This Week
from Becky
With the school year starting next week, it’s time to shift from summer to some schedule that includes getting my kids to bed before 10pm. That first week is going to be interesting!
With the return to school, it’s the return to school issues like worms and nits. Nits are a rite of passage equal to dealing with chicken pox or whatever other parenting milestones we quickly educate ourselves about as needed. Margaret gives us a fantastic overview of the head lice landscape and options. I love that the research on the Tea Tree essential oil blend was shown more effective than the chemical options.
This week’s article from Margaret marks the 10th issue of our 10 contributors and so ends the “first round.” I’m excited about what we have accomplished, starting up this magazine from an idea. And I’m thankful to our contributors and readers for realizing that we were creating something special. For our “second round,” we’ll have some surprise guests as well. And even though my husband John thinks I can’t keep a secret, I can, and I’m excited.
We’re ready to double our subscribers, and I’m going to ask for your involvement. But first, as mentioned two issues ago, I wanted to give you guys something special before we publish our book in Amazon (for 8.99 USD) in a few weeks. This week’s Check it Out is for a free download of the book Why Natural Matters plus 8 Simple & Positive Steps to Health. It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of the “first round.” I love doing what we’re doing, and we would have no reason to do it without you.
I’ve had to add a Check it Out Too, because there’s two more things I want to let you know about. There are so many great things happening right now, I could not fit it all in.
In health, Becky
Oh Nits! It IS about the Bugs
This following article was prompted by a chance discussion with the local Playcentre co-ordinator about how local parents are coping with head lice. Apparently not very well as some have resorted to extreme measures, using products such as Spot-On and Ivermectin, on their children.
These are broad-spectrum antiparasitic products designed to kill internal and external parasites on animals. They are considered neurotoxins, likely to be absorbed into the body. Obviously, some of the things people do in an attempt to get rid of lice can be much more harmful than the lice themselves.
Our health nurse’s attitude is that Western society is insect phobic. “Having headlice is not a serious medical condition, but it does carry a lot of misinformation and outdated attitudes that can cause parents to overreact”. Hopefully, the more we know the better we deal with it.
What are head lice?
The head louse, (Pediculus humanus capitis), is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp. They have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult.
Facts
- Head lice have been around for a long time & most communities learn to live with them.
- Head lice are not known to spread disease but they can be annoying because they may cause itching and loss of sleep.
- Head-to-head contact with an infested person is the most common way to get head lice.
- Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop, fly or jump from person to person.
- Head lice and their eggs (nits) soon perish if separated from their human host. Because they need food, humidity and warmth to survive, it is unlikely they will be found alive on car seats, curtains or carpets. clothing or combs, brushes and towels.
- No approved treatment will kill all the unhatched eggs.
- Head lice cannot swim. They can survive under water for several hours but are unlikely to be spread by the water in a swimming pool
- Anyone can get head lice. It is not related to poor personal hygiene or home cleanliness.
- Headlice feed on blood, not dirt.
- Children do not get headlice from dogs, cats, and other animals.
Prevention
It is difficult to prevent head lice infestation in children. Community-wide or school-based programmes informing parents of methods to eradicate lice are the most effective ways to keep infestation rates down. Parents need to take responsibility for this as it has been shown that class checks for headlice are not effective.
Treatments
There are a variety of treatments available to families ranging in cost from very cheap to very expensive. Cost is no measure of effectiveness. The best way to break the cycle is regular systematic treatment from a range of options listed below, keeping in mind that the head is the home of the brain.
Chemical
The chemical treatments available in NZ are usually topical applications applied directly to the scalp. These include products containing Pyrethrum, pyrethrin, and/or Phenothrin; synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin); and organophosphates such as malathion, also known as maldison.
Physical methods
Physical methods of removing nits and lice can be effective on their own but they are time consuming. Eggs are cemented strongly to the hair shaft and simple washing usually doesn’t remove them. Metal nit combs are the most effective way of physically removing the nits.
Wet combing
The easiest way to find lice is to put lots of conditioner on dry hair – at least three times as much as usual. Conditioner stuns the insects for about 20 minutes and makes them easier to comb out. Repeat the combing at least twice more on consecutive nights if possible and then weekly. Cutting the hair short makes searching and removing lice easier but won’t prevent reinfestation. Hairdressers often refuse to cut hair showing any signs of eggs or lice.
Suffocating agents
Products such as dimethicone ( a silicone oil), petroleum jelly or benzyl alcohol. Home remedies such as mayonnaise and olive oil have been used but can be messy.
Essential oils
There are several products available that are based on essential oils. An Australian study, entered into the Australian/New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry in August 2010, compared the efficacy and safety of three topical treatments; one containing Melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) and lavender oil; a head lice “suffocation” product; and a product containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.
