Head lice infestations affect millions of people yearly. Though some products help commercially with this issue, most have pesticides as active ingredients.
These pesticides can be very harmful to the human body. So many people (mostly parents) are diverting their attention to using home remedies to treat chemical-free head lice.
While many ways exist to treat head lice, essential oils are getting more popular for prevention and treatment. They are used for aromatherapy and can treat various problems, including stress and headaches.
The most commonly used essential oils for head lice treatment are; tea tree oil, neem oil, and lavender oil. Others are clove oil and eucalyptus oil.
Essential oils are very concentrated in most cases; therefore, they should be diluted with their carrier oil before you apply them to body parts; if not, it can lead to irritation or other side effects.
There has been an argument as to whether eucalyptus oil is safe to use on small children. Due to this reason, you should consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils on your child’s skin or hair.
It’s possible to remove head lice by simply combing them out effectively with a shampoo fortified with essential oils. If you’d like to try it, here are the ones you can do it with;
Tea tree oil
Research has shown that tea tree oil is a promising head lice treatment. The oil contains two insecticidal substances and is proven to kill lice and their nits.
Mix 3 – 5 drops of the oil with every ounce of shampoo. You can also combine three tablespoons of carrier oil (e.g., coconut oil or olive oil) with a teaspoon of tea tree oil and apply it to the infested hair. After using it, wait for 30 to 40 minutes before washing it with clean water.
Neem oil
It is also an effective essential oil that can eliminate head lice and nits. The oil has compounds that cut off the louse’s life cycle, making it a natural insect repellent used in gardens and human heads.
You can get a neem oil-based shampoo or add 8 to 10 drops of neem oil to regular shampoo and leave it on for 20 minutes. You should take note that neem oil has an unpleasant odour! So do not fret while using it.
Lavender oil
Another effective and safe essential oil that can treat head lice is lavender oil. It can also treat varieties of insects and even fungi, but it cannot kill nits. Dissolve two drops of the oil in 10ml of water and apply as a hair wash once per week for three weeks.
Before you make any significant changes to your health and wellness routine, always speak to a doctor first.
