Home Treatment for Lice

Overview

A harsh reality of life that affects people from every social and economic background is head lice. The standard treatment for head lice involves using shampoos with toxic chemicals, which are not recommended for infants or pregnant and nursing women. To treat head lice and avoid chemical exposure, use 100 percent pure tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural oil produced from distilling the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) plant. A study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology reports findings that tea tree oil is effective as an insecticide. Compounds in the oil, called "monoterpenoids" destroy the nervous system of the insects. Using tea tree oil for treating head lice is not only effective, it also benefits the body by avoiding the harmful toxins in other treatments.

Step 1

Mix 6 tbsp. of olive oil and 3 tbsp. of white vinegar in a glass bowl. Add 20 drops of 100 percent pure tea tree oil and 10 drops of both lavender oil and rosemary oil. Mix well. Transfer to a small container that can easily pour, such as a small shampoo bottle.

Step 2

Apply the mixture to the hair, paying special attention to the scalp and root area. Make sure the scalp is completely covered, and the mixture is at least 1 inch up the hair shaft. Double the batch, if necessary.

Step 3

Cover the head with a plastic shower cap and leave on overnight. In the morning, shampoo the hair and rinse the mixture out. Fill the palm of your hand with conditioner, and add 6 drops of tea tree oil. Massage through hair for five minutes, and then rinse.

Step 4

Cover the body and clothing with an old towel or sheet. You will throw this item away when finished. Take the lice comb and, starting at the roots of the hair, thoroughly comb hair to remove all dead lice and nits. Rinse the comb off with hot water between each pass through the hair. When finished with the combing, throw away the towel or sheet.

Step 5

Put 1 cup of water into a spray bottle, and add 6 drops of tea tree oil. Spray the scalp and the hair to prevent lice from coming back into the hair.

Step 6

Put all products that were used on hair in a sink full of hot water and add 20 drops of tea tree oil. Let soak for one hour, then rinse again with hot water.

Step 7

When the hair is dry, check the scalp once again for nits or lice. Repeat Steps 1 through 6, if necessary. If the lice appear to be gone, repeat the process every three days to destroy any eggs that may have missed the treatment and have since hatched. It can take up to two weeks for lice eggs to hatch, so repeat the treatment at least twice a week for two weeks.

Step 8

Place all bedding, clothing, towels and stuffed animals in a plastic bag and let them sit undisturbed for two weeks. Be sure the bags are completely sealed. This will suffocate any lice that remain on the items. After two weeks, fill your washer with hot water. Add 1/4 oz. of tea tree oil and the soiled clothing or linens. Soak the articles for one hour, and then continue the wash cycle with hot water and detergent.

Step 9

Vacuum all carpets, furniture and automobiles and throw away the vacuum bag immediately. If you have a bagless vacuum, empty the contents immediately and seal them in a garbage bag. Spray carpets and upholstery and mattresses with the spray bottle with a mixture of 2 cups of water and 20 drops of tea tree oil.