Replied By Lee (Chattanooga, Tn) on 08/11/2012

After battling scabies for nearly a year-including several rounds of doctor-prescribed meds, assorted veterinary medicines, and miscellaneous home remedies that did not work, I discovered the clove BUD oil remedy study. I started the test myself by ordering a few bottles of clove BUD oil (which is what the study used) and set out for a cure. In the meantime, my relative continued using another remedy.

Instead of mixing the clove with oil (which I found was messy, created even more of a laundry mess, and became a hazard when bathing), I mixed the clove bud oil with a THIN moisturizing lotion for extra-dry skin that I found at a dollar store.

I poured a half-bottle of the lotion into a margarine tub (later I used an extra bottle) and added about 20-30 drops of the clove oil. I shook it well and allowed it to sit for several hours before applying. I then showered and thoroughly exfoliated--and then I applied this clove-lotion blend from toes to neck (and ALL crevices in between! ) while the body was still damp. I then air-dried--no toweling off! The body MUST be covered with the lotion 24-7. The clove bud oil is not only a natural repellant, it also penetrates the skin surface and hair follicles, so you want to keep as much of it on your body as possible at all times.

(HUGE TIP: While you are undergoing this treatment, apply the lotion after each shower--preferably twice each day, including before bed. DO NOT CHANGE CLOTHES ANYWHERE EXCEPT IN TUB OR SHOWER! Bag and tie dirty clothes immediately until washed.)

And regardless of what the "books" say, scabies DO infest the hair-and will actually burrow into hair follicles. Always apply shampoo to dry hair--and leave on as long as possible before rinsing. THEN apply a thick conditioner (add a little clove oil) and cover your head with a plastic shower cap. Sleep in it--and rinse out in the a. M. I was desperate enough to put the clove lotion on my head as well--slept in a plastic cap--and got quick results in eliminating the critters there.

I used a Q-tip with straight clove bud oil on any tracks or visible signs of the infestation. If I felt something crawling, I applied either straight clove oil to an extended area of the "crawling" or applied an additional coating of the lotion. (If you have a strong magnifying glass, check areas where there are tracks and where you have applied straight clove bud oil. You will see gas bubbles just beneath the skin indicating the critters and eggs are dead or dying.)

I also coated brows, lashes, nostrils, and ears with petroleum jelly before bed every night--and, if facial skin could tolerate it, also applied the clove bud lotion to the face.

Within a couple of days, the mites were running for cover. If you did not start out with the critters in the "private areas" previously, they will make a bee-line to escape the lotion now and you will feel them in the crease of the legs, waist areas, buttocks, etc. In fact, our experience taught us that you may not THINK you have them there--but you do. We used a slightly diluted lotion on those sensitive areas (even added a little diatamaceous earth to the lotion in the beginning to increase adhesion of the lotion. ) It's important to keep the area coated at all times in the beginning. The sudden surge in itching and crawling told me that had been a hiding place for quite a while and nights were a bit uncomfortable until I got a handle on them.

Within 2 weeks, there was a noticeable decrease in numbers and life became more bearable. I felt comfortable enough with the progress to encourage my relative to also begin the treatment. She was suffering a far more serious infestation because she was the one initially infected. She declined and continued on with her own remedies, still desperate.

By the end of the month, I knew I was on the right track and INSISTED that she start using my "home remedy. " She did--and had the SAME astounding results within 2 weeks! The relief was so tremendous that I couldn't tear her away from continuing the experiment!

It took time because the infestations were so advanced, but within 3-4 months, we were confident enough to declare ourselves CURED. Not "sorta" or "kinda" cured--but cured! I could finally put bed linen back on the bed and sleep without being tormented.

Still, I continued with the scrupulous laundry/sanitation practices we'd been using to ensure no critters had escaped, including treating the car with permethrin spray created by mixing 1 tube of a 45% "spot on" over-the-counter flea and tick solution with 1 cup of water. This was misted on the car from top to bottom about once each 2 weeks, along with frequent vacuuming. This remedy came as the result of spraying borax in the vehicles--which quickly corroded metal parts. (CAUTION: DO NOT USE PERMETHRIN ON FURNISHINGS OR CARPET IF YOU HAVE CATS--IT CAN BE FATAL! )

We also discovered that hot water washing was not necessary and that alone resulted in huge energy savings. A cold-water soaking in any detergent for several hours or preferably overnight, along with 1-2 cups of ammonia in the soak water, worked better than borax or other recommended remedies and did not damage clothes. This is highly recommended for your bed linens and towels. We continued 30 minutes to 1 hour high-heat drying to be on the safe side.

We also discovered that you must remove and soak in hot soapy water any earrings, jewelry, eye glasses, combs, hair brushes, and other items after wearing or using them ONCE. Let them soak at least an hour, then rinse and air dry. Scabies will set up house in hinges and nooks of these items. During the duration of the treatment, I gave up wearing a watch as well.

Freeze all makeup, wallets, purses, belts, makeup bags EVERY DAY. Wash and then freeze makeup brushes each time they are used, including removing brushes from mascara before freezing. Books and magazines should be put in plastic bags with a few mothballs--or freeze them. Cell and home phones, remotes, etc. , should be cleaned every day with germicidal wipes--and wash and freeze the cell phone covers as well. This may seem to be overboard, but ANYTHING you carry or touch can spread the critters.

If I can warn against anything, it is giving up too soon and jumping from one remedy to another in hope of faster results. Remember, you are having to eliminate the entire life cycle of generations of these critters that have already infested your body. It's going to take time to eliminate them all, because new ones are constantly maturing. We saw a change within 2 weeks--and then it began improving drastically from that point. We stuck with the regimen--and it worked when nothing else we tried did.

I would strongly encourage anyone struggling with this terrible infestation to at least give it a try--and stick with it for at least a month! It works!