Oilypedia.com – Benefits And Uses Of Supplemental and Essential Oils 
Tea tree oil is essential oil with a large number of benefits for our health and is commonly used as a medicinal ingredient in lotions, soaps and shampoos. Some people use tea tree oil for lice eradication too.
Contents
What is lice?
Lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects, according to MayoClinic.com. They spread easily and it’s possible to get them even in case you have perfect personal hygiene. Lice can be of 3 types: head lice, pubic lice and body lice. You can get rid of them with the help of proper medications. People sometimes tend to use natural products instead of toxic and poisonous chemical ones to kill lice. The usage of tea tree oil for lice elimination is one of them.
SEE ALSO: The Use of Tea Tree Oil for Scalp
Research
PubMed.gov published two researches concerning tea tree oil for lice killing. The first study was carried out at the University of Reading School of Pharmacology in the United Kingdom. The research has found out tea tree oil the most effective among natural essential oils tested by them for killing lice.
The “Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology” published the other study in March of 2004. This research investigated the ability of tea tree oil to eradicate lice infestations. Lice were eliminated effectively, the results repeated several times. It shows that the oil possesses insecticidal properties as well.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Is Corn Oil Good for Hair?
How to use tea tree oil for head lice elimination
Step 1
Buy a shampoo containing 5 to 10 percent tea tree oil or mix one part of tea tree oil with nine parts of your regular shampoo. It is a usually recommended percentage of tea tree oil used in all studies. You may add the oil to macadamia nut oil shampoo made by yourself.
Step 2
Apply the tea tree oil shampoo to your hair, scrub thoroughly and make sure it is absorbed in the scalp. Remain the shampoo for 5 minutes.
Step 3
Rinse your hair for several minutes thoroughly.
Step 4
Use a tea tree oil shampoo daily for up to four weeks; make sure that lice and all eggs have been eradicated.
Possible side effects
There are some tea treee oil side effects you should be aware of. Remember that tea tree oil is toxic if ingested. It can be used only topically. Sometimes people are allergic to tea tree oil. Use it cautiously or perform a skin test prior to application. Breast-feeding and pregnant women are recommended against using tea tree oil, as there is a lack of safety information. In case pregnant women want to use tea tree oil for lice elimination they should follow doctors’ instructions.
