Thank you for the info on using Borax for mites. I'm on day 4 of drinking 1/8 tsp in liter of water & 1/8 tsp baking soda sipping thruout day. Wow, what a difference!
But could you give some additional information? How do you deal with the actual mites that come crawling out of your skin. ? Whats the proper protocol? None of the posts I read, mentions anything about this important step. Some were coming out of my left tear duct yesterday - what a weird sensation. I didn't know what to do: leave them alone & try not to itch; wipe with some solution; rinse with water, what? I also have some coming out in various areas on my face as boils. I've been spritzing a borax/peroxide/water solution directly on my body at night then shower in the morning. That seems to help a lot.
Thank you for your response I await anxiously!
Bleach in Bath Water
Jenn, you might try cat flea spray with a 3-4 month insect-growth regulator. First try it diluted with water, even as little as 4:1; that is 4 parts water.
Not that I like any of this stuff. But a few drops in a couple tsps of water cured earmites in one of our indoor-outdoor hunting cats after olive oil failed to do the job. An hour or so later I rinsed his ears with OTC sterile ear cleaner.
The mites have not returned in over a year.
Cat insecticide products are said to be safe for dogs but not the other way around. I'd keep the snakes off the rugs for a few days.
Lamp Oil, Borax
To clean house: Wash everything in hot water daily-clothes-linens. Everything else goes in a plastic bag x 3 days. Vaccuum your bed, get mite proofed casings for mattress, boxsprings & pillows. Throw out all feather pillows/ comforters. An air purifier reduces food source for mites. Wipe walls/baseboards with vinegar. Spray baseboards with an insecticide. Throw out magazines/newspapers. De-clutter, clean daily. Whenever you feeling crawling-get into the shower & scrub! Don't be lazy and you'll be free of mites in no time!
Multiple Remedies
In any case, once I determined the problem I came to this site and tried some of the remedies and combination of remedies listed here. What I tried and what is finally working is this. It seems you do have to keep after these little buggers relentlessly. I started out using tea tree oil*, then neem oil, then sea buckthorn oil. They all helped a little but not enough to get rid of them completely. For me, what seems to have been working lately is a multi-remedy approach.
1.) I laundered my towels after each use. I changed my bed linens each night. When I washed my linens, towels and clothes I used hot water. I tried not to wear anything that required a delicate or cold water wash. My clothes were worn once and then washed. I used our normal laundry detergent, but I added about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of Borax to each load.
2.) I lightly dusted food grade diatomaceous earth* everywhere that I spent a lot of time that had some kind of fabric covering. I sprinkled it on the carpet near my bed and chairs, on my chairs and sofas, my mattress, on the mattress pad, in my pillowcases and on my sheets. I even dusted it on my legs and arms.
2.) I started taking 1 Tbsp of food grade diatomaceous earth* dissolved in a glass of water daily. At first I took 1 T in the morning and 1 T in the mid afternoon. After a couple of weeks I tapered off to 1 T at night. Some people are unable to sleep after taking it, but it actually helped me sleep better. I did this for 30 days. Once I started taking this the scabs and itching became more noticeable on my arms and legs. It seems it was bringing whatever mites were under my skin to the surface. I was really scratching then, but at least they were on the run.
3.) For relief, I covered my eyes in organic coconut oil. I did not pour it in my eyes, I just applied it externally to my lashes and brows. For the rest of my body, every day and night I applied, externally, some bentonite detox clay (the kind you take internally) everywhere that it itched. I would even daub the bentonite clay on my scalp where it itched. It will leave a thin film of clay on your skin and may look and feel dry but it definitely relieves the itch. I would then shampoo my hair every day with tea tree oil shampoo. On occasion I would daub tea tree oil* wherever I felt the itch.
It has been a little over a month now and they seem to be gone, but I will continue my treatments, for a while until I am absolutely certain they are gone.
