Larry the Lice and how to evict him naturally!

A few blogs ago we wrote about essential oils and what is so special about them. This week we thought we’d look into how to treat lice with essential oils. So many times our kids’ school reminded us there was yet another case of lice in the class. With camps coming up around the corner for the summer, we thought we’d write about what to do if your child comes home with lice and you’d like an alternative, natural approach to getting rid of this pesky tenant. Let's call him Larry. 

Essential oils known to successfully eliminate lice and eggs are primarily tea tree oil, then anise essential oil, ylang ylang, lavender and eucalyptus essential oils. Tea tree oil is a natural insecticide and therefore is very common in treating lice. You can spray it directly on a fine-tooth nit comb, but also add a few drops to your natural shampoo as you wash your hair. Mix several tablespoons of tea tree oil in your carrier oil (base oils such as olive, coconut, sesame,etc) and apply to your hair for 30-45 minutes. Several drops of tea tree oil should also be added to your washing machine to wash infected items such as bed sheets, stuffed toys, couch cushions, etc. and lastly, spray your hair with water infused with drops of tea tree oil.

In addition to the oils mentioned above, you can also use neem oil which is another oil we use extensively in our products. It is used by gardeners and is a safe natural insecticide. Use it the same as the tea tree oil we described above to eliminate Larry when he's found in your home. Although it’s not an oil, apple cider vinegar can also be used to soak one’s hair and then wash it out.

Larry and his friend don’t like heat of any kind so be sure to wash and dry your laundry on high heat. Disinfect your combs in hot water and be diligent to vacuum everywhere and mop floors with hot water.

They’re not a pleasant thing to experience and go through, but they’re totally manageable. My daughter had recently brought home Larry and his friends from class and we managed to eradicate them using the methods above with tea tree oil and with great success.

Yours in Passion, Vision, Creation.

Isabelle