How To Use Tea Tree Oil To Get Rid Of The Blood Sucking Head Lice
If you have ever been infested with head lice then you know how annoying and embarrassing they can be. From making you scratch your head crazily to bring transferred throughout the entire family, head lice is a truly an unmanageable menace. Every parent dreads a phone call from school that asks them to take their child back because they had head lice. The worst thing about having head lice is their reproduction speed and the nits which never leave your hair. Luckily, there is an all natural remedy for this. In this article, well cover how to use tea tree oil for lice and how to prevent further infestation.
It is almost as though lice get transferred to your hair to just get pregnant and drop off their eggs all over our scalps. And then they transfer from the lice carriers head to someone elses because there are already enough nits and lice in that head sucking the blood.
There are myriad lice treatments available in the market. One could pick lice killing shampoos, anti-lice conditioners to oils and lotions that can help you get rid of head lice. Although, there is one problem. Lice stick to your hair strands really tight. Hence, it is impossible to get rid of them in one go.
While the lice treatments available in the market are extremely effective, it is important to ensure they dont harm your hair after multiple uses. Fortunately, tea tree oil for lice is an all natural way to deal with the problem without damaging your hair.
Homemade Lice Prevention Spray
While I dont normally share things that are considered intimate or embarrassing, every once in a while I stumble across something that warrants sharing with the world in the hopes of helping someone else. Since Im already speaking quite freely, Ill admit that we also tried many, many remedies and were never able to rid ourselves of pinworms naturally. I was really hoping to be able to banish those buggers and share my story here.
Luckily, some pests are easier to wipe out than others.
So begins my story about our lice experience
Can Lice Smell Essential Oils
One of the most common arguments about using essential oils for treating lice claims that lice are repelled by essential oils because they are disgusted by the odor. Due to their distaste of the smell of tea tree oil or rosemary oil, lice will seek other hosts or move elsewhere. The other point that people claim is that lice can no longer smell blood through the scalp if essential oils are applied to the head, and therefore will pack up and take to the hills because they dont smell their food any longer. Some sources even liken lice to sharks, saying that both lice and sharks share a keen sense of smell, especially for blood.
We are here to shine a spotlight on these arguments about lice being deterred by smelling essential oils this is all completely untrue. There is a significant amount of scientific evidence and biological proof that lice have a terrible sense of smell. We’re not making it up! The proof is in lices DNA!
Within the last few years, scientists have finally parsed out lices genome. They have decoded the genetic material of lice and found that lice have just ten genes to code for odor receptors. The researchers speculated that by relying only on one type of host and one type of meal , the lice could make do with very limited environmental cues.
So while others claim that lice are like sharks and have a great sense of smell, the proof is in the pudding in lices own genes and DNA.
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Head Lice Need I Say More
Well its happened as a Mum of a 3 year old, Ill admit that I was not expecting it quite so soon. An e-mail from daycare arrived yesterday saying that they have confirmed cases of dreaded HEAD LICE. Yep, those itchy buggers have started to take over.
I still have nightmarish memories of having my hair pulled by my Mum while she tried to comb them all out. And I remember the harsh smell of the chemicals that they poured all over my scalp. My poor sister Gemma had the worst deal with head lice in our house. It seemed to be a permanent torture that was inflicted on her.
So what can we do? We all know that the commercial chemicals to treat head lice are harsh and cannot be used over extended periods. But whats choices do parents have?
One option is essential oils. We can use them either as a treatment or as a preventive. Ive added some links to research papers below on the efficacy of essential oils in the treatment of head lice. And the results are looking promising indeed.
Keep reading for a simple recipe that you can make at home..
To buy any of the oils mentioned below go to and click on the Shop link at the top of the pageAlternatively I have these oils in stock.
Lavender oil is one of my favorites. I use it almost daily, for sleep and relaxation, for cuts and scrapes and for mosquito bites.
Coconut Oil And Tea Tree Oil For Lice
What You Will Need
How Many Times You Should Do This
Twice a week
Why This Works
Olive oil hydrates the hair, making it appear soft and healthy. Its anti-inflammatory properties give relief against the itching.
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Head Lice Prevention Spray Recipe: A Recap
Head lice infestations affect millions and millions of human beings everywhere each year.
Theyre not just problems for young kids, either. Thats because they regularly affect adults.
If you want to stop head lice before they even get to upset you, then there are many natural treatments that can help. Explore all of your options in essential oils A.S.A.P.
Coconut Oil And Tea Tree Oil
Why This Works
Coconut oil may help nourish the scalp and hair. It also may help fight inflammation caused due to lice .