*Please note that some people will react to tea tree oil. It did not bother me, but it can be an irritation to some. Also I underline food grade diatomaceous earth as that is the only kind you can take internally or allow to touch your skin. I know this has been mentioned before, but it bears repeating that there a two kinds of diatomaceous earth and you need to be certain that you get the food grade kind. You can usually find all of these remedies in your local health food store or online.
Multiple Remedies
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Bleach in Bath Water
Apple Cider Vinegar
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WORKED TEMPORARILY
Essential Oils
General Feedback
Borax
Lamp Oil, Borax
Bleach in Bath Water
When I and my family figured out we had a demodex mite skin(and home infestation), we took 100% submersed baths using A SNORKEL. Yep, a diving snorkel we found at a national retail store for just a couple of dollars.
Worked PERFECTLY!
Saliva
Just put them into the microwave oven, always with a cup of water (so you prevent a fire! ), this for 1min 30 or 45 seconds.
General Feedback
Apple Cider Vinegar
Multiple Remedies
I have a very interesting story I want to share with all of you who are suffering from a mite problem.
About 9 months ago I was doing a yoga session at a friend's house, in his attic to be precise and I lay my head on the carpet floor for about five minutes...
That evening I felt a strong "bite" or "pinch" on my scalp. At the time it didn't worry me too much because I had no idea and had never heard of scabies, bird mites or any type of mite that could be a problem for humans…. Boy was I ignorant. The bites got worse and more frequent and a few days later I felt like a "popping" feeling and the spreading of little insects all over my head they spread down to my shoulders, arms, legs, in short all over my body. I could actually feel them walking down my cheek and could catch them with my fingers. These little buggers felt like a grain of sand and they would bite me everywhere!!
The problem was mainly in my scalp but after a few months it spread to the webbing in my toes too and they would then come up my legs as well!!
Despite washing my hair every night with anti nit shampoo the problem had gotten out of control and my small apartment got totally infested.
At first to keep them at bay I would blow dry my hair and body after showering with anti nit shampoo, 1% permethrin. During this period I tried everything I could and in different combinations and strengths until I got a handle on the problem.
My first real discovery was citronella essential oil mixed with alcohol and a touch of eurax lotion. This combination I would spray on my hair and it would kill or stun the mites for about 4 hours…
I then elaborated on this by adding to the citronella: peppermint, eucaliptus, clove, neem, tee tree, oregano essential olis as well as a bit of regular olive oil…. I mixed aproximately 10 drops of each, maybe more peppermint and eucalyptus and then added rubbing alcohol and put in a mini sprayer of 60cc. I sprayed my head and feet throughout the day…. This was really working but I didn't feel it was killing the female below the skin…. How could I get to her??
The answer to this many of you may not believe but it is worth a try because it is totally free!!
I used my own body energy, that's right I used my own bio-electricity to zap them. This idea came about by a chance meeting with a friend on a bus ride. He told me he had been in a terrible health about a year ago with liver problems, prostate and back pain and that a therapist who used energy healing had cured him of all his problems and had then taught him how to do it to himself. I asked him how it was done and he taught me. I started to do it immediately on the bus!! And I was amazed to see that the problem started to decrease at once!! It is very simple so here it is:
Sitting (you can do this while driving btw) imagine an energy beam of white light coming down through the crown of the head. Take this energy and concentrate it more on more in the chest area or the belly which ever you feel is better. Then exhale and try to feel that you are pushing the energy down to your feet. You WILL feel this it is not imaginary by the way then keep playing with it and try directing the energy to the problem areas of your body.
I am not an expert in this so don't ask me to be more specific just inhale through the nose and visualize, feel and direct the energy.
I now believe that when the body is at its full potential of energy all the little buggers just can't handle it and leave you alone.
By the way other bits of info that might help:
1. Take showers and then rinse the tub clean!! I thought that taking long soaks would help. Wrong! These buggers just float and the hot water doesn't kill them so when you get out of the water they just land back on you. If you use bleach that does kill them but it screws up your skin.
