It's back to school time, and back to school means back to lice...usually several times a year!
Fortunately, certain effective products, such as essential oils and hydrosol, can help prevent infection or naturally eliminate lice and nits that have already set in.
These essential oils are effective against lice, which stop reproducing when they come into contact with them.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) is known for its relaxing and calming properties, but also has antiseptic and anti-parasitic properties. Its linalool content makes it ideal for lice prevention and control.
Its disinfectant, healing, relaxing and calming, analgesic and lice repellent properties make this oil a must have. With no contraindications, pure or essential lavender oil is suitable for children over the age of 3.
Lavandin essential oil
Lavandin essential oil or Lavandin Super essential oil, is an interesting choice for lice control and is found in many commercial solutions. In fact, like all Lavender essential oils, it contains linalool, which has significant parasiticidal activity on both nits and adult lice.
Be careful, however, as it also contains camphor, which can have harmful side effects for some people.
Lavender hydrosol
Less well-known than essential oil, but just as effective against head lice! Lavender hydrosol generally known as distilled water or floral water, is milder than essential oil because it is less concentrated in active ingredients, and therefore better tolerated.
Hydrosol is an aromatic water obtained after distillation of a natural raw material, usually plant-based. It is the residual water obtained after separating it from the distillation product.
Bonus: like organic Lavender essential oil, Lavender hydrosol can also be used in cosmetics (diluted in the bath or sprayed on the skin) or for cooking (mixed into a drink or added to a recipe).
Which essential oils to use for prevention ?
For prevention, the essential oils of choice are Lavender or Lavandin Super.
Each morning, apply 1 to 2 drops of pure essential oil behind the ears, on the back of the neck, or inside the child's hat or coat collar. An effective preventive measure for the whole family.
Easy to use and small enough to take anywhere, the Mini Roll-on is the practical solution!
At the same time, you can add a few drops of essential oil to your usual bottle of shampoo and wash in the evening.
Alternatively, during high-risk periods, apply Lavender hydrosol to the skin around key areas once or twice a day. You can also spray pillowcases, sheets, and even the inside of closets and school bags.
What to do if you become infected ?
In case of infection, continue to use Lavender essential oil every morning and wash your child's hair by adding 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil to a thick vegetable oil.
After applying the mixture, soak the hair strand by strand and leave on overnight.
Repeat every week until the nits have turned into lice and are completely eradicated.
Tea Tree essential oil also actively fights lice as it has anti-parasitic and insect repellent properties due to its composition of monoterpene alcohols and carbides.
Synergy:
In one bottle, mix :
- 100 drops (5 mL) of Tea Tree essential oil
- 100 drops (5 mL) of Lavandin Super essential oil
Add 1 drop of this mixture to one dose of shampoo. Repeat with each shampoo until lice are gone. Ages 7 and up.
Happy Back to School!
Don't wait for epidemics, start taking preventive measures right from the first days of school!
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Emilie - 01/08/2024 16:18:25
Super article, très utile ! Merci !