By Cynthia Olsen
For the last 14 years, I have read and explored many facets of Australia. This intriguing country contains some of the most unusual flora and fauna on this planet. One such example is Australian tea tree oil, such as that found in Treemenda, a product line currently being launched in Canada. In 1985, while walking bare foot through a garden, I stepped into a mound of fire ants. An essential oil called Australian tea tree was applied to my feet immediately. I had never heard of this unusual essence with its aromatic spicy odor. I do know however, that the stinging and swelling subsided within a few minutes. Hardly a moment goes by that I don't use the oil in some way, whether brushing my teeth or applying it to my skin.
In the mid 1980s, I was actively involved in the importing of tea tree oil to North America. The research and the effectiveness of the oil fascinated me. In 1990 I established Kali Press, a small publishing company focusing on complementary health topics. Within the last 10 years I have written and gladly spoken on the multitude of healthy skin benefits which are derived from tea tree oil.
Australian tea tree oil Melaleuca alternifolia comes from a particular species of the Myrtacae family. The trees grow naturally in Northern New South Wales and Southern Queens-land, Australia. Australian tea tree oil has a long history of use and research. The oil is firmly established in the present day pharmacopoeia for professional and general public use in a number of areas. Its primary use centers on its abilities as an antiseptic and anti-microbial essential oil. More than 300 research studies and articles have been written on these qualities.
Research began in the 1920s with Dr AR Penfold, curator and chemist at the Government Museum of Technology and Applied Sciences in Sydney. Dr Penfold discovered that tea tree oil was 13 times stronger than carbolic acid as an antiseptic bactericide. (Carbolic acid was considered the universal standard in the early 1900s.) Nearly a century later, tea tree stands out among natural herbal remedies and has proven time and time again that it is truly a first aid kit in a bottle. In the tremendous growth of awareness and use of natural products, some companies have become leaders in the field. The team that created Treemenda has more than 12 years of extensive experience working with tea tree products. In creating such products, much knowledge and research goes into finding just the right balance of ingredients. Tremendous effort goes into establishing effectiveness, stability and a long shelf life. The Treemenda line will include shampoo, conditioner, antiseptic cream, liquid soap and a hand and body lotion. Other personal body care products will be available in the near future.
As a writer and researcher I find that it is imperative to discern the difference between the multitude of products that are available for the consumer. Product selection can be overwhelming and can cause confusion as to which is of the highest quality. Recent legislation helps to monitor and keep product industry standards high. Therefore, as a consumer it is important to not only have faith in the efficacy of a product you purchase, but to know the background and integrity of that particular manufacturer. It is with great pleasure that I have this opportunity to share my knowledge of health and vitality along with the people who created Treemenda. One of the remarkable aspects of tea tree oil is its proven effectiveness in a number of applications for first aid and personal bodycare. Some conditions for which tea tree oil is useful include dandruff and acne (in teenagers as well as adults), mouthwash, bronchial congestion, minor burns and athlete's foot.
In the final analysis, we are our own caretakers. Special gifts from nature such as tea tree oil can assist us in many ways. Maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit can bring us gifts of health, our true purpose, serenity and love into each day of our precious lives.
Cynthia B, Olsen is the author of four best selling books. She is also a successful publisher, researcher and speaker on complementary health, healing and ecology.
References:
1. Olsen, C. Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Guide. Kali Press, 1998.
2. Southwell, IA, Lowe, R. Tea Tree: The Genus Melaleuca. Harwood Academic
Publishers, Gordon & Breach, 1999.
