Natural and healthy ways to manage head lice using essential oils

While our children are in school with their heads near their peers in “deep concentration” lice can enjoy easy passage from one person’s hair and scalp to the next. Head lice love the close quarters of classrooms and enjoy having children bring them home to infect the whole family through pillow sharing, sharing of hair accessories and even from their beloved stuffed animals!
Essential oils are a fast, effective and natural way to both prevent and treat head lice.
Some simple methods we can use at home are to wash everything, making sure it gets time in the dryer as heat can kill lice. Bagging stuffed animals and other bedroom toys where lice can live, and then leaving the bag to sit somewhere hot or cold for 2 weeks can help break the life cycle and kill off the lice. Treating our person starts with purchasing a good quality metal head lice or nit comb. This is needed to brush through hair daily to remove the lice and nits from the hair. This needs to be done for a good week until there are no visible signs of eggs in the hair. If one person in the family has head lice it is recommended that all members of the family be treated.

Essential oils that prove to be effective for head lice in children are:


Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Eucalyptus radiata (Eucalyptus radiata)
Lemon (Citrus limonum)
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Please pay special attention to the variety specified in the above list, as it’s important to use the correct variety of essential oil on children.
Sometimes Rosemary essential oil is mentioned in conjunction with head lice, however I do not recommended this essential oil for young children and since it is also not to be used on anyone who is prone to seizures, I do not recommend using this oil for head lice.

To make your own oil blend to massage into your child’s hair follow this general guide line:

Into 1 ounce (30ml or 2 TBSP) coconut oil add 3-6 drops essential oil for children 5 years and older.

You can choose any combination of essential oils from the list above.  Then apply a few drops of this mix onto their scalp and hair (avoiding the eyes) then wrap hair in a plastic bag to keep the head warm and sit for 30 minutes with the oil mix in the hair. After 30 minutes brush the hair thoroughly with the nit comb, rinsing the comb in soapy water between each stroke through the hair. Then blow-dry the hair using the heat setting, as head lice are heat and light sensitive. Do this treatment multiple days until there are no visible eggs caught in the comb. Adding a few drops of this mix to your shampoo also helps and is a good prevention to head lice.
Keep in mind that you can get a custom aromatherapy blend from a certified aromatherapist to help target head lice and create a pleasant blend for preventative use throughout the school year. Also if your child has developed an irritated and red scalp from the head lice then an aromatherapist can custom blend an oil to help soothe the scalp.

Evoke aromatherapy has the pure essential oils needed for lice prevention and can custom blend products for the prevention and treatment of head lice. To inquire email: info@evokearomatherapy.com

Thank you! :)

Evoke Aromatherapy
May we live with love in our heart and actions

A picture slide show featuring head lice
http://www.medicinenet.com/head_lice_pictures_slideshow/article.htm 

About Evoke Aromatherapy

Evoke Aromatherapy is a holistic aromatherapy company that provides products which are specifically formulated to address common wellness concerns in adults, children and babies.

Each Evoke product is formulated and hand crafted by a certified aromatherapist using accurate dilutions according to their intended uses. Adults, children and babies have different requirements for quantities and types of oils they can use. Evoke Aromatherapy is conscious of this and blends accordingly. Our products are supportive to the whole body and by the very nature of essential oils and their properties, encourage wellness of the whole body on both a specific and overall spectrum.

Our products for adults, children and babies are created using the highest quality independently sourced pure essential and vegetable oils available. Our products are vegan, not tested on animals, use glass recyclable bottles, are hypoallergenic, and are created with natural and organic ingredients. They are also free from synthetic fragrances, chemicals and petroleum by-products. Evoke is not affiliated with multi-level marketed companies nor do we use their oils or products.

Evoke Aromatherapy was born on Kauai, Hawaii in 2012. Evoke’s conception however happened many years before having started under the name Healing Thyme Aromatherapy. Having been born on Kauai, Hawaii, Evoke was saturated in the healing energy of the Hawaiian Islands and given the time needed to absorb this energy and beauty into its very essence. Evoke Aromatherapy is now ready to spread this Aloha experienced on Kauai.

The Evoke logo image is an albatross, which flew over the waters from where Evoke’s founder worked, symbolizing the freedom and expansiveness that is in Evoke’s essence. The crystal clear waters ebbed and flowed below her feet creating the harmony and color of the image. The trade winds blew, the ocean moved and the sounds, smells and harmony became entwined with Evoke as organically as the healing powers of essential oils are entwined with the plant. With loving-kindness these properties are extracted to serve their purpose of helping to bring wellness to adults, children and babies in a gentle, loving and nurturing way.

We love what we do and hope you feel this love with our products. You deserve the best and to live your best life.

Evoke by definition is the calling forth of what lies in the unconscious into the conscious. Together with Evoke Aromatherapy you can call forth the joy and wellness you have been creating for your life.

Evoke encourages us to “live with love in our heart and actions” ♥

Healthy Hair

Healthy Hair using Essential oils

The following essential oils are listed from less evasive to strongest.

• Tea Tree can be very affective on dandruff. It is the least evasive and should be used for young children and babies.

• Rosemary stops dandruff, and helps hair look shiny and healthy. It promotes hair growth. It is used effectively with alopecia, receding hair lines, and promoting hair regrowth.

• Thyme is good for the scalp, helps treat dandruff and hair loss. Stops hair loss. The soothing and purifying properties make the scalp dandruff free by deep cleaning of hardened sebum, while keeping hair soft and shiny. The conditioning property of Thyme helps detangle the hair making it easier to brush and comb.

There are several ways to use the above oils. Here are some suggestions:
• Add 15-25 drops of oil of choice to a 12oz bottle of Organic, Chemical/Dye free shampoo.
• Use internally, 2-3 drops in a capsule filled with carrier oil, 2x daily.
• Use as a scalp treatment, by adding 10-12 drops to 1 ounce Olive oil, apply to scalp, wrap your head in a warm, damp towel, cover with a sheet of plastic wrapped around the towel, to maintain heat as long as possible. Keep on your head until it cools completely.
• NOTE: Be sure to keep these oils out of the eyes.

Shampoo Recipe, for hair loss/regrowth and dandruff:
• Put 12 oz Organic, Chemical/Dye free shampoo, in a blender. Add the following;
• 25 drops Peppermint
• 25 drops Lavender
• 25 drops Rosemary
• 5 drops Thyme
• Blend all together well, pour back into shampoo bottle. Wash scalp daily with “blended” shampoo.

Oregano oil can be used, if the problem is extreme. 15-20 drops of Oregano can be added to Organic, Chemical/Dye free Shampoo. Shampoo the hair and scalp thoroughly. Let the shampoo sit on the scalp for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. When rinsing, cover eyes well, and rinse thoroughly. Take 2-3 drops Oregano and carrier oil, in capsules 2x daily.

Birch oil can be used in Personal care products to support hair growth. Add 2 drops per ounce.

Lemon oil restores the function of the epidermis, helps with thinning hair and nails by balancing the sebum / oil production.

For Hair loss from Chemotherapy
• Create a warm compress, using 4 drops of Rosemary, 4 drops Lavender, and ½ ounce of Olive oil. Massage into scalp, place warm compress on head, and leave on until cold.