Head lice infestation especially in school-going kids causes severe tension to parents.
Mom, in particular, is always much concerned about their children’s physical and mental health and wants to rid them of all the issues whether big or small.
What parents can do
Now parents have three options to go within this regard. They may either go for over-the-counter products without an authentic prescription from a qualified doctor or Pharmacist, a well-prescribed medication from an authentic health provider, or some natural home remedies.
We have done thorough research in this field and have reached the conclusion that natural home remedies are the best to follow. They are cheap, easy-to-follow, natural, non-toxic and, most of all, the most effective.
The role of essential oils in lice killing treatment
We have worked out for you some essential oils for lice infestation and assure you of their efficacy if you apply them with the utmost care and attention. Nature has created lice as well as the best remedies against them.
The use of essential oils is one of the most important ones in this regard. Various shampoos fortified with essential oils are available on the market for the parents to choose from.
However, the AAP does not approve the use of any essential oils to kill lice or nits. Here we go.
1. Tea tree oil
This oil has been found marvelous against head lice over the years. There has also been very promising research from trustworthy sources like the NIH on the efficacy of tea tree oil.
Terpinene in different forms is the main insecticide and has proved to kill lice and nits. You may mix three to five drops of neat oil to every ounce of shampoo.
The other option is to mix three tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil as carrier oils with one teaspoon of tea tree oil and apply this mixture to the scalp or infected hair for 30 to 40 minutes.
Then you may wash out hair with a fine shampoo and comb out all the lice and nits with a reliable fine-toothed comb.
2. Neem oil
This oil contains the compounds that disrupt the life cycle of lice and kill them. Studies have shown that this oil is also very much effective against lice and nits.
It is a natural insect repellent. Parents can buy Neem oil-based shampoos over the counter. They may also mix 8 to 10 drops of this essential oil with one ounce of regular shampoo and apply it to the infected hair for at least 20 minutes.
Then the hair may be washed with a fine quality shampoo or conditioner and all the lice and nits may be combed out with the help of a fine-toothed lice comb.
You must remember that Neem oil is always bad-smelling.
3. Lavender oil
This is another very effective essential oil against head lice, fungi, and many other insects but not effective against nits.
Parents may dissolve two drops of this oil in ten milliliters of water to make a good hair wash. They should apply this hair wash to the hair of their infected child once per week for three weeks.
The plus point of this oil is that it has proven a terrific deterrent against getting lice in the first place.
The other side of the picture
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The other side of the picture is not equally bright. The evidence that supports the use of essential oils as a lice treatment is still not strong enough for these oils to be advised and applied by all confidently and trustfully.
There is a dire need for more and more studies to be done before companies can claim the use of essential oils in lice products to be really effective. There may also be many downsides regarding the use of essential oils for lice infestation.
One of the worst drawbacks is that the application of essential oils increases the irritation and itching in the skin, already there because of the scratching of the scalp with the fingernails due to the sheer sensation caused by the crawling of the lice.
The final wording
You can say that a victim may have luck using essential oils against head lice infestation, but the experts still go with the proven methods like using OTC medications to be on the safer side for sure.
Another fact that these essential oils can only be used topically and never ingested orally also restricts their use against the head lice on a large scale. The long and short of this discussion is the fact that this great natural remedy is still not fully reliable, though being used by many across the globe.
However, great research work is still underway and much better and reliable outcomes are strongly expected in this regard. The world is looking forward to this with great curiosity.
About The Author:
Kyle Moore is a South African writer with a love of all things natural! When he isn’t spending time wandering a forest, he’s finding ways to live his best life.