The Story Behind Treemenda
By Kathleen Dills
My mother-in-law gave me my first bottle of tea tree oil 10 years ago. Diluted with extra-virgin olive oil and a little vitamin E oil, tea tree oil solved a nasty, on-going diaper rash. After a little research, Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil has found itsSheri way into every corner of our home. It is truly an amazing product with hundreds of uses. Tea tree oil is made from distilling the leaves of a shrub-like tree called Melaluca alternifolis, which is native to the New South Wales region of Australia. I have visited this region and the air is abundant with the fresh smell of this tree – one of the thousands of species of “gum” or eucalyptus trees native to Australia. It is only the Melaluca alternifolis that has specific healing potential, and driving through the region you see thousand of acres of cultivated production. Rich in history, “tea tree oil” was the name used by British explorer Captain Cook and his crew who made tea from its leaves in the 18th century. Aborigines have been using the plant for centuries to heal wounds. In the 1920’s, Western scientists confirmed that it was a germicide 13 times stronger than carbolic acid, and yet did no damage to healthy skin tissue. Tea tree oil was the standard antiseptic in the first-aid kits of Australian and British soldiers during World War II but subsequently lost popularity to penicillin and other products developed by the chemical industry. Interest returned during the 1970s when Australian companies began to grow high-therapeutic grades of the plant and started large-scale production. There was also significant research into effectiveness and safety of use. Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil has several advantages over commonly used antiseptics such as merthiolate, hexachlorophene, iodine and hydrogen peroxide. First, it is non-toxic when used externally as an antiseptic. While other antiseptics kill tissue cells, tea tree can, according to the Australian Medical Journal, dissolve pus “without any apparent damage to the tissues”. Studies over the past 90 years all indicate that tea tree is non-toxic to skin, safe to use in small doses on all mucus membranes and unlikely to cause any allergic reactions. Second, tea tree oil has a complicated chemical structure composed of over 48 compounds. This makes it virtually impossible for microbes to develop resistance. This complexity also makes it effective against at least 23 bacteria and fungi including candida, clostridium, e. coli, gonococcus, herpes virus, mening-ococcus, pseudomonas, spirochetes, staph, strep and trichinoisis. Recent studies by researchers at the Perth University of Western Australia demonstrated that a concentration of 0.15% to 0.25% of tea tree oil effectively kills hospital isolates of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria Golden Staph. Like many natural antiseptics, tea tree oil sterilizes on contact and continues to prevent microbial growth for hours. It is a very potent antiseptic. Research has shown that it is more powerful than alcohol and almost as powerful as chlorine – without the carcinogenic effects of either. It is also unique in its ability to penetrate organic matter, a property that enhances its effectiveness against fungi which root themselves deeply into tissue. What’s more, unlike many synthetic antiseptics, tea tree oil kills bacteria even more effectively in living tissue than in the test tube. In our home, Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil has become the common preventative gargle for sore throats. It has solved wart problems, eliminated acne, actually less-ened the pain of cold sores, pene-trated the toe nail to resolve a stubborn infection and has been applied to every cut, scrape and burn that two boys can produce. Its immediate application can help neutralize venom or microbes that result from insect bites. In fact, a leech that attached itself to me while picnicking at the Bungowalbyn Creek in Australia fell right off when dosed with tea tree oil. I even use it in the rinse water when I store }{woolens for the summer to ward off the moths. Clinically, tea tree oil has been used as an adjunctive treatment for bed sores, diabetic ulcers, burns, ear infec-tions, periodontal disease, psoriasis, wounds and vaginitis. Australian den-tists use it before and after pulling or drilling teeth to prevent infection in teeth and their roots. Tea tree oil\rquote s germicide works by causing structural damage to the bacte-rial or fungal cell wall and cell mem-brane, followed by denaturation of vital microbial cell constituents. In 1985, the Standards Association of Australia stated that in high quality oil the minimum amount of terinen-4-ol must be 30 per cent. Terpinen-4-ol has been clearly identified as a major germicidal component of the oil and Treemenda Therapeutics has 40%. Treemenda Therapeutics is the only product line with the Koala-T-Bear seal of approval.
ACNE: WHY ME?
