Scabies
Natural Remedies

Natural Approaches for Scabies: Exploring Effective Remedies

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Tea Tree Oil


Posted by Happily Cured (Harrison, Nj) on 04/26/2010
★★★★★

Tea tree oil really works on scabies! I had tried just about everything over a 3 month period and finally relief!!! I applied it to the itchy parts a few times a day and at bedtime and it took a few days to calm down and maybe 10 days to completely cure. I still had lots of scarring and weird patches over most of my body. I treated these with lavender oil and they cleared up like magic! So don't give up - there is relief!


Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Brenda (Blue Springs, Missouri ) on 11/22/2008
★★★★☆

Can you get scabies on your head and face area? I have been fighting these "things" for almost 3 months. At first itching, then white type if burrowong mite.I have black specks and white substance that keep appearing. And of coarse the itching is intense. Went through 2 rounds of the Rx creams and the oral Ivermectin. All the doctor's I have seen say they are gone. I'm not so sure. How long will I itch? I am using tee tree oil. It seems to help with healing the open wounds with secondary infection. Do you think this sounds like something other than scabies? I drench myself in oil every day. Seems to draw them out. Any suggestions? I am desperate.

Replied by Frustrated
(Central TX)
09/19/2021

If you don't see bites, it is probably the permethrin that leaves you with alot of itching. It is a neurotoxin. You unfortunately will have this for a few months depending on how long you used permethrin. Your skin will heal with time. Use Dove soap or any other gentle non sulfates and moisturize!

Replied by Alisa
(Iasi)
08/27/2023

The white "mites" you see are your own epithelial cells. It makes sense, since scabies dig through skin.

I found out after being called crazy by the dermatologist (he didn't think I had scabies), but I insisted for him to check under microscope AND to send me to a lab for test.

Everything was paid by myself, in a country with free access to medical care.


Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Bobbie (Brooklyn, NY) on 07/16/2008
★★★★★

Tea Tree oil, after a bath of baking soda, cured my scabies. The prescription my doctor gave me made my scabies a lot worse so I decided to stop using it. The scabies burrows stung and itched so badly, so after taking a bath I applied tea tree oil on 5 cotton balls and whiped my body down. The itching is gone and my scabs are clean and no longer bleeding from all the previous scratching.


Tea Tree Oil, Coconut Oil, Epsom Salt


Posted by Claire (Netherlands ) on 05/03/2024
★★★★★

I had scabies since November 2023- so for 6 months now. I tried the counter medicines- ivermectin and permethrin but they were not strong enough to eradicate the problem.
I had crusted scabies on my arm and so these medicines helped to reduce the infection but didn't get rid completely.

one time I went to the dermatologist and she gave me four rounds of the treatment.
I expected it to help but then the scabies spread to my back, stomach and neck in a very bad way.

I started to use natural remedies _ coconut oil unrefined (cold pressed- this is important aspect! ) and warmed it up with tea tree.

well this also seemed to make it worse, I even tried putting the diatomaceous powder on my skin to suffocate them.

I started to think the scabies must be bad in my house, since I live in a studio apartment. Even though I was cleaning thoroughly it felt that I kept getting reinfected.

Eventually, I went to stay in a community for 10 days, with fresh bed sheets and towels. I just took two bags with fresh clothes that I had washed at 60 degrees.

I took the cold pressed coconut oil with me and a box of Epsom salts (magnesium salt) and a box of regular table salt. Every evening I would take a bath and put Epsom salts in it and have a good soak. My skin would feel very itchy and then I'd rub the skin with regular salt. This stung like crazy but I know it killed the scabies. I would leave the salt to sit on my skin for 15 mins and then wash it off. After the bath I would cover my whole body in coconut oil ( be sure to also have short fingernails) and leave it on overnight. In the morning I would put another round of coconut oil on my skin.

This has really helped.

I am now back home and am almost clear of them. I still use coconut oil every day. I don't have a bath here but if an area is itchy I rub Epsom salts into the affected area or tea tree which is great for the itch.

I hope this helps you all!!