You Will Need
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 6 to 7 drops of tea tree oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix the tea tree oil with coconut oil.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp and hair.
- Leave it on for an hour.
- Wash your hair with a shampoo and conditioner.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice a week.
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Important Facts About Head Lice
Understanding how lice cause infestation is the key to wholesome prevention. Below are some interesting lice facts that you will find helpful.
People often think that lice spread easily because they are highly contagious. As a matter of fact, lice dont spread easily and when they dont find a human scalp to host them, they often die within 24 hours.
Another reason why they dont spread easily is because lice cannot jump they can only crawl. This is the reason why most transmissions will happen when there is head to head contact. Sharing of combs and brushes is therefore not the most common method of spreading these parasites.
Lice infestation is not caused by poor hygiene. This is because many people think it cannot affect people from a higher socioeconomic class. Lice contagion cuts across classes and any person can get them.
Apart from head lice, people also suffer from pubic lice and body lice. Sometimes, lice can be found on eyelashes and eyebrows. Chest hair and underarms can also play host to lice.
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi there! I’m a lice expert, lice coach, Registered Nurse, and the creator of My Lice Advice. I help people with lice every day in my lice treatment center, in school districts, and in government work. But the thing I love the most is empowering parents to get rid of head lice in ONE DAY at home!
You can eliminate lice in one day using the same proven professional technique I use in my lice center on your child. Follow along with the Step-by-Step Video System, and when you’re done with the videos you’re done with lice. PERMANENTLY!
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Tea Tree Oil Shampoo For Lice
What You Will Need
- Shampoo of choice.
Procedure To Follow
How Many Times You Should Do This
Repeat this procedure at least twice a week.
Why This Works
The shampoo will cleanse the scalp and remove any impurities and excess sebum while the tea tree oil removes all the lice and nits.
Can Essential Oils Kill Lice
Does tea tree oil kill lice? Does rosemary oil kill lice? How about using olive oil for lice? These are some of the most popular oils that have been allegedly used to eradicate lice. While there are certainly other essential oils that have been touted as effective at eliminating lice, such as lemongrass oil and neem oil, the four most popular oils talked about in regards to lice are tea tree, rosemary, olive, and coconut oil lice treatments.
Are you ready for a dose of reality? The sad truth is that while using rosemary oil for lice sounds like a pleasant way to get rid of them, unfortunately, oils and essential oils are rather useless against lice. We wish we were wrong! Unfortunately, all the clinical evidence and scientific research from reliable sources points to the fact that essential oils dont kill lice.
A study conducted in 2015, published by the National Center of Biotechnology Information, admitted:
In general, we dont know whether herbal and essential oils are effective at eradicating head lice compared with other treatments.
The Mayo Clinic, one of the best hospitals in the United States, also has affirmed that:
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Best Essential Oil Blends For Lice Prevention
Here are 19 unique lice prevention blends:
Crazy About Lice: 5 drops Tea Tree + 5 drops Peppermint + 5 drop Eucalyptus + 5 drops Lemongrass + 5 drops Citronella + 5 drops Rosemary + 5 drops Lavender + 1 tsp *Neem oil
A Little Crazy : 2 drops Tea Tree + 5 drops Citronella + 5 drops Lavender + 5 drops Geranium + 1 tsp *Neem oil
Simple Lavender & Tea Tree : 15 drops Lavender + 5 drops Tea Tree
Nuts About Lice: 5 drops Peppermint + 5 drops Citronella + 5 drops Rosemary + 5 drops Lemongrass + 1 tsp *Neem oil
Lemon Drop: 5 drops Lemongrass, 5 drops Lemon Eucalyptus + 5 drops **Lemon
Fresh Bouquet: 5 drops Geranium + 8 drops Lavender + 5 drops Ylang Ylang
Fresh & Sweet: 5 drops Lavender + 5 drops Rosemary + 5 drops Lemon Eucalyptus
Minty Fresh: 5 drops Peppermint + 5 drops Eucalyptus
Cool Down: 5 drops Peppermint + 5 drops Lavender +5 drops Eucalyptus
Candy Cane: 4 drops Peppermint + 3 drops Ylang Ylang + 2 drops cinnamon
Spring Fresh: 4 drops Geranium + 5 drops Lavender + 2 drop peppermint
Clean Blend: 5 drops Tea Tree + 5 drops Eucalyptus +1 drops Peppermint
Fresh & Clean: 5 drops Peppermint + 3 drop Tea Tree + 3 drops Lavender + 3 drops Eucalyptus
Rosemary Mint: 8 drops Rosemary + 3 drops Spearmint
Sweet & Spicy Black Licorice: 10 drops Anise + 2 drops Cinnamon + 1 drop Clove + 1 drop Clary Sage
Simple Tea Tree & Peppermint: 10 drops Tea Tree + 10 drops peppermint
Citrus Blend: 5 drops Lavender + 5 drops Ylang Ylang + 5 drops **Wild Orange
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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Olive Oil For Head Lice
Olive oil isnt just a fantastic ingredient in your favorite Italian meals. Treating head lice with olive oil can be a good idea, too.
