Tee Tree Oil & Lice

A common childhood problem, head lice are as annoying as they are difficult to treat. Tea tree oil is a natural, non-toxic alternative to standard pesticide-based head lice treatments.

Facts

A native of Australia, the tea tree, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is a medicinal plant. Tea tree oil is produced by steam distilling the leaves of this plant. The active ingredient in the oil is terpinen-4-ol, which is responsible for attacking head lice and extricating them from the scalp.

Properties

Tea tree oil, due to its strong antiseptic properties, can be used both to treat and prevent lice. It can be used as a precautionary treatment to keep lice at bay during head lice infestations at schools and communities.

How to Use

Adding a drop or two of tea tree oil to baby shampoo is the most common way of using the ingredient as a lice treatment.

Considerations

While tea tree oil is a natural treatment with minimal side-effects, it is powerful stuff. It can cause irritation and rashes in individuals with sensitive skin when used in its undiluted form.

Safety

Tea tree essential oil gets a low hazard score of 1 as determined by the Environmental Working Group's skin deep database. While it is safe for topical use, it should never be ingested.

References

• Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by Tea Tree oil.
• Tea Tree Oil Vs Head Lice
• Environmental Working Group: Tea Tree Essential Oil

Resources

• Head Lice and Tea Tree Oil