A-to-Z List Essential Oils for Lice:

Head lice are tiny blood feeding insects

Head lice most often affects children and usually results from the direct transfer of lice from the hair of one person to the hair of another.

A head-lice infestation isn't a sign of poor personal hygiene or an unclean living environment. Head lice don't carry bacterial or viral infectious diseases.

Common signs and symptoms of lice include: itching, lice on scalp, lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts, and sores on the scalp, neck, and shoulders.

Head lice can crawl but they can't jump or fly.

Along with combing a number of essential oils (e.g., tea tree oil, lavender oil, neem oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, aniseed oil, cinnamon leaf oil, red thyme oil, peppermint oil, and nutmeg oil) have been shown to be effective in eliminating head lice.

Example Treatment: Fill a spray bottle with vodka and a few drops of cinnamon leaf essential oil, then spray directly on the hair and scalp while you comb for nits

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon

    (Cinnamomum verum)

    Aroma Description: Peppery, earthy, warm, strong, spicy, bright yet slightly woodsy.

  • Clove

    Clove

    (Syzygium aromaticum)

    Aroma Description: Rich, spicy, sweet, soft, warming yet slightly bitter. It is also slightly woody in character and is reminiscent in aroma to that of true clove buds but is of course much stronger in aroma.

  • Eucalyptus

    Eucalyptus

    (Eucalyptus globulus)

    Aroma Description: Fresh, medicinal, woody and earthy.

  • Nutmeg

    Nutmeg

    (Myristica fragrans)

    Aroma Description: Spicy, sweet and woody. It is similar in aroma to the cooking spice, but it is much more fragrant.

  • Peppermint

    Peppermint

    (Mentha piperita)

    Aroma Description: Intensely minty. Its aroma is reminiscent of peppermint candies, but it is more concentrated and is more intense in fragrance than Spearmint Essential Oil.

  • Peppermint - English

    Peppermint - English

    (Mentha X Piperita)

    Aroma Description: Camphoraceous, Cool, Fresh, Minty, Soft, Strong

  • Rose Geranium

    Rose Geranium

    (Pelargonium radens)

    Aroma Description: Rose Geranium Essential Oil smells floral, somewhat rosy and green. It is similar in aroma to Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens/Pelargonium asperum) but has a slightly more rosy fragrance.

  • Tea Tree

    Tea Tree

    (Melaleuca alternifolia)

    Aroma Description: Medicinal, fresh, woody, earthy and herbaceous.