2. Tumble dry clothes on high heat or bleach with water soaks to cleaned my clothes.
3. Gave up sugar, soda and chocolate.. this really helped!! The bugs got slower and less aggressive.
Good luck to you all and may God bless us all.
General Feedback
General Feedback
Finally figured out that they came from a dead bird that was found in the attic after a hurricane. Also noticed it got worse when it rained or was humid outside (which is common in the south). If it would have gone on any longer, I probably would have taken my life -- that's how severe it became and I'm not a suicidal or depressed person. I am still angry that I was so alone and want to help anyone suffering from it. It can be defeated!!!
Multiple Remedies
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I think I'm onto my fourth week of hosting these little buggers but have been actively trying to get rid of them for the last two. Not sure where I picked them up from. I did some volunteering with homeless people but also slept on friends' couches and was around different people over the festive season... Who knows! These mites do not discriminate. I should've gone to the doctors sooner than later though... Even if they were not so certain...
So, one dose of Permethrin didn't work. After reading comments on this site and a million others, two days after the slather of permethrin I set out to look for SULPHUR SOAP, TEA TREE OIL, BORAX and NEEM OIL. Unsuccessful in securing the latter 2 within supermarkets/pharmacies.
If you live in the UK (or London at least) don't bother scouring the shelves for Borax. Shops don't sell it anymore (not even Boots), the usual health & safety talk. You can get it online though (i haven't tried it yet).
Unfortunately I dont have the luxury of a bath. A good soapy lather of sulphur suds all over your body for a few minutes, day and night seems to have helped so far (it has also been amazing for my skin! But you need to moisturise after as it dries it out) After showering I'd put Tea Tree oil neat on lesions and bumps. Stings like anything on the lesions! But gradually subsides. My lesions seem to have joined, from all the scratching, so I've got big ugly blotches on my trunk. Try not to scratch and don't scrub your body too harshly either. Once your skin breaks you're open to secondary infections.
If I feel the lesions need a break I don't have the second shower but will still rub something over them. They wont heal if it keeps getting wet and I rebreak the skin. I eventually stopped putting neat Tea Tree Oil on them as I think it was perhaps too strong for the lesions that seemed to be taking a while to heal. Instead I mixed a few drops with aloe vaseline lip balm and smothered that on. Other than smelling like a tub of vicks it really helped!!
By day 6 the crawling sensation and need to scratch seemed to pick up again. I figured that it was hatched mites (7 day cycle or whatever! )I was even feeling them on my eyelashes.. YUCK! Frustrated I slathered on the second tube of permethrin. Regretted it because I felt some side effects but it has probably helped me to get to the stage I'm at now.. However the side effects although slight were scary.. And everything else I've read about it.
A day after the 2nd slather I purchased some Neem Oil and Neem and coconut cream online from NeemTeam. I continue to shower with sulphur soap. For bedtime I rub Neem Oil all over the infected areas and for the day I use the cream. It doesn't smell as bad as I thought it would (I read in many forums about the stench). Actually it just smells very nutty.. Not the nicest nutty smell but it could be a whole lot worse!!
It's day 7 again and I've been on alert for new bumps, the increased need to scratch or crawlies etc. So far... So good. The lesions are healing too. Much less need to scratch now and near zero with the crawly feeling. I initially thought the advice about 1. Washing everything everyday, 2. Not wearing anything twice, 3. Getting a plastic cover for your mattress was excessive.. But it isn't.
I had not been as militant in the first week.
I don't have time or the facilities to wash everything everyday so before the evening shower the days clothes go into a plastic bag kept away from everything else. Some people might mistake me for an employee of the laundrette now... But who cares. Hot wash and hot dry!!
I've bagged the clothing I don't wear as often, the duvet, pillows etc and stored them away (ie no longer in my room). I've isolated the clothes I'll likely wear to one closet, so that I'm not having to go through all my drawers etc. Never one to iron, I now have an iron LOL. I've read a few times about the mites not liking extreme heat/cold so I'll iron the sheet I sleep in if I can't manage to get it wash and dried. I'll iron clothes if I feel I need to. It's winter at present so for once I'm happy to get a good chill over me now and then. I just picture those mites getting a good shock!