Ted's Remedies

Posted by Jane (New Jersey) on 02/06/2014

Hello,

I have a confirmed case of scabies and it has been 8 months of trying to get rid of it. I have tried everything i.e., medicines and natural treatments but none of these cure it only temporary fix. The disease has gone above my neck and is in my hair and I have had them on my face as well. This has been the challenge. I copied down a recipie from Ted's Earth Clinic and wanted to know if this will kill the mites in my hair as well. I'm a little reluctant to use DMSO because I heard controversial things about it. Here is Ted's recipie: Also, have done the Borax & peroxide rinse in the hair. It helps but does not cure it. Below is Ted's recipie. Any other advice would be welcomed. I am at my wits end with this and suffering greatly. A response would be appreciated.

Questions:

1. How do you measure 2.5%, 4% or 5% I.e. tablespoons or teaspoons?

2. how long do you leave it on and for what duration time?

3. Does this treatment get put on the body as well as the scalp?

PLEASE ADVISE.

Ted's comment: All oils are carrier oils, but their penetrant ability is limited, except for DMSO...I have found castor oil mixed with DMSO to be good - 25% castor oil and 75% DMSO. Then you can mix it with mustard powder, mustard oil, or d limonene at, say, 2.5%. That will take care of killing the mites. Plus, you add, say, 4% or 5% lavender oil. They're the approximate numbers I calculate

Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
02/07/2014

To Jane from NJ,

Re Ted's formula for mite infestation and your question on Ted's use of DMSO...

I've been using DMSO longer than most any other "curative" item ...about 30 years. Just used it a day ago on Impetigo case which is children's infection by bacteria. Used Bentonite clay, DMSO, H2O2 and Colloidal Silver to form the "plaster"... Wrapped infected finger with clay mix. Let dry and washed off. Then assuming for caution sake the infection might also contain spores of fungus, also applied to dry surface, a powder form of anti fungal and held that in place with paper towel. Finally, a re application of the Clay / DMSO mix.

The point is the DMSO was used easily on child with no ill effects. Only helped. I also use DMSO on any sign of Bells Palsey, for instance....I mix DMSO fifty fifty with colloidal silver and apply on affected side with white paper towel. Only ten days ago I suddenly had a swollen forefinger on left hand. Out of the blue....couldn't figure why since I'd done no exercise/ yard work etc the day before....I used DMSO straight on swollen area. Worked the area and now days later no swelling. I found I could "move" the swollen joint and "pop" it in place. Almost no sensitivity now.

I'm just trying to point out all the times I use DMSO. Not weekly, but I bet I use DMSO eight or nine times yearly on myself, and have now for over three decades.

Watch on youtube, DMSO, dr Jacobs, sixty minutes and you'll find a great three part program on DMSO.

Replied by Mike62
(Denver)
02/06/2014

Jane: Ted is not an amateur. He has thoroughly researched all the products he recommends and takes them himself. I took 5g a day of dmso for 90 days. David Avacado Wolfe recommends dmso. Get the 99.9% pure, although many people use the 99% brand for farm animals. 1tbsp is 15ml. 5% of 1tbsp is 750mg. Mix 25% castor oil because the dmso needs to be at a certain dilution. The dmso carries the remedies through the skin barrier so there won't be anything left on the skin to wash off. For the scalp cut the hair very short before applying. When I had scabies the Dr. gave me some medicine in a cream that cured them immediately.

Jonathan
(Utah)
11/26/2023

What was the medicine in a cream? I hope you don't mean permethrin. Permethrin isn't working at least for me.


Thyme Essential Oil


Posted by Casey J (Perth, Australia) on 04/02/2008
★★★★★

Hi there, Using Thyme essential oil also works to relieve itches at night from Scabies. Thyme has a history of being used to treat Scabies too. Beware to get the real good quality thyme essential oil, i get mine from Young Living. The smell is strong so is the effect on the skin. may burn but its not that bad...if it stings too much - use a bit oil (Olive, sesame, any other etc) to soothe the burn if you are experiencing any of that


Toasted Flour


Posted by Bonnie (Wendell, Idaho) on 09/21/2009
★★★★★

Biting mites

I have tried so many of the ideas on this site, and nothing helped. I finally took common flour and baked it in the oven until it turned brown, and applied it to my skin. It is healing my skin and the deep bruising of the bites are being healed. The first day, I applied olive oil and a coconut oil mix and then dusted myself with the "brown flour", and it worked.

