When lice arrive

My story

That’s it, school’s out, and the summer vacations are here, with their many and varied courses and camps for children. After spending a few days with us, my niece is looking forward to her baladins camp. For her, who loves flowers, trees, insects and animals, a week in the forest is a dream. But her mom is a little apprehensive about the return trip, fearing she’ll end up with lice like last year!

My tip

As soon as you know that lice have arrived, the best thing to do is to avoid situations
the best thing to do is to avoid “exchange-risk” situations: don’t stick to each other, don’t exchange hats or scarves, tie up long hair so that lice can’t cling to it too easily.
Since preventive treatments are not 100% effective, I recommend applying lavandin hydrosol to the hair and scalp morning and night to limit contamination. The easiest way to do this is to use a pump bottle and spray the hydrosol onto the head, strand by strand, close to the scalp to reach it as well.
If the lice are still there, continue this application 2 times a day, combined with an evening application, 2 or 3 times a week, of a fine vegetable oil (coconut or jojoba). Apply the vegetable oil all over the hair and scalp. Cover the hair with a relatively watertight “cap” to avoid staining the pillowcase (you can make your own with a piece of cloth waterproofed with beeswax). Leave the oil on overnight (it suffocates lice and nits) and wash hair the next morning with a mild shampoo. It’s important to do this for two weeks to ensure that all lice and nits have been eliminated.

What does phytotherapy have to say?

Lavender, lavandin and geranium, in the form of essential oil or hydrolate, are traditionally used as a repellent for lice, which don’t seem to like these odors. For prevention, we generally recommend putting a drop or two of essential oil behind the ears or at the hairline, or rubbing the hydrosol into the scalp. Fine vegetable oils, which asphyxiate lice, are interesting as a treatment once the lice have settled in, even if the application is somewhat restrictive. Natural treatments are not 100% effective in eliminating lice, but they have the great advantage of being non-toxic and of not inducing resistance as do chemical anti-parasite lotions and shampoos.

Did you know?

Lice can affect anyone, and are not linked to a question of hygiene On the other hand, just as some people are more attracted to mosquitoes, others have “lice hair” and are sometimes obliged to cut it to limit the risk of contamination

I use hydrosols SAFELY

The tip presented here has absolutely no contraindications. It may, however, be a little daunting for some children. In this case, it may be a good idea to do it on yourself too, which avoids possible contamination and makes the situation less dramatic.

LAVANDULA HYBRIDA Lavandin

Lavandin is a lavender hybrid resulting from a cross between “fine” or “officinal” lavender and spike lavender. It can be recognized by its violet spikes, which are fuller and more regular than those of lavender, and its longer stems. Lavandin has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, healing and antiseptic properties. It is effective for calming nervousness and relaxing muscles. Linalool, 30% of which is present in the hydrosol, is a major parasiticide, making it effective in preventing and eliminating lice and nits.