Head Lice

There are three types of louse that can affect our bodies: the head louse, the body louse and the pubic (or crab) louse. The latter two predominantly affect adults. Head lice are epidemic in children of school age, and they are fast becoming “super-lice” as they become immune to treatment.

   Head lice are wingless insects that feed off the skin by attaching themselves to the scalp. The female louse lays approximately eight eggs a day, which stick to the hair and are visible as little white specks; they are called nits. After eight days the eggs hatch, and each louse lives for a further five weeks or so, piercing the skin or the scalp several times a day when hungry to feed from the blood; this causes the characteristic itching and scratching of the scalp. The bites produce inflammation of the skin, which looks like red pinpricks on the scalp. The itching and irritation they cause ultimately produce a skin rash.

   Black lice are very difficult to spot, but are easily identifiable by their sticky, yellow-white eggs or nits, which nest in the hair and can be removed with a fine-toothed comb. They usually settle above and behind the ears, on the crown and at the nape of the neck. These lice can affect the pubic hair as well.

   Head lice are highly contagious, and they will travel rampantly among groups of children who play together. They move from child to child, especially from long hair, which is not tied up, and they can live for 24 hours away from the body. These pests are passed on through direct contact with others, regardless of personal hygiene. Lice do not jump, they run quickly. If one child in a school class has head lice, those lice can quickly affect the others in that class. Although head lice are most common among young adults, adults in the family will also be affected. Head lice can also be spread through sharing combs, towels, bedding or clothing such as hats, scarves and coats. Short hair will help prevent the spread of head lice.

   The normal treatment with chemical products won’t give great results today due to lice having become more immune to the chemicals used for 50 years or more. Natural products don’t have this problem due to the slight variation between plants, even of the same species. Head lice can easily be killed with a wide variety of natural products which are also very safe for the children using them. One of the most effective remedies used for head lice can even be used as a tea for digestive problems. Quassia Bark tincture is a very effective remedy for killing head lice; it can even kill the eggs or nits. I usually recommend it to be sprayed on to the hair at night and washed out in the morning using a fine-toothed comb so as to comb out the nits. Repeat the procedure the next night and again in 10 days’ time to eliminate all head lice: it’s wise to treat all of the children in the family at the same time in order to limit the spread of the infestation.

   Many patients like to try to prevent an infestation by adding essential oils to their children’s shampoo. Essential oils are naturally deadly to insects since the plants that produce these oils use them to protect themselves from attacks from insects.

   Adding oils such as Lavender, Geranium, Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree essential oils to shampoo may help prevent an attack from the dreaded head louse. Be sure to use only a few drops of these essential oils in a bottle of shampoo - too many may cause irritation to the scalp.

David Foley
MNIMH, MRCHM
Medical Herbalist

Gingivitis and Gum Health

Gingivitis is an inflammation that causes the gums to become red, swollen and spongy. Gums that bleed easily often indicate gingivitis. In time, the inflammation causes pockets to form and deepen between the teeth and gums, though the discomfort is slight.

   It is the leading cause of teeth loss in Ireland and is very common. Since gum and tooth problems often begin in childhood, it is important to teach children the benefits of good dental hygiene.

   Gingivitis and periodontal disease are caused by plaque build-up and food particles lodged between teeth and are usually the result of poor mouth hygiene. Failing to brush the teeth before bed and in the morning, and not using dental floss for food particles stuck between the teeth, will cause plaque build-up and cavities. If regular visits to the dentist are missed, plaque build-up and other dental problems like cavities and abscesses continue to erode teeth, cause gum problems and hasten tooth loss.

   Nutrition is an important contribution to gum health. Apples and carrots are foods that clean the teeth, while soft cakes and breads lodge between the teeth and allow bacteria to increase plaque build-up. A lack of Vitamin C causes the gums to become swollen and spongy and to bleed easily. Even emotional stress can increase gum problems. This is due to the decreased production of saliva because of stress. Breathing through the mouth also reduces salivation.

