Thanks to the resourcefulness of one mother, a community was able to find a natural solution to a pesky infestation

hanks to the resourcefulness of one mother, a community was able to find a natural solution to a pesky infestation

It is perhaps a parent’s most unpleasant fear: Their young children coming home from a day of play, unknowingly bringing back a few uninvited little critters on their head!

A cringe-worthy experience, indeed – but thanks to the resourcefulness of one mother and the support of a women’s group, an entire community was able to find a natural solution to this pesky infestation.

 

The Truth Behind the Lice

Head lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis) are “tiny six-legged insects that cling to the scalp and neck area and feed on human blood.”* They are a common infestation, especially among grade-school children who are in constant close contact with one another during play, as well as among adults who live with children.

While lice do cause personal discomfort and itchiness for the infested person, their implications are more social and practical than personal, due to their easy transmission and unfortunate social stigma. For these reasons, it is very possible for an infestation to spread throughout an entire community!

There are many over-the-counter treatments for head lice, many of which are medicated and chemical-laden – which makes the health-conscious among us wonder: Are there natural alternatives that are capable of eliminating these unwanted pests?

 

 

Pests of the Past

When the Women with a Cause group uncovered a lice infestation within the Badjao community in Sitio Puntod, Alaska, Mambaling that they had adopted in January 2014, they decided to take action and help address their health and hygiene concerns through numerous health training and workshops.

What the women discovered was that lice infestations were prevalent in areas where water is lacking. In response to this, the group decided to hold their first Lice Eradication workshop.

“One of the mothers in our group tried using Human Nature’s Bug Shield Oil on her daughters and found it very effective in removing lice,” explains Josine Marzo, Human Nature Mandaue’s Branch Operator and member of Women with a Cause. “So a workshop was done by small groups [within the Badjao community]. It was emphasized that though there are many chemical anti-lice shampoos in the market, it is very important to use safe alternatives.”

Human Nature Mandaue supported Women with a Cause’s Lice Eradication workshop by giving a 30% discount on Bug Shield Oil 50ml to each family. After one month, an evaluation was done wherein the Badjao mothers reported how effective Human Nature’s Bug Shield Oil was in removing lice. Following the success of this inventive initiative, the same program was run in Gawad Kalinga Budlaan, Cebu last August 2014.

 

Searching for Natural Solutions

Many studies have been conducted regarding the efficacy of natural oils in repelling head lice. As researchers continue to study the potential of essential oils like citronella – the active ingredient in Human Nature’s Bug Shield Oil – to repel lice, Human Nature continues to explore possible natural alternatives to chemical remedies, as well.

Congratulations, Women with A Cause and Human Nature Mandaue! We hope you join us in our continuous mission to bring natural goodness to more communities around the Philippines!

 

*Sources:
Livestrong
WebMD
NCBI