Well it’s happened – as a Mum of a 3 year old, I’ll 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 what’s choices do parent’s have?
One option is essential oils. We can use them either as a treatment or as a preventive. I’ve 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 – http://www.mydoterra.com/wellofharmony/ and click on the ‘Shop’ link at the top of the page
Alternatively – call or email me – I have these oils in stock.
The oils covered in the research below are Tea Tree (Melaleuca) and Lavender – both of which I always have on hand in my house. So that’s great news for me.
There are plenty of other essential oils recommended for head lice such as rosemary, peppermint, clove, eucalyptus to name just a few. I’m just going to stick with Tea Tree and Lavender initially and see how things go.
Lavender oil is one of my favorites. I use it almost daily, for sleep and relaxation, for cuts and scrapes and for mosquito bites.
Tea Tree is an oil that has seemingly limitless applications. It’s renowned for cleaning and rejuvenating the skin, promotes healthy immune function and is used to protect against environmental and seasonal threats. It can cause skin irritation – so as with all essential oils, make sure you dilute it.
Now that I’ve mentioned dilution – it would seem like a good time to remind everyone that essential oils should be diluted to between 1-3% when used topically on the body. For small children – definitely 1/2 to 1% is the way to go.
Homemade Head Lice Sprays:
Fill a spray bottle with 2 ozs (that’s about 60ml) water or any carrier oil such as coconut, almond or sesame oil, add your essential oils, shake gently and use as required.
How you want to use the spray will depend on if you are killing the lice or prevention.
One idea might be to spray all over hair and massage in at night. Ensure that all the hair is covered, then comb thoroughly in the morning to remove dead lice and eggs (damp hair is easiest).
For prevention – you could spray all over the head and work through the hair. I think to start, I will just spray along the base of the neck and behind the ears. Some kids depending on their age might be sensitive to having any smells on them in school etc.
- Head Lice Recipe 1: 60ml water or carrier oil, 10-12 drops tea tree oil
- Head Lice Recipe 2: 60ml water or carrier oil, 8 drops tea tree, 4 drops lavender oil
Remember: With essential oils, a little goes a long way. Apply sparingly, You may need to apply several applications – so every few days as required.
To Buy:
You can call or email me – I have these oils in stock.
Alternatively go to http://www.mydoterra.com/wellofharmony/ and click on the ‘Shop’ link at the top of the page