How to Treat Lice With Tea Tree Oil

A friend of mine came to me with a problem—her family is dealing with lice. This isn't something that people like to talk about, but if someone around you has lice, it can easily spread from one person to the other. Sure, you can purchase a special shampoo to kill it—this is a valid treatment option. I personally would rather give herbal remedies a try before resorting to something harsh, especially if it wasn't that serious. When I started my research, I wanted to find something that was readily available and easy to use. Tea tree oil fits that criteria because of its versatility. You can use it in oil, shampoos and straight. And let's face it—those strong lice treatment shampoos contain pesticides. I, for one, would not like to put that on my head if I could avoid it. Tea tree oil is not just a treatment for lice—it is gentle enough to be used as a protection against it. So, if there is an outbreak of lice at your child's school—you can also use the methods outlined in this article for prevention.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Tea tree oil
• Baby Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Olive oil
• Laundry detergent

1. When shopping for tea tree oil, make sure you purchase pure tea tree oil and that there aren't any additives. Visit your local health food store or natural vitamin store. Most of them sell it. Or you can shop online.
   
   I suggest buying a large bottle of the pure essential oil instead of products with tea tree oil in it, such as shampoos. One bottle lasts a long time, and tea tree oil is a great first aid item to have around.
2. One way you can use tea tree oil for lice is to mix some into your shampoo. For every 4 oz. of shampoo, add 2 drops of tea tree oil. Baby shampoo is the best because it is gentle and doesn't really have any additives. Find an unscented baby shampoo if you can. If not, regular baby shampoo is fine. You can also add some to your conditioner using the same proportions.
3. If the lice outbreak is pretty bad, you may want to try an olive oil cure. Take a half cup of olive oil and mix it with 8 drops of tea tree oil. Massage it into the scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap and let it absorb for 30 minutes. Wash and condition as usual with the shampoo and conditioner outlined in Step 2.
4. Also, remember to wash everything in the house like the sheets and pillowcases. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in with your regular detergent or add a few drops to each load of laundry you do.
5. If the outbreak isn't at least improving after a few days, or if you get an outbreak despite your best efforts to prevent it, it's time to go to the doctor and get something stronger. When it comes to using herbal remedies, the idea is to know when it isn't working and get something stronger.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the tea tree oil is of the highest quality.
• Make sure you truly have lice.
• See a doctor if conditions don't improve.