Head Lice Prevention Home Remedy

I've always shuttered at the thought of my children or I getting head lice. I've never dealt with it personally, thank the Lord! I've heard it can be time consuming and just terrible to combat, not to mention the expense of buying the chemicals and shampoos to treat it with. With my kids' camp happening soon, I really got to thinking about "lice" again, and what I can do to help PREVENT it.

There is a natural item you can use, that is not expensive, to help prevent your child from getting head lice---TEA TREE OIL. Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia.

As long as you or your child do not have any allergies or sensitivities to Tea Tree Oil, you can simply add some to your existing shampoo and use it regularly as prevention.

Tea Tree Oil can be found in some pharmacies, health food stores, and yes, even Walmart, which is where I bought mine! It is usually found in a very small, dark brown bottle, but don't let the size fool you--it is very concentrated.

I have always just taken our shampoo bottle and poured in 10-20 drops of Tea Tree Oil, then shook the bottle VERY, VERY WELL, and used as normal. If you decide to do this, just remember to shake the bottle well before every use.

However, you may want to start out with a smaller amount of shampoo and tea tree oil initially to see if you like it or not. If so, follow these guidelines:

1. Measure approximately 1 ounce or so of your shampoo into a bowl or container. You may need more if your hair is very long and/or thick.


2. Then add approximately 4-6 drops of tea tree oil to the shampoo in the bowl or container. You can adjust the amount you add based on your personal preference, but I wouldn't use any less than 3 or 4 drops for a small amount of shampoo.


3. Mix the shampoo and tea tree oil together, very well.


4. Pour the shampoo/tea tree oil mixture into your wet hair and wash just as you normally would, BUT instead of rinsing it out right away, let it sit in your hair for a few minutes, then rinse as normal.
   

Again, this is suggested for prevention of head lice, not treatment of. If you already have an infestation, you could try the same guidelines above and then leave it on for 30 minutes or so, but cover your head with a tightly-fitted shower cap, then rinse as normal. You may even want to comb through your hair with a special bug comb before rinsing.

PLEASE NOTE: Keep tea tree oil and shampoo mixture away from eyes.

I've also used Tea Tree Oil in my dogs' shampoo to deter fleas and ticks, and I've put some Tea Tree Oil in a spray bottle with water and sprayed it on my dogs before letting them outside or going on walks (AVOID getting it in their eyes!). DO NOT USE ON CATS!

Tea Tree Oil is said to be a natural antiseptic and has many medicinal properties including antifungal and antibacterial action. There are many uses and home remedies Tea Tree Oil can be used for such as healing skin cuts, burns and infections, and also used to treat conditions such as acne, athlete's feet and periodontal disease.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor nor am I in the medical profession, so if you have any concerns BEFORE using Tea Tree Oil, please consult with your physician and/or veterinarian.