The Solution From Down Under
It’s Saturday night and your parent’s are letting you go to your first dance. You’re standing in front of the mirror, trying to get your hair up just right when there it is – right on the middle of your forehead – a big zit. It’s Monday morning and you’re rushing around trying to get ready for your first day at a new job. You just have a second to look in the mirror as you are brushing your teeth and you think you see something. You move closer to the mirror and you see several small pimples on your cheek. Two totally different situations but the feeling is the same. Why did this have to happen to me?
Acne is one of the most common of all skin problems and also one of the most frustrating. While it is typically teenagers who get acne the problem can pop back up when you’re an adult. Acne occurs when excess oil (sebum) production combined with dead skin cells clog pores. Bacteria forms in the pores resulting in red inflamed pimples, pus filled whiteheads, or blackheads. These blemishes occur wherever there are many oil (sebaceous) glands, mainly on the face, chest, and back.
Everyone wants to look there best and therefore there are hundreds of treatments on the market that advertise that they can make those awful spots go away. Products containing benzyl peroxide are amoung the most effective. Benzyl peroxide kills bacteria that cause pimples, but it also oxidizes the cells making the skin very dry. Why not try a less toxic approach?
Tea tree oil is a powerful medicine that is gentle to the skin; it penetrates and heals while being kind to healthy tissue. This makes it a particularly valuable treatment for those with sensitive skin who “react to everything”. Tea tree oil is widely recognized in Australia and its overall effectiveness has been evaluated by many different organizations, among them the Australian Journal of Pharmacy.”
Tea tree oil is a strong organic solvent that actually dissolves the lumps of white blood cells that make pus. This allows your blood stream to clean them away, therefore helping clear up infections like acne. Tea tree oil is also an efficient antiseptic that kills bacteria fast.
In fact Australian researchers gave 124 people with acne either over-the-counter acne product (containing 5% benzoyl peroxide) or tea tree oil. In the study, both treatments were equally effective.
Treemenda Therapeutics is a line of quality Tea Tree Oil products. The Australian standard requires a terpinen-4-ol (the healing property) of greater than 30 percent. The Treemenda Therapeutic line has at least 40 percent terpinen-4-ol making the products more therapeutic and effective.
For acne/pimples mix Treemenda 15% Solution with warm water and rinse. With a swab dab affected areas with Treemenda 15% Solution or Pure Treemenda Tea Tree Oil. For daytime use, apply Treemenda Antiseptic Cream.
For quality Tea Tree Oil just look for the Koala-T-Bear symbol of approval.
1. Bassett, I.B., et al. "A Comparative Study of Tea Tree Oil vs. Benzoyl Peroxide in Treatment of Acne," Med. J. Australia 153:455, 1990.
Prevention, Treatment and Recovery.
PREVENTION:
Contrary to the belief of many, head lice does not reflect poor hygiene or lack of cleanliness, but rather social and play habits. Head lice are most often a problem for elementary school age children. The reason is simple. Children that age share combs, brushes, hair decorations, hats and scarves. Although head lice may not have any lasting effects, unless treated properly it can be a reoccurring problem.
TREATMENT:
If someone in your family does come in contact with lice the over the counter solution is a variety of head lice shampoos most of which contain pesticides. Pesticides can cause side effects such as seizures, behavioral changes, neuromuscular complaints, attention deficit disorders, chronic skin eruptions, cancer and death. Why take the risks of using a pesticide on your child when there is a safe natural inexpensive alternative - tea tree oil. Tea tree oil contains a major component l-terpinen-4-ol, which has a high solvent action that attacks mature lice and dislodges them from the scalp. The result is a high mortality rate after the first application.
1. Wet hair. Simply mix 20 drops of pure Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil with approximately one ounce of Treemenda therapeutics shampoo and thoroughly massage into hair and scalp. Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse.