The percentage of subjects who were louse-free one day after the last treatment with the product containing tea tree oil and lavender oil and the head lice “suffocation” product was significantly higher compared to the percentage of subjects who were louse-free one day after the last treatment with the product containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. “The high efficacy of the TTO/LO product and the head lice “suffocation” product offers a realistic alternative to the pyrethrins-based product.”
As I am always concerned about using chemicals if effective alternatives are available, I will pass on a well tried recipe given to me by the health nurse at a large secondary school in Christchurch. It is cheap, easy and effective.
RECIPE FOR HEAD LICE TREATMENT
1 TEASPOON TEA TREE OIL = 5ML
1 CUP WHITE VINEGAR
2 TABLESPOONS CONDITIONER OR SHAMPOO
Mix ingredients in a clean plastic bottle. Apply required amount over the head.
Cover head with glad wrap.
Leave for half an hour
Rinse briefly
Repeat every 7 days for at least 3 weeks.
Note: Test a little on inside of wrist or elbow before first use.
Margaret Macbeth
Margaret likes the challenges that have arisen over the 30 years of living on the West Coast of the South Island. She is at the end of the road, on the edge of the land, in a very beautiful place. The greatest challenge was to create a business that would support her family in this remote location. In 1996 she and her husband, Hamish set up True Blue Organics. Her aim was to grow and distil the only organic Tea Tree oil in New Zealand from Melaleuca alternifolia plants. It has taken a long time but she has now achieved her wish to use the land to produce a crop or product that would be beneficial to people looking for natural therapeutic remedies.
Her lifestyle has taken her back to basics and she has learned a lot of useful skills along the way: how to live simply and sustainably, garden and grow organically, eat healthily, run a small business, participate in the local community. She credits family and friends as being most important of all.
Check it Out
Why Natural Matters is a book for people ready to live more lightly, whether that is by food choices, time outdoors or a better understanding of what holds you back. More than a list of things to do, it gives you a real framework for understanding how to make decisions that are both good for you AND feel good to do.
What if you knew that by living a more natural life, you would discover joy? What if you knew that making healthy decisions would actually feel good and sustainable? What if you discovered a way to delete the word “should” from your diet self-talk?
Why Natural Matters explores the complex topic of the emotions of decision making by tying it to images, technique and stories that are concrete. The book will not only affect your health decisions, it will give you a sense of your own power and ability to positively impact your environment.
You can create a life that is filled with wellness. You can make decisions that give you motivation and energy as well as a sense of your own goodness and power.
With love, Becky
NOTE: To receive the download link from this web page, you can add your name from the Home Page. We’ll send the link to your in-box straight away.
Check it Out Too
Here are two great programs happening at the moment.
1) John Gallagher from Learning Herbs is offering a course led by Kiva Rose on Herb Energetics. This is about being able to learn about properties of herbs through your senses instead of through books. John is a highly regarded curator of all things herbal and has dedicated his life to offering the best practical information he can.
This course has been run once before and 200 people left amazing comments. The average rating from 1 to 5 was a resounding FIVE! This course is only open until United States Saturday- sorry for the short notice- but I did not want you to miss out. I’m going to be signing up, so let me know if you sign up and we can do it together.
2) Sage Levine is running a 9 week teleseminar called Women on Purpose: Spiritural Business Boot Camp. I have never seen a higher calibre of speakers as she has brought together. She and the other speakers are creating something very unique, and EVERY single interview and interaction is available live and for 72 hours afterward for free. Honestly, if you run (or want to run) a business, and the words success, passion, sustainability, and ethics sound good, you will love checking this event out. It’s just started this week, so there is so much to come!
From You
Reading this book [Why Natural Matters] made me want to become involved and I want to learn more! Yes, you have ‘Started the Conversation’ and done so in a positive way – it’s certainly not all doom and gloom out there – you keep the negativity and blame out of it. It is insightful and doesn’t try to preach or convert the reader, but leaves you with a sense of possibility and the potential to make decisions about your health. It doesn’t have all the answers, or claim to – it gives you an awareness and self-responsibility – you have the knowledge and power to improve your health, beginning with small steps. Karen, Australia
p.s.
Only actions give life strength; only moderation gives it a charm. Jean Paul Richter (1763 – 1825)
Double our Subscribers- Will you Help?
We’re ready to grow this magazine to be able to do more. From now until February 2 (one week), we are offering a free pdf version of Why Natural Matters to all new subscribers.
Send an e-mail to a friend with our link www.goodbyesandfly.com and let them know.
Pass this link along through Facebook.