Playing in groups, teasing each other, fights and mischief are all parts and parcels of everyone’s childhood. No kid would sacrifice his/her playtime and time out with friends even for the biggest treat offered. Their innocence and enthusiasm towards everything they do is so mind boggling that it sometimes becomes difficult o control them. One effect on the kid if she indiscriminately is in physical contact with unclean children is the risk of development of lice infestation in the hair. This is more common in girls than boys but is quite irritating and disturbing.

What is head lice?

Lice is the plural of louse, a parasite which infests in the hair of humans. This is infestation among human is existing since ages since the Egyptian mummies have also found to have traces of dead lice in their head. Head lice are human parasites and require human blood to survive. Head lice can survive on a human host for approximately 30 days. They generally cannot survive longer than 24 hours off the host. A female louse lays 3-5 eggs a day called nits. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days and it takes another 7-10 days for the louse to mature and lay their own eggs. Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch. Nits off the head may not even hatch at all as they are laid close to scalp because they need human warmth to incubate. A nit hatching off of a head results in tiny nymph head louse which, without an accessible/nearby human, is doomed because it requires an immediate blood meal.

Signs of lice infestation

Though very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. What you or your doctor might see by thoroughly examining your child’s head:

Lice eggs look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the skin’s surface, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Unless the infestation is heavy, it’s more common to see nits in a child’s hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they’re laid.

The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is brownish tan (although lice may look darker on people with dark hair). Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 7 days after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood about every 4 to 6 hours, but they can survive up to 3 days off the scalp.

With lice bites come itching and scratching. However, the itching may not always start right away — that depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads

For some kids, the irritation is mild; for others, a more bothersome rash with crusting and oozing may develop. It’s also not unusual for kids to develop some swelling of their lymph glands. Excessive scratching can also lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender around the bite area). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with a topical or an oral antibiotic.

They spread radically

Head lice can be spread whenever there is direct contact of the head or hair with an infested individual. Lice can also be spread through the sharing of personal articles like hats, towels, brushes, helmets, hair ties, etc. There is also a possibility of spreading head lice via a pillow, headrest or similar items.

Herbal remedies

2. Lemon juice is an effective home remedy for treating head lice and dandruff. Take 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice and garlic paste each and mix them. Apply this mixture over the scalp and allow it to dry for 25-30 minutes. Wash your hair in cold water and rinse off the all dirt, dust, etc.

3. Vinegar is also useful in removing head lice. Take 3-4 tablespoon of vinegar, add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice and garlic paste. Mix it well and apply it on the scalp. Allow it to dry for 2 hours and wash it off. Do this 3-4 times a month.

4. Olive oil is also very useful in killing head lice. Apply olive oil on your hair and cover it with a plastic bag. Keep it overnight, later with the help of lice comb take out all the head lice. Repeat this after every 10 days. It is very easy and effective way to get rid of head lice.

5. Almond is another useful home remedy for head lice. Soak 10-12 almonds in water and make its paste. Add 3-4 tablespoon of lemon juice in it. Apply this mixture over your scalp, and allow it to dry for 1-2 hours. Wash hair with cold water.

6. Neem leaves

7. Basil leaves (tulsi) are also useful in removing head lice. Take 20-30 basal leaves and make its paste. Either use it alone or mix with equal quantity of margosa leaf paste. Apply over the scalp and allow it to dry for half an hour and then wash it off. Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Tags: ADHD, homeopathy, dietary supplement, therapeutic, eczema

Liquorice (Madhuyashti, or Glycyrrhiza glabra) famous as a household remedy for cough and cold and other chest complaints is a widely used medicine in ayurveda. Its tall erect shrub grows in northern parts of Kashmir. Nowadays, it is also successfully cultivated in many other parts of the Shivalik hills. Its rootstock throws numerous additional roots, or in some other forms like branched stems near the rootstock remaining underground. These roots and the underground stems constitute the drug.

The dried roots of Glycirrhiza glabra are used as mulathi. This contains many active compounds which are described below:

Therapeutic benefits

In cold : Mulathi is sweet with a little bitter after taste and has a cooling effect. Since ancient times, mulathi has been one of the most popular remedies for cough and sore throat. A small piece of it, chewed or sucked, can bring a lot of relief in dry cough and hoarseness of voice. It is most often used to control bouts of cough associated with bronchitis, asthma and other chest diseases. Only half a teaspoonful of mulathi powder taken with a little honey, removes the bronchial spasm and gently clears the respiratory tract by expectorating out the phlegm.

Tea prepared from equal amounts of mulathi, saunf, ginger and a few leaves of tulsi treats common cold, removes throat congestion, cures bodyache and generally gives a refreshing feeling. Besides, mulathi also improves voice, lessens thirst, removes billiousness and heals peptic ulcer.

In hyperacidity and peptic ulcer: Half a gram of mulathi powder taken with fresh coconut juice gives relief from pain and burning epigastrium. It also helps in healing of the peptic ulcer. Mixed specifically with amla and loh bhasma, mulathi makes the famous ayurvedic medicine Dhatri Loha, which is highly beneficial in hyper acidity, anemia, malnutrition and other allied problems.

Mild tonic: In Ayurveda, mulathi is also considered a mild tonic. Given for a fortnight with an equal amount of powder of ashwagandha, it shows very good results in chronic