I'm using the plastic side of an inflatable bed to sleep on top of my mattress and my sleeping bag to keep me warm. I've read a few times about the mites not liking the plastic and how they can burrow into your mattress and come back to feast on you when you return to bed. GROSS! At least I can scrub the plastic and put the sleeping bag in the drier.
My room gets hoovered at least twice a week, I sprinkle soda crystals and shake and vac on the floor before so. Thats probably excessive and I don't know if it does anything but you start to do these things lol. I've noticed a lot of dry skin on the floor (its a dark colour) due to peeling from the lesions as they heal and dried out bumps so its been another reason to hoover more often.
And don't wear your hair out, especially if you have long hair. Those buggers will crawl up and onto your scalp. I started noticing the crawling sensation on my head after the first permethrin tube so I started washing my hair with the sulphur soap too. That's worked.
I'm eating more healthy foods and keeping a positive attitude too. This is definitely helping to keep up the regime and hopefully will get rid of these mites sooner than later (when I read people had it months I nearly cried). Looking back to December I think my immune system was low - lethargic and all!
I've got olive oil, olive soap and grounded tumeric on standby... And will need to buy another bar of sulphur soap soon. I'm building up quite a collection..
While I can't wait to be rid of these mites and the scarring, I'm grateful that it has turned me to sites such as this and made me aware of the natural products I'm now using on and in my body. It's something I am going to continue with even after the mites are gone.
Lamp Oil, Borax
Borax
Borax can dry the skin out, that's part of what may kill the mites. Ted did also recommend this on the rosacea thread (which also deals with mites) that if the skin gets too dry, apply jojoba oil or aloe vera or lavender oil.
Source: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/rosacea.html
Perhaps you need to lessen the borax to 1/16 a teaspoon or less and take it less frequently as well. Some people are more sensitive than others. If it is still too much, stop. This website will tell of some of borax side effects. Most people who take the borax in the small doses listed in E.C. Seem to tolerate them well. But some sensitive people may experience the side effects listed here. Sometimes doses on E.C. have to be tinkered with as we all react differently to different things.
http://www.ehow.com/list_5998571_effects-borax-skin.html
Borax
Its now day 5 and I have stopped taking it. Yesterday it had become so dry and felt really raw so that I couldn't stand it. It stung like I had sunburn. Im wondering if anyone has any idea what could be going on. Also how can I direct a question directly to ted, he seems to have helped a lot of people. I was hoping I could send him a photo and some background info and see if he can shed some light on whats going on. I cant say how much it would mean to me to get this problem under control. Thanks everyone and I wish you all good luck in treating your conditions.
You can also wet some borax in 1% H2O2 and apply the paste to the area and leave it on, don't rinse. If the skin gets dry, use aloe vera or some natural oil to moisturize it. To dilute H2O2 down to 1.5%, just mix one part 6% H2O2 and 4 parts water (e.g. 1 oz H2O2 and 4 oz water).
Borax
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Borax, Tea Tree Oil, H2O2, Vitamin E
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ON A ROLL, this is my third input today. This is not my procedure as I got it off this site, but I have refined it. I now only put the borax, tee tree oil and hydrogen peroxide solution in my nose where the hair follicles are. Also I have added Vitamin E for the oil. This is more effective and I have been doing this for several years. I have concluded that you never get rid of these buggers, you just control them.
