Tea tree oil has tons of benefits. It’s not just great for your skin (acne), but can also help you get rid of head lice. Over 10 million Americans have to deal with head lice infestations every year—most of them are school kids. Head lice is an easily treatable health issue, and there are numerous treatments available. But if you don’t want to use those harsh anti-lice shampoos that are full of dangerous chemicals, you may try tea tree oil for lice!
Why anti-lice shampoos are an absolute NO
Anti-lice shampoos usually contain toxic insecticides (called pyrethrins) that are added to shampoos to kill the lice. Tea tree oil provides a natural alternative to pyrethrins because contains terpinen-4-ol a natural insecticide that also works as anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic agent. So choosing tea tree oil over anti-lice shampoos has added benefits, like it’s cheaper and you can do the treatment yourself at home without any side effects.
If you are treating your head with anti-lice shampoos from a long time, chances are that the lice can create immunity against the chemicals. Home remedies are the best resort then.
Why do you need to treat for lice
These bloodsucking creatures aren’t just creating itching on your scalp, they can also cause numerous other infections and above all, if not treated, can spread to other members of the house very easily.
Head lice aren’t dangerous for your health. It’s not a disease, but treating for these parasites is pertinent as you don’t want to be itching your head in front of your friends. If you don’t treat for head lice, head scratching can cause a bacterial infection called impetigo of the skin.
Tea tree oil for lice is safe treatment
Tea tree oil is natural, so you won’t have to worry about any harmful side effects. It’s affordable and a reliable treatment against head lice.
Note: If your kids feel a burning sensation or itchiness during the treatment, it may be a sign of allergic reaction. Rinse hair immediately with warm water.
If you are wondering how you can use tea tree oil to treat head lice, read the following instructions.
Recipe for tea tree oil solution with shampoo
What you need is 2-4 drops of tea tree oil and mix it with 2-4 drops of peppermint or lavender oil. Mix these oils with 90-94 drops of shampoo to create a mild solution. You can also add a few drops of coconut oil or olive oil as it would improve the potency and suffocate the lice. Stir the mixture and apply it on the scalp and hair—cover with a shower cap and leave it for 30 minutes. Wash your hair afterwards and use a lice comb to get rid of the dead lice.
Recommended Dose: Whenever you make a tea tree oil based shampoo, always keep the quantity of tea tree oil around 5-10 percent. You can use it every day for as many as four weeks. Also, to prevent a possible reinfestation in the future, regularly use a shampoo with tea tree oil for lice.
Note that many shampoos and conditioners have tea tree oil in them, but they are unlikely to have a high enough concentration to be effective. A minimum concentration of 2% tea tree oil is required to kill lice nits.
How to choose the best tea tree oil:
Always look out for these things in your essential oil:
- Pure 100% essential oil from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree.
- It should be 100% Certified Organic.
- Should come packaged in a dark glass bottle.
- Main components should be 30-40% terpinen-4-ol and less than 7% cineole content.
Tea Tree Oil for Lice: Does It Work?
Tea tree oil has recently emerged as an effective and natural treatment for lice but there are some studies to evaluate its effectiveness. Clinical studies demonstrates that a shampoo with tea tree oil alone or combined with lavender oil or peppermint oil has effectiveness against head lice and lice nits:
According to the Mayo Clinic, more than one tea tree oil lice study has shown that tea tree oil, used alone or with other products, may help with lice.
Also Langone Medical Center at New York University (NYU) reports that tea tree oil, when combined with lavender oil, may effectively treat head lice.
Another study published in the International Journal of Dermatology reports that Tea tree oil and peppermint oil combined were shown to be an effective repellent.
Tips to treat lice:
Lice aren’t dangerous, but they are contagious. So it’s very important to take some measures to prevent the spread of lice among children and adults:
- Use a lice comb to examine the hair and scalp for lice and nits, especially behind the ears.
- Examine everyone’s hair in the household.
- Do not share hair brushes, hats, clothes or beds with an infested person.
- Wash household items used by the infested person (in very hot water a minimum of 130°F): brushes, hats, clothes, etc…
As you have seen tea tree oil is a natural and effective alternative to medical lice treatments (called pediculicides) but without harmful side effects. So try this natural treatment for four weeks and enjoy free of lice and free of trouble!