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So I've kept it under wraps (no one I know in person has even found out) but I've been dealing with a lice problem for about a year now. Now I wasn't bothered by them for about 7-8 months, seeing as I don't really find them gross and there was virtually no itching. I casually looked for ways to get rid of them but wasn't searching as much as I could have.
But anyway, skip forward to about 2 months ago and the itching got worse, there were more of them, and I started to notice the itching making my hair thin out. Time to find a way to get rid of them. Looked ask over the internet. Tried ACV then condition then try to pull well the nits out (the vinegar breaks the bond between them and your hair, but you still have to pull every one from where it is down to the end of the strand and off your hair. Needless to say that didn't really work. Tried some other things but still no results.
Now skip to about 2 weeks ago. Apparently my drummers house has fleas. I rarely wear socks outside of work but I did over there one day and next thing I know there are flea bites on my legs. So now I've hour live and possible fleas to deal with. I went online searching for natural flea remedies ( I won't bug bomb or use flea shampoo or any of that because I really don't wanna be around those chemicals).
So I stumble around in the internet until I find a page about diatomaceous earth. Apparently this stuff kills fleas. I did a lot more research and apparently it kills them by getting in their joints and cutting them apart from the inside out. And as a bonus, IT KILLS LICE THE SAME WAY!!! Not only that, but taking a tablespoon of it a day is supposed to help with multiple health problems.
So ofcourse, I ordered some. And I just got the gallon jug of it (11 bucks) today. I put some in my hair and took a tablespoon mixed in milk. I'm going to have to use it in my hair like twice a week for the next 2-3 weeks because it kills lice, not eggs, and I'll be drinking a tablespoon a day every day. I'll keep th board updated with the effects on both the lice and my health.
Oh, and I haven't gotten a flea bite since that nigtt so I'm assuming that my apartment is safe.
Peace,
Jarvis
Sorry to hear of your troubles with "L" and "F"s.
Your results with the diatomaceous earth sound good - keep us posted.
I've used DE in the past to control whiteflies and fungus gnats on house plants. It is very effective.
- Oren
As a public health nurse, I deal with people suffering from the "L" word on a fairly regular basis. Apart from over-the-counter and prescription strength chemical treatments, I've also seen good results with tea tree oil-based products (one called "LiceFreee!" comes to mind), as well as with the use of suffocants (a thick and thorough coating on the hair of olive oil, petroleum jelly, or mayonnaise, right down to the scalp, left on for 8 hours--often at night, with a shower cap to protect your bed linens--then meticulously combed out, and repeated for up to a week).
The most important thing is to prevent reinfestation once the problem is resolved, and this can only be accomplished with proper environmental clean-up. Thoroughly vacuum all carpets and upholstered furniture. Wash and dry all clothing on the highest heat setting possible. Anything that can't be washed on high heat should be double-bagged in plastic for two weeks. Avoid spending the night in places where you're likely to get reinfested, and avoid having overnight guests who may bring some "little friends" with them. You can have the problem completely solved today, only to have it recur tomorrow.
Good luck with the treatment you're trying now... I'll be interested to hear how it works out for you.
Best,
Val
Jarvis;
Thank you so much for sharing your battle with these critters.....
Very valuable information for this community and that is why this forum is here...to share our experience and encouragement.
Best of luck and please share your results with this treatment.
Walter
I've never had the "L" guys, but a few years ago my duplex was overrun with fleas, apparently due to my neighbor's cats camping out on my doormat. I went through a lot of things-- borax on sofas and mattresses, mothballs and powdered carpet treatments. The one thing that worked best was a spray I picked up at Petco called Zodiak Advanced Floor and Carpet Spray. It's supposed to be reasonably safe for pets after a couple of hours, so I figure it's not too bad for humans either.
My brother has 2 big dogs and gets fleas inside every year or so. He just shuts the house and sets off a few bug bombs. I try to avoid those, since the stuff gets on everything.
The most important thing to remember about exterminating fleas is to do it twice a couple of weeks apart. Flea eggs are pretty much impervious to anything, so you kill the adults now, then the hatchlings two weeks later.
Hi Jarvis,
I sure hope you don't have any more trouble with this. I am sorry to hear of all these things that happened to you.
Take care, Ted