EC: Check Google Shopping
http://www.google.com/products?q=food+grade+diatomaceous+earth&hl=en&aq=0&oq=Food+grade+dia
or Amazon
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Hydrogen Peroxide, Borax
Multiple Remedies
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I have morgellons and I know there has to be some sort of biofilm that is protecting this colony of horrors so that most remedies take a long time to reach the real infestation. In fact, this is why I think I still have this on my head, scalp and hair... Sticky, hard substance that I presume is some sort of barrier of biofilm that protects them. If you could help us figure out how to get rid of this protective film, that would make a huge difference and impact on what is used to kill the infestation. At present, I am trying an enzyme supplement dissolved in vinegar, then add the borax and some neem oil; then pour and comb through hair and cover with plastic bag. My ears are all bitten up and while it stung initially, by the morning, I was much better. But I can't sit in my condo for too long without the familiar sting and accumulation of these things again... Any suggestions would be welcome and thanks for trying to help!!! Btw, am FOUR years into this, with it destroying my friendships, leaving me with a broken home and family, financial devastation, and living a very lonely isolated life. This disease is progressive if not caught in time and stopped in its tracks... I have lost my hair, looks, 20 pounds in weight and if I don't get to the bottom of this soon, I don't see me surviving this. God bless you for your help and for sites like Earth Clinic
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Here is my remedy-
2 oz. Virgin coconut oil heated to where it is just melted
2 oz of colloidal silver (This is important - it must be at least 50ppm. I make my own. )
1 oz of red liquid liniment from old company established in 1868 starts with "W", which contains camphor, capsicum and spruce oil
1/2 oz. Liquid vitamin E which helps the skin to heal faster and reduce scarring
1/2 tsp. MSM
15-20 drops clove oil
Shake to mix and apply on skin once daily until the mites are gone. It is actually very soothing. It also worked on the dog. I sprayed straight colloidal silver on the cat as needed. Any area that itched I sprayed and it seems to kill them within seconds, but again, it has to be at least 50ppm. You will stop itching within days, and should be mite free in less than two weeks.
Borax
* I used a simple combination of 1%-3% hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of borax (20 Mule Team is fine) in an ordinary 8 oz flower garden sprayer. Also add one tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia. All I did was to spray my body (particularly the bitten areas) after my shower and before bed with this mix and then wash it off the next morning. I found that, next day, I hadn't been bitten anymore and my bites had actually gone down and didn't itch so much. I still use this mix if some critter bites me, it's very effective. Only use this mix topically and avoid use near the eyes.
* Take your couch/bed mattress and put it outside in the sun and heat for the day. The mites and bugs will hate the sun, they will run away and leave the couch/bed mattress.
* Also make sure you clothes are not infested by washing your clothes with generous amounts of borax.
The borax will kill the mites directly as will the hydrogen peroxide which will also kill any other associative bacteria and viruses as well.
The Milk of Magnesia (MoM) will kill the bugs and anything else in 2 other ways. First the MoM is so alkaline -- pH 10 -- that it will kill any bacteria, virus, fungus or bug easily. As well, MoM contains mainly Magnesium Hydroxide, which is highly hydrohobic (drives water out). So using MoM will also dehydrate the bugs or mites and kill them that way too.
Borax
Borax
Lamp Oil, Borax
Possible Bird Mite Infestation symptoms:
* Pinprick bites with or without lesions
* Frequently intense itching of the skin
* Vague sensation of crawling on the skin
* Bite marks and lesions that heal very slowly
* Increase of symptoms in certain areas of the home
* Increase of symptoms at night and in humid weather
* Physician suspects scabies but the treatment does not help.
I know they are dead, because I'm not getting bit anymore. After I went thru the house, I'm now going back thru and washing contents of drawers, linens stored for awhile, hanging clothes I havent worn in awhile, and trying to treat any and everything that may not have been treated in awhile. Thank goodness for the hints and tips from readers, like running the wash cycle longer to allow the borax to have time to kill them. It is worth it to read every single letter in this mite infestation page and scabies page. There are some smart ideas coming in. I just loved how fast the lamp oil worked. You could wash it off after an hour if you wanted. I just had so many of the dadburned things on me.
Lamp Oil, Borax
Thanks for the post! How did you know you had mites? What symptoms did you have and, moreover, how do you know they are dead now?