2. Condition hair with Treemenda Therapeutics conditioner.
3. Comb hair with an ordinary comb, removing all knots before using the lice comb.
4. Separate comb into ½ inch sections. Holding the hair back with one hand use the other to pick up the lice comb.
5. At a 45 degree angle. Place the teeth of the lice comb as close to the scalp as possible.
6. Lightly comb, passing through some strands several times.
7. Repeat this procedure until the entire head has been completely covered. Pay particular attention to the hair around the neck region, where the eggs tend to be.
8. Check head and hair shaft for lice and eggs with a magnifier to ensure you haven’t missed any lice or nits.
RECOVERY:
Continue to inspect for nits daily for at least two weeks. Repeat process, if necessary, within one week. A thorough disinfecting of clothing and bedding should be carried out concurrently with hair treatment. Add 10 drops of Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil to hot water to assist sterilization. Add 10 drops of Treemenda Therapeutics tea tree oil to a tissue, put in vacuum bag and vacuum carpets and furniture. You can also use Treemenda Therapeutics shampoo and conditioner to help minimize re-infestation.
HEAD TO TOE FIRST AID
From your head to your toes, for everything from scratches to athlete’s foot, look to the world’s oldest continent for a safe, natural remedy.
Melaleuca alternifolia, commonly known as Australian tea tree oil, has been used by Aboriginal inhabitants of eastern Australia as a powerful medicine for probably thousands of years. Western science discovered its potent antiseptic properties in the 1920’s when it was confirmed by scientists that it was 13 times stronger as a germicide than carbolic acid, but did no damage to healthy skin tissue.
Firstly, it is a strong organic solvent. It actually dissolves the lumps of white blood cells which make pus. This allows your blood stream to clean them away, therefore helping clear up infections like pimples, acne, boils, sores, and ulcers.
Secondly, it is an efficient antiseptic. It kills bacteria fast, even stubborn germs like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Excherischia coli. This has been proven in laboratory testing by Associated Foodstuff Laboratories of Australia. What’s more, unlike many antiseptics, tea tree oil kills bacteria even more effectively in living tissue than in the test tube, unlike many synthetic antiseptics.
Thirdly, tea tree oil is an effective fungicide, which means that it kills the organisms that cause tinea, ringworm, and candida as well as many other fungus conditions that create skin problems.
Tea tree oil was so highly regarded by Australian authorities for its antiseptic properties that cutters and producers were exempt from service in the Second World War. The Australian government wanted to ensure tea tree oil as part of the first-aid kits given to their army and navy but was impossible to keep up with demand so scientific researchers developed synthetic alternatives.
Consciousness about natural versus synthetic products started in the 60s and has created a renewed interest in tea tree oil ever since.
Nowadays, tea tree oil is no longer solely used as an effective topical antiseptic for the treatment of cuts, abrasions, skin infections, insect bite, boils, and the like. It is used in many parts of the world as an essentially adverse-reaction-free treatment for a variety of ailments such as anorectal infections, eczema, gingivitis, cold sores, mouth ulcers, nail infections, psoriasis, bacterial vaginitis, Candida albicans, infections, trichomal vaginitis, and more.
Genetically acquired immunity of many pathogenic micro-organisms to antibiotics and sullphonamide drugs, that has given rise to the much fear and often deadly strains of these “super bugs” does not seem to occur with tea tree oil. Studies by researchers at the Perth University of Western Australia demonstrated that a concentration of 0.15% to 0.25% tea tree oil effectively kills hospital isolates of antibiotic resistant Golden Staph.
In 1985, the Standards Association of Australia prepared a firm set of standards for medicinal grade Australian tea tree oil which stated that in high quality oil the minimum amount of terpinen-4-ol must be 30 per cent. Terpinen-4-ol has been clearly identified as a major germicidal component of the oil with other factions having an anti-microbial effect.
Treemenda Therapeutics is a line of quality Australian tea tree oil products that have at least 40 percent terpinen-4-ol. Treemenda tea tree oil products are therapeutic because their oil exceeds the Australian standards. For quality tea tree oil just look for the Koala-T-Bear Seal of Approval.