Yes I smell kinda of like toast --but it is worth it, and it is working for me! Thank you. I think this is an olden day cure for skin problems that work. Bonnie


Treat Your Pets

Posted by Lizzy (Glasgow) on 05/01/2015

SCABIES TREATMENT: Be sure to treat your animals for mange at the same time! :)


Vaseline +


Posted by Luann (Indiana) on 05/20/2023
★★★★★

Vaseline and Sulfur for Scabies

Sulfur is the cure for scabies! Into a small bowl I mixed four level tablespoons of yellow sulfur powder with about three tablespoons of baby oil until smooth and then I added one large 15 oz plastic jar of Vaseline or some call it petroleum jelly and I stirred this together very well with a small spoon. When it was well Incorporated I put it back into the Vaseline plastic container and yes it all fit nicely. I set this on my bathroom sink and twice a day morning and night I smeared this on my body and rubbed it in well. I even put it in my hair and covered my pillow with the towel so I wouldn't stain it and slept very well that night, no itches no crawling. The next morning I took a shower with sulfur bar soap and even my hair. I had to wash my hair several times and yes it was a gooey mess but who cares as long as it's killing these things right? This stuff works miracles and from then on I've put it on twice a day and it said to do it for one week. You do not have to wash it off only once a day if you feel like it and I think this was key into killing them bastards. I kept myself covered with it and yes you can leave the house and you can't see it on you nor did I smell it. Anyway this stuff will kill it and this is how you make a sulfur ointment. That's what this stuff is called. Before that I used body lotion with the sulfur but it did not work the same as using Vaseline and it did not kill them therefore this is why I went to making the sulfur ointment using Vaseline. Just makes your skin feel great also.

Replied by Alisa
(Iasi)
10/05/2023

If you are following a homeopathic treatment, then your Dr probably told you to stay clear of essential oils.

So Vaseline is the best thing you can do to help your skin.

It is an old method of killing scabies by suffocation. In the old times, people were using lard to achieve the same effect.

Good luck!


Vaseline +
Posted by Nina (Philippines) on 08/16/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Regarding petroleum jelly for scabies posts:

Yes, you are right.

Petroleum jelly chokes these mites. Also, sulfur cream 10% works faster if u apply petroleum jelly first before the sulfur cream. It causes the sulfur to penetrate deeper.

I had a friend who was severely infested. Permethrin creams, lemon oil, tea tree oil, neem oil, you name it she used it-- No cure. It was driving her crazy n depressed.

I always have ivermectin injectable handy coz its a very convinient antiparasite meds, knocks out mites n worms etc.

We don't have access to ivermectin tablets for humans. Nothing to buy in this remote Philippine island.

So we did an experiment. We got a syringe took out 3 cc 1% ivermectin liquid from the bottle took out the needle. Then she rubbed petroleum jelly from neck down to her feet. Made it sit for a good 10 minutes. Thick amount was applied. After that drop by drop, we rubbed the ivermectin liquid from neck down.

Let it sit for 5 minutes before putting on clothes. It itched like hell! But she bravely took it, did not scratch. After about 10 minutes, the itching subsided until it was gone entirely.

She slept through the night. We left the meds there for 10 hours before washing it off. The next day the redness was gone, the rashes were dry, and her very dry skin was not so harrassed anymore. No more itching!

The treatment was repeated the next night. So two nights in a row for the first week, then once a week for 4 weeks. Scabies gone! We did pray so much that first night of treatment n expected a miracle. And a miracle she got!

We got borax n dusted it all over her house, everywhere. Sprayed lemon oil mixed wd water all over as well. Together wd the repeated laundry, cleaning etc.

She treated her place like a warzone. Always wearing pants tucked inside thick socks.

