Supports healthy skin, scalp, nerves and discourages insects and lice.
Lice Control Information Using Essential Oils
Aniseed essential oil still killed 100% of the adults and eggs when diluted 50:50 with water. (The herbal infusion of aniseed was not effective.)
Oregano essential oil killed 99.3% of eggs and 100% of adults (although this may irritate skin).
Tea tree essential oil had 93% adult mortality and 83% egg mortality. Activity of Tea Tree oil Against Head Lice and It's Eggs
The blended oils that work best are said to be a 50:50 mixture of Tea Tree and Cinnamon Leaf (not cinnamon bark), which killed 100% of the lice and 96% of the eggs.
A rinse was used in all cases. The rinse by itself is ineffective.
Jojoba oil may be used as a solvent, which will deal with the solubility problem. Jojoba oil is said to dissolve sebum, which means that the oils may penetrate the insect cuticle faster. Other carrier oils could also be tried, as the insect cuticle is generally soluble to lipids and lipid-soluble compounds. Olive oil overnight on lice eggs prevented the majority of the eggs from developing, but it did not work so effectively with adult lice. Grain Alcohol (Vodka) is known to increase the penetration rate of the cuticle.
Suggested use (from various PubMed articles):
Topical: Dilute with a carrier oil, unscented lotion or unscented cream and apply on area of concern or as desired. Consider using a roll-on applicator for ease of application of prediluted oil.
Application Suggestions for Lice Babies, Children and Pregnant Women For a baby, you may want to use 3 drops of the following mixture in baby shampoo and rinse thoroughly. The following essential oils are considered safe for babies, children and pregnant women. For very small children, adjust the dilution per age.
infant - 3 months / 0.1-0.2% / 1-2 drops per ounce 3 - 24 months / 0.25-0.5% / 2-5 drops per ounce 2 - 6 years / 1 - 2% / 9-24 drops per ounce Application Suggestion Add 10 drops No Lice! to 1 TB Jojoba liquid wax (2% ratio) and apply it to the scalp. Make sure you don’t get this in the child’s eyes or ears (if you do, add jojoba oil to dilute). Cover the hair and leave for 2+ hours or overnight. Follow the combing and rinsing directions below. Comb Using a fine-toothed comb, gently comb, wiping the comb between each sweep through the hair. You may want to pass the comb through vinegar each time to help clean the comb. For long hair, you may need to use clips to separate the hair as you comb in sections. When you have combed the whole head, wash the hair over a sink or bath tub with shampoo. Then use the following rinse. (If you do this in a shower, you may not be able to rinse any lice and eggs present effectively off your body.) Rinse 2 ounces vinegar + 2 ounces water + 10 drops No Lice! essential oil blend. Shampoo the hair while leaning over a sink or bathtub (not in a shower). Shake the rinse blend very well, and then pour the rinse through the hair, making sure it doesn’t get into the eyes or ears. For long hair, this may be easier to apply using a peri or similar type bottle. Repeat this process a week later to remove any potential lice that have hatched out from eggs that remained. ~ A rinse is used in all cases. The rinse by itself is ineffective. ~ Note: Jojoba oil is said to dissolve sebum, which may help the essential oils penetrate the insect cuticle faster. Other carrier oils could also be tried, as the insect cuticle is generally soluble to lipids and lipid-soluble compounds. One study reported that Olive oil overnight on lice eggs prevented the majority of the eggs from developing, but it did not work as effectively with adult lice. Wash Bedding, Towels etc. Use separate towels and keeping clothing and bedding washed daily should also help eliminate eggs and lice.
Inhalation: Diffuse or use a personal Nasal Inhaler
3. The No Lice blend worked PERFECTLY for my sister whose grandchildren suffered with lice. - Margaret
4. We have had great success with cedar oil for lice. We put it on our head, put on a shower cap and leave it overnight. We do this every few days until I am confident it is gone. - Emily 5. Prevention: We were exposed to lice by some children visiting, and I did the treatment on the hair, except I didn't do the fine-toothed combing since they didn't have lice (yet!). The children who brought the lice were not staying with us, or that would have posed other issues, but since our children had only been near them in a social context, we felt that one treatment would suffice, and it did for us. If they are potentially continually being exposed, then you may want to do this at least once or a couple times weekly. I think it takes a week for the eggs to hatch, so you can figure if exposed on Monday, if you do a thorough treatment once or twice before they hatch, then you'll probably kill them if they are there. I'd also wash their pillow covers in hot water and dry in the sunshine several times weekly as well - seems like prevention would be almost like assuming they might have them until all "danger" of exposure has passed.
