Herbal Head Lice Treatment

Head lice (Pediculosis capitis ) are tiny, brownish-gray insects that thrive on the human scalp. They’re about the size of a pinhead, visible to the naked eye though hard to see in darker hair. The females lay their cream-colored eggs or nits — which look like dandruff — close to the scalp, firmly attached to hair strands (the eggs are harder to see in blond hair). An infestation of head lice does not denote poor hygiene; these insects jump from one clean or dirty head to another, especially in crowded places such as schools and dormitories, and they are easily transmitted by shared brushes, hats, and other personal items.

If your child’s head is itchy, suspect lice — most children don’t develop dandruff. This formula will help eliminate lice and their hatching nits and is a natural alternative to the standard commercially available, chemical-based lice treatments, which can be quite irritating to the skin.

Note: This formula is intended for children over 6 years of age. Some children may be sensitive to an essential oil blend as concentrated as this one, so follow the application instructions to the letter.

10 drops eucalyptus (species radiata) essential oil
10 drops juniper or cedarwood essential oil
5 drops geranium essential oil
5 drops rosemary (chemotype verbenon) essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
¼ cup soybean or extra-virgin, unrefined coconut base oil

EQUIPMENT: 2-ounce glass bottle, small saucepan (if using coconut oil)
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 12 hours for patch test
YIELD: 1 treatment
STORAGE: Do not store; mix as needed

APPLICATION:

Every other day for 1 week Put the eucalyptus, juniper, geranium, rosemary, and lemon essential oils drop by drop directly into a 2-ounce glass bottle. Add the base oil. (If you choose coconut oil and it is solid, warm it over very low heat in a tiny saucepan until it is liquefied.) Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend.

Since this is a rather potent essential oil blend, always do a patch test before using this formulation on your child or yourself. Place 20 drops of the formula directly on the back of the neck at the base of the scalp, and rub it into the skin. Leave for 12 hours. If no stinging, itching, or redness results, proceed with treatment. A little tingling is to be expected when the oil is first applied; this is normal.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Shake well before using. Drape a towel over the child’s shoulders to catch any oil that might run down the neck. With the child’s eyes closed, gently massage the entire amount of oil into the scalp and down the length of the hair, taking care to avoid the face and eyes. Be thorough and saturate the entire head. To keep the vapors from irritating the child’s eyes, immediately cover the head with a shower cap or plastic bag, then wrap with a towel. If at any time the child complains of his or her scalp stinging or itching unbearably, immediately shampoo to remove the formula.

Allow the formula to remain on the head for 1 to 2 hours, with the cap and towel in place. Then, using a finetoothed comb, starting with and moving up from the bottom inch of hair, comb the hair for 10 minutes. Wipe the comb frequently with a clean paper towel to remove nits and lice. Dispose of the paper towel in the trash.

Following the treatment, apply a natural, chemical-free shampoo directly to the oily hair and scalp, without wetting them first. Then wet the head and work up a lather. This seems to be the best way to break up the oil on the scalp.

Rinse with water to which you’ve added a few drops of lavender, rosemary (chemotype verbenon), or tea tree essential oil to maintain the insect repellent properties of the treatment. Shampoo again, if necessary. Follow with a conditioner, if desired. Repeat the treatment every other day for 1 week (three treatments total), making a fresh batch each time.

Lice-Deterrent Shampoo and Conditioner 

Rosemary leaves and lavender buds have been used globally for thousands of years in hair-care preparations to discourage lice and other crawlies from taking up residence in the hair and scalp. Both of these herbs are well-established insect repellents, and they have cleansing, antiseptic, vulnerary, and skin regenerative properties as well.

Today, an easy way to take advantage of the lice-repelling benefits of these common herbs is to add 4 drops of lavender essential oil and 4 drops of rosemary (chemotype verbenon) essential oil to 8 ounces of a chemical-free shampoo, and to add the same amount to 8 ounces of a natural conditioner. This results in mild formulas that can be safely used daily by children of all ages with nary a worry of irritation. These essential oils add a pleasant, uplifting, refreshing fragrance to haircare products that most children will enjoy.