Never using clothes more than once, never sleeping on the same clothes u wore that day. Constant dryer n washing. Different shoes n slippers in her room .

Constantly rubbing petroleum jelly.

I hope this info helps. I hope all of you reading this will pray, never give up hope and expect a miracle as well. And I know you will be cured.

Replied by Linda
(Alabama)
04/24/2021
10 posts

Where do you get liquid ivermectin?

GertJr
(Madison)
04/25/2021

Linda, go to Tractor Supply or Rural King, to the animal medicines. There should be ivermectin injectable, pour on or paste. You want the pour on one. The animal supply places have all sorts of things--dmso, povidone iodine, tar-based salves and so on. Stuff the people pharmacies have rejected in favor of modern pharma.

Replied by Vash62
(Manchester Nj)
09/09/2023

Where did you get the ivermectin liquid? I'm trying now for months to cure myself.


Vaseline +
Posted by Craig (Sydney) on 11/22/2015
★★★★★

WARNING!

Another post mentioned they had bumps. I have had these bumps for three years that I could not get rid of. They are teeming with scabies and their debris and need to be broken down. The only thing that will do it is salicylic acid (3%) in a solution along with an anti-parasitic of some kind (clove oil etc). Recently I have discovered that petroleum jelly or emulsified ointment is a good medium for the other two ingredients. It is a cheap product purchased from the chemist that has wax and paraffin (vaseline and other petroleum based products would also work). The lumps are the physical evidence of a crusted area of lesions caused by the large numbers of scabies present in that region of the skin [they may look scaly or they may be like adhering lesions (clinically described as a hyperkeratonic lesion)or they may look like a scar or wart or a fungal nail infection or some other discolouration on the skin]. Untreated or not properly treated they will gradually spread out into neighbouring regions as may appear on the skin under the typical scenario of scabies with redness, blisters, scabies appearing on the surface of the skin when an anti-parasitic is rubbed onto them. After applying this treatment over a lengthy period I realised about three weeks ago that I had what would be considered crusted scabies as these lesions were over most of my body. Upon realising this I am in the beginning of a third week of a very unpleasant treatment where I take oral ivermectin every seven days and put the following application on my skin at least twice a day (ideally applied so that it is always covering the entire body except the eyes and delicate mucous membranes):

Salicylic acid 3% (breaks down lesions, softens skin, assists exfoliation, softens keratin)

Clove oil (at least5%)

Liquid coal tar (7%) (decreases production of thick cells in the outer layer of the skin, helps with the shedding of layers of hyperkeratonic lesions)

Emulsifying ointment to make up the 100%

After the second dose the scabies really started falling out at an unfathomable level and the topical application has shed many layers of the lesions. I have read several medical articles about crusted scabies and ivermectin is unable to penetrate these thick, adhering lesions and so treatment must include the topical application, which I think may have the added benefit of drowning them. In the second week I realised that my toenails were thoroughly saturated with scabies and as the treatment broke them down it increasingly has taken on the appearance of the lesions on other parts of my body.

I'm posted this as I really don't want anyone to go through this experience to the extent that I have. If you have the lumps and you think you have cleared the infection but then find a breakout again and again (often posted in these sorts of threads as 're-infected') the truth is probably more likely to be that the scabies have been reproducing and spreading throughout your skin without your knowledge. I've studied these cases and this treatment can be successful. When scabies are in your nails the case studies reported suggest that it would take at least a month to get rid of them using the combinations of oral ivermectin and the use of the emulsified ointments. Salicylic acid is essential to the treatment.

