Essential Oils and
Lice
Lice: Tea Tree, Citronella, Pine, Eucalyptus Globulus, Lavender,
Lemon, & Rosemary.
Application
ideas:
Lice have always been and will continue to be a
problem among school-age children. When treating head lice, it is important to
wash all bedding and personal clothes in very hot water. You can add 2 tsp.
(10ml) eucalyptus oil to the rinse cycle. Hang in the sun for a whole day, turning
inside out at intervals so that every part of the material (particularly seams
and hems) receives air and sun (Purchon, 247).
Additional Information:
Tea Tree and Lavender are common
essential oils used to treat lice, ticks, and fleas. They can safely be used on
children and animals (Buckle, 192).
Citronella was an effective repellent
against lice in double-blind study conducted on 198 children in four elementary
schools in Israel (Buckle 345).
Pine oil is one of the best oils for
treating scabies, cuts, head lice, and sores. Pine oil blends well with eucalyptus,
rosemary and tea tree (Purchon, 98).
Eucalyptus Globulus is one of the best
oils to use in blends to kill head lice and ease insect bites. It also acts as
an insect repellent (Purchon, 55).
15 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
8 drops citronella essential oil
6 drops thyme essential oil
4 drops clove essential oil
1-drop cinnamon leaf essential oil
¼ cup (60ml) sesame oil (can use another carrier oil, but watch out for a sensitivity to certain carrier oils).
In a 2 oz (60ml) glass bottle, combine
tea tree, lavender, citronella, thyme, clove, and cinnamon leaf essential oil.
Fill bottle with sesame oil and shake to blend.
IF USING ON CHILDREN, increase the
quantity of sesame oil to ½ cup (125ml) and use a 4 oz (125ml) bottle.
Buckle, Jane. Clinical Aromatherapy Essential Oils in
Practice. (2003).
Purchon,
Nerys and Lora Cantele. The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
Handbook For Everyday Wellness. (2014).
