Melaleuca Remedies for Head Lice

Melaleuca, also known as tea tree oil, has been used for centuries in health and beauty treatments. It's a natural remedy for many ailments, especially those involving bacteria and fungal infections. However, many have also discovered that melaleuca may be useful in attacking parasitic infestations, such as head lice.

Head Lice Treatment

• To give an over-the-counter (OTC) head-lice treatment more potency, mix in two to three drops of melaleuca. If you're concerned about the chemical ingredients found in many head-lice treatments, mix melaleuca into your current hair-care products. Make your own head-lice shampoo by mixing a few tablespoons of melaleuca to your bottle of shampoo and conditioner. You can also make a scalp oil to treat head lice by mixing 10 to 15 drops of melaleuca with a bottle of a carrier oil, such as olive, almond or coconut oil. Mix five to seven drops of melaleuca into leave-in conditioner sprays or creams for added protection against head lice.

Products Containing Melaleuca

• If you don't wish to create your own remedies, many OTC hair-care products contain melaleuca. Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree Oil, an all-purpose beauty oil, can be used on the hair and scalp to treat lice. Paul Mitchell has an entire Tea Tree hair-care line, which if used together may provide a more comprehensive treatment for fighting head lice. Organic Root Stimulator has a leave-in conditioning cream that can be applied directly to the scalp and hair.

Considerations

• Many people attest to the benefits of melaleuca/tea tree oil in treating head lice. Nevertheless, according to the Mayo Clinic, there's not enough evidence from earlier studies to recommend melaleuca as a proven and effective treatment against head lice. Keep in mind that while a remedy may have worked for one person, you may have a different experience using the same product. Best practice is to consult your physician to determine if using melaleuca as a remedy for head lice is a viable option for you.