Crusted scabies is commonly misdiagnosed. I have been going crazy as my doctor thinks I have a post-scabies allergic reaction (this is the scenario of typical scabies not when you know your skin is saturated with scabies). He sent me to a specialist after three years of treating each consultation about this as another infection. The specialist read the referral and said the same thing (i had an allergic reaction), refused to take a skin scraping (as does my doctor) and then prescribed 4 repeats of ivermectin (go figure! ). I have taken samples of the many droppings of things from my skin to the doctor who won't send them away for investigation. When reading about this it would appear that most cases like this would be quarantined in a hospital but here in Australia scabies is not considered an infectious disease. It would seem that may people in the medical profession have not ever seen a case of crusted scabies until the situation has reached a critical condition and just keep on parroting out the clinical description of an initial scabies infection and then if a patient gets chronic skin problems, prescribes cortisone treatments (which in the first year or so may temporarily mask the real cause of the skin disorder. (i noticed that some posts talk about an allergic reaction as the skin tries to recover - however if the skin is saturated with scabies it seems necessary to keep on treating the skin or things are only going to get worse)

I found one research article conducted in Australia where they said that skin samples revealed a selective auto-immune response where there was too may T-cells and an absence of B cells which resulted in the skin's inability to mount an immunity response to the scabies. If anyone knows how to increase the B cells please let me know. Apparently blood samples were normal but not the skin samples. Given the enormous inflammatory response in the skin I have now increased my intake of turmeric which has an active ingredient in helping reduce inflammation (which is typically present in most chronic illnesses). I have an autoimmune disorder which worsted at the time of the scabies appearing three years ago. I am also pursuing biofilm therapies to assist with that.

Wishing you the best in your journeys to overcome this problem.


Vaseline +
Posted by Sandra (Tampa, Fl) on 11/22/2010
★★★★★

Mix 1tsp powdered sulfur with 1tbsp melted Vaseline to make a salve. Apply frequently until scabies go away. Wash all bedding, washcloths and towels everyday with hot water to reduce possibility of reinfecting yourself or other family members. This remedy was passed down from my grandmother and my family has used it successfully for many years. Powdered sulfur can be purchased from a compounding pharmacy.


Vaseline +
Posted by rara_avis_muse (Chicago, IL) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★

I think I got Scabies about 2-1/3 years ago. Sad to say, it was after Hugging a classmate that I hadn't seen for 50 years. She has multiple horses and dogs. I saw blood drops on the shoulders of her white blouse, but thought it was something like acne, not contagious. That hug gave me scabies within a short time, but I had never heard of scabies so I didn't know. I then came down with an Auto Immune illness and fought pain for 2 years. I was on Prednisone for a year and then Hydrocortisone. Plus I have been taking OTC allergy pills for 45 years, so they may have helped keep the scabies at bay. But they never really went away. Now I found this site and thank you Grannie from Miami, I tried the Petroleum Jelly. It's been about 28 hours and I can tell scabies do not like it. I covered most of my body with it and I could literally feel them rushing to my untreated feet. So I lavishly covered between my toes and feet to kill the suckers. I have also resisted scratching by rubbing in the PJ on the itchy spots. I wish I could say I'm free of them, but they do have 3 stages, I believe. 1. the live ones crawling on skin, 2. the buried eggs and 3.they hatching eggs which cause the itching. Since I've had them for so long, I expect it will take time to get rid of them. By the way, the reason Men have less problem with Scabies is because of their SHORT fingernails. I'm gonna go get the Citrus oil or spray today and try to finish the scabies off, once and for all. By the way, I also tried the Medicated Chest Rub, but it absorbs too fast and doesn't work, whereas the Petroleum Jelly is thicker. Thank you soooooooo much for this website.


Vaseline +
Posted by Sara (Brooklyn, NY) on 12/29/2008
★★★★★

petroleum jelly applied to scabies when it first pops out, and covered tightly with tape (like electric tape)- makes the site disappear- but does not prevent new ones from popping up.


Vinegar


Posted by Lucy (NY, NY) on 01/23/2009
★★★★★

Vinegar half & half water all over your body, note you will experience some sensitivity on skin, after rinse with vinegar, do a Peppermint Soap, like Dr. Woods, with anything else in the Soap is fine, an exfoliating soap also does the trick!, then put baby oil with Lavender all over your skin, everyday! Vinegar can also be used in laundering with hot water & ammonia mixed in... that will do, steam all your rugs, curtains, bed, pillows, then put plastic on the mattresses & pillows, then place your bed linen over, or the memory foam beds are totally resistant to all mites... trust me this will help, & eventually make your life free of those horrid creatures! God Bless & Good Luck!



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