Tea Tree Oil Treatment For Head Lice Is Safe And Effective

Did you know that a tea tree oil treatment is a safe and effective natural head lice treatment? If you're looking for an alte ative to using dangerous pesticides on your child's head, take a look at this easy-to-use home remedy. What Is Tea Tree Oil? This essential oil comes from the leaves of the Australian tea tree, also known as Melaleuca alte ifolia. The leaves were originally used as a tea substitute, which is how this tree got its name. Australian aboriginees crushed the leaves and used them on burns, cuts, and skin infections. Today this oil is known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It's used for skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne, and is also recommended for fungal infections like thrush, yeast infection, and athlete's foot. And of course, it's highly recommended to safely remove unwanted guests from kids' heads as well. How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Head Lice Here are two different recipes. The first calls for adding 10 drops of melaleuca oil to about two ounces of a carrier oil. Olive or almond oil is recommended. Or you can dilute 25 drops of lavender essential oil and 25 drops of tea tree oil in about three ounces of carrier oil. Next, coat the hair well with the oil mixture, working from the scalp where the nits love to hang out, to the ends of the hair. Leave the oil on for about three hours. To contain the mess, cover the head with a shower cap. Be sure to supervise young children if using a shower cap because it could become a suffocation hazard. Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove the dead lice and nits. Rinse the comb often in a mixture of melaleuca oil and water. Shampoo the hair to remove the oil. That's all there is to it. Remember to repeat this treatment in a week to kill any newly-hatched bugs that might be present. If there's a severe infestation, it may be necessary to repeat it several times. Safety Considerations Never use this oil full strength when treating head lice, as it can irritate the skin, resulting in skin rashes. It can even cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This oil should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep it out of the reach of children, as it can be toxic if swallowed. It has a very strong odor, so it's hard to say why a child would swallow it, but kids will do strange things sometimes. A tea tree oil treatment is a safe and effective way to get rid of lice on your child's head.