, are high in saturated fats, and these should be replaced by polyunsaturated fats such as corn, safflower, and soyabean, and sesame oils which tend to lower the level of LDL.

Drink at least 10 glasses of water each day

Persons with high blood cholesterol level should drink at least eight to ten glasses of water every day, as copious drinking of water stimulates the excretory activity of the skin and kidneys. This, in turn, facilitates elimination of excessive cholesterol from the system.

Other High Blood Cholesterol remedies

Regular Physical Exercise

Regular physical exercise also plays an important role in lowering LDL cholesterol and in raising the level of protective HDL. It also promotes circulation and helps maintain the blood flow to every part of the body. Jogging or brisk walking, swimming, bicycling, and playing badminton are excellent forms of exercise.

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Home Remedies for Nosebleeds

Though harmless, nosebleeds are extremely common, especially in teens. Nosebleeds are a condition where there is sudden bleeding from the nose. It may feel as if the nose is running, but it is actually blood trickling down from the nose. There is no need to worry about a nosebleed because it is almost always harmless and easy to stop.

There are two different kinds of nosebleeds. The one in which the blood comes from the front of the nose is known as the anterior nosebleed. This is caused when the fine capillaries inside the nose break and cause bleeding. The second kind of nosebleed is known as the posterior nosebleed. This occurs at the deepest part of the nose and blood may begin to flow down the back of the throat as well. This is more common in older people or those who suffer face and nose injuries or high blood pressure.

Symptoms of Nosebleeds

The basic symptom of nosebleeds is the flow of blood from the nose. Since blood is warm, you may feel a little heat in the nose. You may also feel some pressure around the nasal region before the blood starts to trickle down.

Causes of Nosebleeds

Dry air is most often associated with a nose bleed. If you experience anterior nosebleeds, the culprit is most likely dry air. Dry air can irritate the nasal membranes. This causes the formation of crusts, which may then begin to itch. When you try to pick your nose or scratch it from inside, it begins to bleed. Extreme cold or some viruses may also be associated with the itching of the nasal membranes. If you blow your nose repeatedly, that too may result in the bleeding.

Another possible cause of nosebleeds is allergies. If you have nosebleeds due to an allergy, antihistamines and decongestants may be able to stop it. Your doctor will advise you on what medication to take for the nosebleeds. Allergies may also cause the drying of the nasal membranes, causing nosebleeds.

Injuries or blows to the nose are another common cause for nose bleeds. If you receive a blow to your nose, it is possible to rupture a capillary running through it. You may use some ice to stop the bleeding. However, if the blood doesn’t stop, you may have broken your nose or hurt yourself badly and therefore, should visit a doctor immediately.

Home Remedies for Nosebleeds

Stopping a nose bleed is very simple. Clean the blood using a soft cloth. Avoid applying pressure on the site. Next, stand up or lie down to ease the flow of blood and tilt your head a little forward, pinching your nostrils right below the part where your nose is bony. Apply gentle pressure there and the bleeding should stop in a few minutes. If it doesn’t stop, use an ice pack or a cold compress around the nose.

Diet for Nosebleeds

Nutritionists suggest that people who suffer frequent nosebleeds should include more of vitamin K in their diets. Leafy greens like spinach, asparagus, and parsley are great sources of vitamin K. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts can also be included in the diet.

Other Suggestions for Nosebleeds

When you have a nosebleed, try to avoid blowing your nose. After getting a nose bleed, do not lift heavy objects for the next 24 hours.

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