Thats because it can also be a wonderful and reliable head lice repellent.
Heres what you do with olive oil for head lice:
My First Lice Repellent Spray
Many years ago, when my son first started school, I decided to make a lice repellent spray for my son. His school, as most schools around here, was a breeding ground for lice. In fact, theyd often send us reminders to be proactive about preventing and checking for lice.
I spent many hours researching essential oil blends before mixing up my first spray. After reading a post written by a guy who had done essential oil lice experiments at home, I based many of my oils on his findings.
My first homemade lice prevention spray combined many different oils. It worked quite well for us for several years. While I will share the recipe for that original spray below, Ive decided to update this post with new options.
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It Works Better Than Rid And Nix
Unfortunately, some lice have become resistant to these classic insecticides, which means you can put all of that on your kiddos heads and still be dealing with live bugs like we were.
Once I did the initial comb-through with the conditioner/tea tree oil, though, I got all of the mature bugs in one fell swoop, which is WAY more than I can say for Rid and Nix.
Rinse And Repeat Every Other Day
Then you can rinse the hair off and repeat the process every other day until youre consistently seeing no nits in the conditioner.
I ended up with two types of combs, and between these two, the purple one worked way better. I hear that the best thing is a high-quality metal nit comb, but the purple plastic one was definitely the best of these two.
The first time I did this treatment, I snagged all of the live bugs and most of the nits.
The next time, I got more nits and also a nymph, and from then on, I found just a few more nits and no more hatchlings, and then finally, we had a nice string of clean combing sessions.
It IS slightly scary to not be putting any lice-killer on the hair, but I felt less nervous once I realized how well this worked.
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Essential Oils For Lice Prevention
The following oils have been shown to be effective against lice to some degree:
- Peppermint essential oil
- Nutmeg essential oil
- Aniseseed essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
Of the above, the safest essential oil to use with very young kids is lavender oil, but it may not be the most effective for lice. Tea tree oil is very popular, probably because its both safe for use on most people and also likely effective. The next 3 oils on the list are also generally safe for young children as long as the concentrations are kept low.
From my research, I think that an effective spray should include various oils. The most effective sprays will include not only tea tree oil, but also eucalyptus and peppermint oils. The problem is that you should be very cautious with those oils if you have younger children. Homemade lice spray using lavender and tea tree is very popular because those oils are the safest for use on all kids. Unfortunately, alone, they may not be the most effective.
As your kids grow up, consider increasing the possible effectiveness of your spray by adding in other oils and increasing the concentration used. Each oil can kill off or repel lice using different mechanisms.
How To Treat Lice Naturally During Pregnancy
Pregnant ladies should avoid using commercial head lice treatments because the chemicals present in it can cause birth defects. As per American Pregnancy, tea tree oil is completely safe to use during pregnancy if diluted properly.
- Combine 15 20 drops of tea tree oil with 2 ounces of carrier oil .
- Mix well and apply the mixture on the scalp.
- Leave the application for at least 10 12 hours.
- Comb the hair thoroughly.
- Wash the hair normally with shampoo and water.
- Repeat the treatment if necessary.
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What Does Research Say
According to a 2012 study, tea tree oil may help kill lice in the nymph and adult stages of their life . Tea tree oil treatments may also keep the lice eggs from hatching.
Another 2010 study showed promising results while using tea tree oil for treating lice . In the study, researchers used three types of treatments to treat children with head lice. One of the treatments contained a mix of tea tree and lavender oils, which showed the greatest benefit to those with head lice.
In another study, researchers compared certain botanical and synthetic substances that can be used to prevent lice in kids . Tea tree oil was the most effective treatment of all. This oil, when used with peppermint, could also help repel lice. However, long-term of use of tea tree oil for removing head lice is yet to be studied.
In the following section, we have discussed the different ways you can use tea tree oil for reducing head lice.