I have a few friends and relatives who are teachers and every year it’s the same.

“Uck! There’s lice going around AGAIN!”

When I used to work in a health food store, customers would come up to me saying “Help! My kids got lice at school. What can I use to get rid of them?”

And I would cringe inwardly and immediately feel like I had tiny bugs crawling in my hair.

I think it’s safe to say that lice gives people the heebie-jeebies!

Herbal Head Lice Treatment

Head Lice are tiny insects about the size of a pinhead, that thrive on the human scalp. They are usually visible to the human eye if you look closely, but are often missed because of their near transparent coloring. The eggs or “nits” are firmly attached to the hair and look like dandruff. These can be easily missed in lighter hair colors.

Contrary to popular belief, having lice does not denote poor hygiene. Lice don’t care about who’s hair is cleaner or dirtier, they simply jump from one person to another. This is especially easy for lice to do in more crowded spaces like schools where children share a lot of items.

If your child is frequently scratching their head, take a closer peek- it might be lice!

DIY Herbal Head Lice Treatment Recipe

This remedy is easy to throw together as soon as you notice lice. Keep in mind though that this formula is best suited for children 6 years and older due to its concentration. Try to perform a skin patch test using the essential oils in this blend to see how your child’s skin reacts before use if possible.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

• 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil
• 2 drops geranium essential oil
• 2 drops lemon essential oil
• ½ cup coconut oil or olive oil

Loving Preparation- Herbal Head Lice Treatment

First and foremost, do a skin patch test. Some tingling with this blend is normal.

Once you have insured that your child’s skin is not too sensitive for this formula, begin by placing a towel on your child’s shoulders to catch any excess oil.

Next, mix all of the ingredients together in a glass bowl. If the coconut oil is solid, you can gently warm it in the microwave or over the stove until melted before adding the essential oils. Test it to make sure it isn’t too hot before applying.

Ask your child to close their eyes. Now begin massaging the mixture into the scalp first, then throughout the hair.

Be very thorough. Make sure to saturate the hair completely. 

Once you have done this, put a shower cap or a small towel (use clips to keep it on their head) over your child’s hair. Allow the mixture to sit for 1-2 hours. Check a few times to make sure the formula is not irritating the skin. If at any point your child complains of unbearable itching or burning, wash out the formula immediately.

Next, using a very fine toothed comb, comb through the hair very thoroughly. Wipe the comb clean each time you run it through the hair.

Following treatment, wash and condition their hair as usual.

After towel drying their hair. Add one drop of tea tree and one drop of lavender essential oil to a clean brush and brush it through their hair. This will act as an insect repellent while you clean your home and bedding. Keep brushing their hair with a drop or two of essential oil before school to help repel lice.

It is recommended to repeat this treatment one or two days later to ensure you have killed any lingering lice. Best of luck!

What have been your tried and true lice treatments?

 

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