   Chewing apples, carrots and other root vegetables naturally removes plaque. Avoid sugar, which increases plaque accumulation and inhibits the functioning of white blood cells. Citrus fruits contain high levels of Vitamin C, which is extremely important in the treatment of gingivitis because it maintains the structure of the gums, stimulates immune function and helps healing of the gums.

   If proper dental hygiene is followed and the gums are still unhealthy and inflamed, it may be due to lack of certain vitamins in your diet. Taking Vitamin C with bioflavonids one to three times each day should help. Also, Vitamin E is important for the mucus membranes: taking 400IU of Vitamin E each day will help maintain the integrity of the gums.

   Herbs can play an important role in the treatment of gingivitis. To stop the inflammation of gingivitis, use Echinacea tincture, which will also help boost the immune system. Take 1 teaspoon of the tincture in half a glass of water, rinse the mouth three times each day and swallow. Other herbs such as Chamomile and Raspberry Leaf tea can be drunk during the day to aid the healing process. To strengthen the gum and rebuild its structure, use 1 tablespoon of Horsetail Juice in a little water twice a day. Horsetail will strengthen the collagen, which holds the tissue of the skin and the mucus membranes together.

   Massaging the gums each day (morning and night) with Myrrh Essential Oil will help control the bacteria that cause gingivitis.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Honey

  Honey has had a long history. It has been used as a medicinal food since antiquity. It is mentioned in the Bible, the Talmud and the Koran. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used it in the treatment of his patients. Pliny, the Roman historian, wrote in praise of the honeybee and the value of honey. It still has properties that baffle the scientists.

   Honey is said to improve with age. A jar of honey was discovered in an Egyptian tomb after 3,000 years. The substance was still recognisable!

   With an industry unsurpassed in the human world, it takes about 2,000 bee visits to produce one tablespoonful of honey.

   Honey, when extracted from the comb, is a concentrated aqueous solution which in due course transforms itself into a glutinous, granulated, opaque mass due to the crystallisation of one of its sugars. This crystallisation, contrary to popular belief, is a guarantee of its pureness.

   By insisting that honey should be in liquid form, the public is compelling suppliers, whether they like it or not, to tamper with the product.

   Honey is chiefly composed of various sugars. Other substances hitherto identified include: phosphate of calcium and iron and minute amounts of sodium chloride, formic acid, vitamins A, B and C and small grains of pollen in minute quantities but of high nutritional value. When heated or sterilised, the ferments lose their character. Light destroys the vitamin A, while heat destroys all three vitamins.

   It is also anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic.

   Maybe you are one who prefers it fluid? Crystallised honey can be returned to the liquid state by setting the jar in warm - not hot - water. When you store honey, never place it in a refrigerator or an excessively cold place: it likes warmth and dryness.

   White sugar is fattening and almost 100% carbohydrate, containing few vitamins or minerals. You have to eat a lot before your blood sugar rises to a point where it triggers off your appetite. Honey is different. It is rapidly satisfying, easily absorbed and recharges energy almost immediately.

   Every beekeeper knows that honey is good for indigestion.

   Honey can be used to treat dyspepsia and ulcers by eradicating Heliobacter-Pylori, researchers claim. Laboratory tests by Dr Peter Molan of the University of Waitkito, New Zealand prevented growth of the bacteria by a 5% solution of honey from the Manuka flower.

   A great many people are now using honey to treat peptic ulcers; also, many children with gastro-enteritis have found complete relief in honey.

   Honey is a potent inhibitor of the bacteria that causes salmonella poisoning.

   Another special honey, made especially for the queen bee, is called Royal Jelly; it’s produced by the worker bees from pollen and honey. It has required the reputation of being a superb tonic to create an alert mentality and virility. I often recommend Royal Jelly for the students in the weeks coming up to their big exams to give them extra stamina and clearness of vision.

   On a final note, I have noted over the years that beekeepers are the most friendly and helpful of people. Maybe honey imparts some of its sweetness to their characters!  

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist