Millions Of People Get Head Lice Every Year Tea Tree Oil May Offer A Natural Solution For Treating Infestations
Ugh, lice. What a nightmare: First little Johnny is sharing his new baseball cap with Ricky, next thing you know the entire family is scratching and shampooing with serious chemicals. Wouldnt it be nice if there were a natural alternative to eliminating these disgusting pests? There just might be: Tea tree oil with lavender has a track record for ridding hair of lice, says Bindiya Gandhi, MD, a family practice physician in Decatur, Georgia.
First of all, know your enemy: The louse is a parasite that attaches itself to human hair and feeds on human blood. Head lice are the most prevalent kind of lice, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that up to 12 million lice infestations occur every year in the United States.
Head lice can be spread by contact with clothing, such as hats and jackets, and personal items like brushes and towels, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Though the stigma persists that head lice are more likely to be attracted to dirty hair, the reality is hygiene and cleanliness have no impact on who gets the parasites.
Now you got emhow do you get rid of em, and fast? There are both over-the-counter medicines and prescription products to treat head licetypically shampoos, rinses, or lotions which you leave on for a period of time, and then rinse off. But there are various lice home remedies available too, including tea tree oil, Dr. Gandhi says.
Easy Witch Hazel Shampoo Un
To use witch hazel on your hair, you dont actually have to make anything. Just use your favorite shampoo and add a few drops of alcohol-free witch hazel.
Its better to mix the witch hazel into your shampoo rather than your conditioner, as shampoo is used more on the scalp.
Do Essential Oils Really Work To Prevent Lice What The Science Says
Essential oils for nit prevention arent just some old wives tale that we desperately hope works. Studies show that essential oils are effective against lice. In some cases more effective than chemical treatments thanks to insecticide resistance.
The main anti-nit essential oils are tea tree oil, lavender oil and Eucalyptus oil.
This study reported a 100% mortality rate of head lice in 30 minutes when using tea tree oil at 1% dilution as a head lice treatment.
In this study, the researchers found that the combination of tea tree oil and lavender oil is more effective than conventional lice treatments. The suffocation method was also as effective as the essential oils.
A Eucalyptus and tea tree combination was found to be more than twice as effective than conventional treatment in this study with less likelihood of irritation or adverse reactions. Finally, this study suggests that Eucalyptus oil appears to provide effective protection from lice.
So essential oils have been found to be effective against lice. But are they safe? Here are a few precautions to keep in mind.
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Theres Nothing Iffy In It
Sklice is supposed to be quite safe, and some of the other treatments are a synthetic concoction made to imitate a substance from chysanthemums, so its probably not the worst thing in the world.
Still, the directions on Rid and Lice say not to do too many treatments in a row, which gives me pause.
Plus, that stuff is awfully hard on scalpswhen we used it on our heads, even those of us with no lice had itchy heads for a good week.
I felt much better about putting conditioner and tea tree oil on my childs head, thats for sure.
Best Tea Tree Shampoo For Lice
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyones hair and scalp type are different. However, some tea tree shampoos that have received good reviews for lice include the following: Fairy tales rosemary mint lice prevention shampoo, Lice911 tea tree & lavender lice shampoo, and Nit-pik tea tree oil lice removal comb & shampoo.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of the tea tree plant Melaleuca alternifolia. The essential oil is added to a shampoo formula to help it become a calming, purifying, and detoxify product. Tea tree shampoo can be used to refresh the hair and scalp, clean away dirt, bacteria, and fungi, and clean the scalp. Tea tree shampoos soothing sensation on the scalp is as gentle as it is delectable. The tea tree plants antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties were discovered by Arthur Penfold in 1922. Tea tree oil shampoo can help remove dead skin cells from the scalp and keep follicles clogged. Tea tree shampoo, when used in conjunction with healthy hair growth, can help you achieve an even healthier look.
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Tea Tree Oil Treatment For Lice: Does It Work
A controversial treatment
Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of the tea tree plant. Aboriginal people in Australia have used it medicinally for centuries. People around the world continue to use tea tree oil as a remedy for many conditions.
Among other uses, some people believe that tea tree oil can kill lice. But not all experts are convinced. More research is needed before scientists can draw conclusions.
When Do I Know That I’m Done
Don’t let your guard down. From the first day you find no nits or bugs, continue checking and combing every other day for 10-12 days just to make sure they’re gone. It would be a huge bummer to find out you missed one it and then discover it after it has caused some serious damage. If after 12 days of nit picking and combing it is safe to assume you are done. Continue to check once a week for general maintenance.Here are the many variations of treatments that have been proven effective in eradicating lice in a recent outbreak at our church.– QuitNits – all natural boxed product that can be found at your local health food store, drug store, and . This claims to kill all lice and nits. It does kill the lice but may not kill all of the nits. You will need to following up with daily combings and nit picking. If desired retreat with QuitNits 4 days later. – Terminator Lice Comb Can be found at Ulta and . What I like best about this comb is that unlike other combs, this didn’t snag my child’s hair. The tines are serrated so that it catches debris and nits and cuts through the lice.– LiceFreee Can be found at Walgreens and . This is a salt and benzyl alcohol based product. This works wonderfully! Just spray saturating hair and go. No mess, no salt streaks. May need to follow-up with a second application. Be sure to nit pick and use a lice comb in between treatments.– Salt, water, witch hazel– This will kill the lice on contact but not as effective as LiceFreee.
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Essential Oil Lice Repellent Spray
I got a call and an email from the kids school last week
Two words, and I was itching all over: Lice infestation.
No, it wasnt just a couple of kids who were sent home with lice. It was an outbreak.
The elementary school has a serious lice infestation. Please check your childs head daily for lice. Do not send your child to school without thoroughly checking. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200.
Ok, so I add those last two sentences
But you get the point, right? In.fest.a.tion.
We checked The Peeps heads. No lice. Phew.
A quick Google search let me know that we were actually living a lice-preventative lifestyle without realizing it.
We already use tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner, and tea tree oil is a natural lice repellent. Our sons hair is cut short, and our daughter wears hers in a ponytail almost everyday. They dont share hairbrushes with anyone at school.
Very interestingly, the peeps wash their hair about twice per week. Slightly dirty or greasy hair is better than clean hair when it comes to lice prevention the lice have a harder time clinging to dirtier hair.
What Is Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is produced by steaming the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia, commonly known asthe Australian tea tree. It was first used in traditional medicine more than 100 years ago as an antiseptic but more recently has shown promise as a topical treatment to address a number of inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and eczema.
This oil can be purchased in its pure form or diluted, and is an added active ingredient in personal care products such as cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, shampoos and conditioners.
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How To Treat Your House For Head Lice
Once you start treating your hair with the above home remedies for lice, you also need to treat your house. Treating your house may seem like a big production, but this will help prevent any further infestations. If it seems overwhelming, make a checklist and just focus on one task at a time.
- Treat linens and clothing: Wash all clothing and bed linens in hot water for at least 20 minutes.
- Treat stuffed animals and coats: Dry-clean anything thats not machine-washable alternatively, you can put these itemsstuffed animals, coats, etcin sealed plastic bags for two weeks.
- Clean hair tools: Soak brushes and combs in hot, soapy water, then place in a bag and leave in the freezer for two days.
- Wash the floors: Vacuum floors and furniture. Dont forget to vacuum curtains as well. Empty the canister and throw away the trash immediately.
What Is Tree Oil
Tree oil, also known as tea tree oil or melaleuca oil , is an essential oil that is made from the Australian melaleuca alternifolia . It is used by many in a regular skin care routine and can treat a number of ailments, including acne and other fungal infections, such as those of the nail and athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil treatments have also been used for treating head lice and preventing lice.
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Applying Tea Tree Oil To The Face
You can safely apply diluted tea tree oil to your face, but avoid the eye area as this can cause redness and irritation.
There are several ways you can incorporate tea tree oil into your skin care routine. You can add a few drops to your cleanser or moisturizer, or as follows:
Acne spot treatment: After cleansing,gently dab blemishes with tea tree oil using a cotton ball or swab allow to dry and continue with moisturizer.
Toner: Add 3 drops of tea tree oil to toner and apply twice a day using a cotton ball for oily or acne-prone skin add 3 drops to 2 ounces of witch hazel this combination does double duty by targeting acne-induced inflammation and oiliness.
Overnight treatment: Apply the oil to freshly washed skin using a cotton ball rinse off with warm water in the morning.
You also have the option of purchasing a ready-made product that contains tea tree oil. There are a wide range of skin care products to suit your needs, including cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, and medicated creams or ointments.
How Common Is Lice
For this reason, lice is most common in young kids. They are in close quarters at school or daycare, and they are likely to be close enough for head-to-head contact.
Once someone in your home is affected, it may spread quickly through other head-to-head activities include hugging, sleeping in the same bed, or cuddling.
Girls also tend to get lice more often than boys because girls, on average, tend to have longer hair.
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Top 10 Uses And Health Benefits
Witch hazel has been used for centuries to naturally help treat and prevent:
- allergic reactions
Recent studies even show that the tannins found in witch hazel may exert a protective action against colon cancer cells.
The skin is our largest and most vulnerable organ, so it could use all the support it can get. Skin is our natural barrier to the outside world and provides us with protection against UV radiation, chemicals in our food supply, bacteria and other germs, and environmental pollutants.
All of the stress that our bodies deal with every day, both internally and externally, show up on our skin in the form of aging, puffiness, infections, inflammation and sensitivities. Thats why we rely on eating and using natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to help curb inflamed and diseased cells.
Herbal plant therapies for skin disorders have been used for thousands of years, and today many traditional herbs are being reintroduced, studied extensively and experiencing a resurgence in popularity since many chemical treatments dont always work or have harsh side effects.
As the authors of the book Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects point out, more and more people are turning to the use of herbs for the following reasons: the side effects of chemical drugs, wanting to return to nature, being a part of the green revolution, and wanting to use more organic and safe products.
1. Reduces Acne
What does witch hazel do for acne?
3. Treats Insect Bites
How To Use Tea Tree Oil To Treat Lice
by Laura Phillips | Oct 20, 2022 | Health Benefits
Lice are small, wingless insects that live among human hair and feed on human blood. They are a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of, but there are a few natural remedies that can help. Tea tree oil is one of the most effective treatments for lice, and it can be used safely on children and adults.
According to studies, tea tree oil has been shown in the nymph and adult stages of life to kill lice. Tea tree oil treatments, in addition to preventing lice from hatching, also reduce eggs. Tea tree oil can be used to remove lice from laundry. This strategy has no scientific backing. Some of the side effects of tea tree oil may be unpleasant. In some cases, contact dermatitis may occur as a result of this. The effects of tea tree oil on the body are not well understood. If you or someone in your family has lice, you should discuss treatment options with your doctor.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine , tea tree oil has some advantages over other oils when treating athletes foot, acne, and fungi. According to small studies, tea tree oil and lavender oil, in addition to killing eggs, can also reduce live lice populations.
As a result, you may be wondering if tea tree oil is effective against lice. In fact, there are many other reasons to be thankful. Because tea tree oil is not a chemical or pesticide, it is an essential ingredient in lice prevention, but it is not a cure.
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Natural Lice Treatment Thats Frugal
I asked the experts on aka mums and the response was almost unanimous: avoid the expensive chemical treatments, the best way to treat head lice is the comb and conditioner method.
I have tried everything ever Sunday over approx. a 3 year period. Nothing is magicalI just consistently comb with conditioner now.Anneka
And the official experts back up what mums know best. Numerous official websites including the NSW Department of Health website and the Victorian Better Health Channel argue that the comb and conditioner method is best for treating head lice.
method is the preferred way to detect and treat head lice because it is effective, does not contribute to insecticide resistance in head lice and also presents a low risk of skin irritation.
Chemical treatments are not always the easy or reliable solution we hope for because lice have built up a resistance to the chemicals and may not be killed.
Having said that, there natural solutions that do effectively kill head lice. This study shows tea tree oil to kill 100% of head lice in 30 minutes at a 1% dilution, which is the strength considered safe for kids over 6. Its important to note that a very small number of people are allergic to certain essential oils, so its a good idea to do a patch test first.
Looking for a way to prevent head lice in the first place? Check out the article: Prevent Head Lice with a Natural No-Nit Hair Spray.
What To Do If You Get Lice
If you or your children have lice, the number one rule is dont panic! Remember lice do not carry dangerous diseases and there are many natural options. Lice is much more of an inconvenience than anything else. You got this, mama!
That being said, lice do spread easily so its important to act swiftly.
- Treat infected people immediately .
- Treat your home shortly thereafter .
- If applicable, alert your childs school or daycare immediately, so that other parents can catch lice early in their kids. Dont be embarrassed to make this call. As mentioned above, lice are not an indication of dirtiness.
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Vinegar And Tea Tree Oil For Lice
Vinegar is an all-time favorite all-natural remedy for treating a lice infestation. When mixed with tea tree oil, their respective characteristics are enhanced and synergized to lessen lice infestations and prevent further lice issues.
To create a homogenous mixture, combine 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, ten drops of tea tree oil, and 2-3 teaspoons of shampoo. Store the liquid in the spray container. Use this mixture to cover your hair root to the tip. Use your regular shampoo and conditioner to rinse after 20 to 30 minutes.