Head lice are parasitic insects that live on the human scalp and feed on blood. An adult louse reaches about the same size as a sesame seed and looks like a small gray lump on the scalp or in the hair. The parasite's eggs, also known as nits, are smaller and easy to detect around the hairline, but difficult to remove. Several home remedies may kill head lice, but you'll need to follow any treatment with combing to remove the nits. They stick to the hair shaft and can hatch even after treatment, causing a second outbreak.
Aromatherapy
A combination of essential oils may kill head lice when applied to the hair and allowed to remain overnight. Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy," recommends making your own home remedy for lice with essential oils, castor oil and beeswax. Combine 2 oz. castor oil with 1 oz. grated beeswax in a small saucepan, heating over low heat until the beeswax dissolves. Remove from the heat, add 27 drops each rosemary, geranium and lavender oil, and stir well to combine. Massage into the scalp and hair, and leave on overnight. Rinse in the morning and comb through the hair with a metal lice comb. If any lice remain, repeat the treatment daily as necessary.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, a natural antibacterial and antiparasitic substance, kills lice on contact, according to Theresa Roberts in her book "ABC's of Bumps and Bruises." For best results, add 1/4 oz. tea tree essential oil to an 8-oz. bottle of baby shampoo and wash the hair thoroughly. After rinsing, comb through the hair with a fine-tooth comb to remove any remaining lice and eggs. Another effective home remedy for killing lice consists of combining 1/2 tsp. tea tree oil with 1/4 cup olive oil and massaging into the hair and scalp. Leave on overnight, rinse in the morning and comb the hair with a fine-tooth comb. Avoid getting tea tree oil into the eyes, as this can be very irritating.
Tobacco
Tobacco leaves, an old folk remedy for killing head lice, may help get rid of an infestation. In her book "Jude's Herbal Home Remedies," Jude C. Todd suggests pouring 4 cups boiling water over 1 cup tobacco leaves and allowing the mixture to steep for three or four hours before straining the leaves from the liquid. Hold your head over a large basin and pour the liquid over freshly washed hair. Dip the liquid from the basin and pour over your head again, repeating about 15 times. Towel dry and comb the hair after rinsing, and allow several hours before shampooing as usual. Comb through the hair to remove dead lice and nits using a metal fine-tooth comb. This treatment is not recommended for children.
Olive Oil
When applied to the hair, olive oil may kill lice by suffocating them, although it sometimes requires several treatments to work. Cal Orey, author of "The Healing Powers of Olive Oil," recommends applying plain olive oil to the hair and scalp, and allowing it to remain for at least half an hour. Shampoo twice to remove all the oil and follow with a thorough combing of the hair using a metal lice comb. Mayonnaise also contains oil, and may work similarly to olive oil by smothering the parasites and their eggs. Repeat once daily until no more lice remain.
References
- Medline Plus: Head Lice
- "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy"; Valerie Ann Worwood; 1999"
- "ABC's of Bumps & Bruises"; Theresa Roberts; 2008
- "Jude's Herbal Home Remedies"; Jude C. Todd; 2002
- "The Healing Powers of Olive Oil: A Complete Guide to Nature's Liquid Gold"; Cal Orey; 2009