Tea Tree Oil – The All-Star of the Naturopathic World
Muscle pain, calluses, chapped lips got you down? Cramps, head lice, athlete’s foot got you feeling blue? Time to hit the health food store for a little tea tree oil. What’s that? Trouble hearing? Don’t worry; tea tree oil will clear that earwax too. Following in the steps of aloe vera, tea tree is being described by health food fans as the natural cure all. Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca alterifolia tree.
Scientists, primarily in Australia, have been conducting clinical studies and writing about tea tree oil since the 1920’s says Dr. Cass Ingram, author of Tea tree Oil, The Natural Antiseptic. Publications such as the Medical Journal of Australia and the Australian Journal of Dentistry carried articles about tea tree oil’s antiseptic and disinfectant qualities in the 1930’s. Later studies got as far as the U.S. Journal of the National Medical Association and the British Medical Journal. By the time of World War II, its effects were so well known that the oil was standard issue in the first-aid kits of Aussie armed forces. North America paid little attention. It was busy developing other medications – anti-virals, anti-bacterials, anti-inflammatories, antiseptics and anti-fungals. Tea tree does all of these without unpleasant side effects. “It’s non-toxic and non-irritating so it becomes a very good choice to use,” Ingram says. “If you swallow it, it’s not going to kill you, but you could have problems like a burning sensation. It should normally be used for external purposes.”
And besides, it’s not like you’ll ever run out of external uses. The book lists many different uses –ranging from bad breath, cold sores, and dandruff – to the more serious: cold, flu, fever and tonsillitis.
Tea tree is an essential oil, containing from 100 to 200 organic chemicals. Quality tea tree oil has at least 30 per cent terpinen-4-ol (the healing property) and no more than 15 per cent cineole. Cheaper grades of tea tree will not be effective or will irritate the skin. Best to do a patch test before using it for the first time. And if there’s nothing ailing you, tea tree oil is also used for aromatherapy. “You could put 10 drops into your bath and have a soothing relaxation bath” Ingram says.
First Aid Handbook
Children suffer from a milieu of infections in their young years and ear infections are one of the most common. It is a painful ailment for the child causing them to have earaches, lethargy and fevers. Usually ear infections are treated with antibiotics. However, many children suffer from repeated ear infections and it is unhealthy to use antibiotics that regularly. Tea tree oil is a natural alternative to antibiotics for healing ear infections.
Tea tree oil has become a popular substitute for synthetic disinfectants and medical antibiotics. Though the oil can be found in a multitude of household products from bathroom cleanser to soap and shampoo to air freshener, its ability to help heal ear infections in children should not be overlooked.
Ear Infections are a common childhood condition. It occurs when liquid that is trapped in the ear becomes stagnant and infected with bacteria. Though a round of antibiotics usually clears the infection, many parents are now concerned with the overuse of antibiotics, especially in the case of ear infections. Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Handbook recommends trying this remedy for your child’s next ear infection: · Warm 5 drops of tea tree oil with a teaspoon of olive oil. Trickle a small amount in ear. Apply as needed.
Tea tree oil is from the leaves of an Australian tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) from the Myrtaceae family. Used by Australia’s aboriginal people, its disinfectant quality was noted by the Western world as early as 1770 during Captain Cook’s first journey to Australia. Throughout the 1900s, the tea tree was only found near Lismore, Australia. Now, with tea tree oil’s healing powers so well known farmers and manufacturers harvest the tree across Australia and California. While tea tree oil is readily available it is important to look for a good quality oil. Quality tea tree oil has at least 30% terpinen-4-ol (the healing property) and no more than 15% cineole.
Why tea tree oil for Childhood Ailments?
Tea tree oil is antifungal – good for athlete’s foot, ringworm and thrush
Tea tree oil is antiseptic – good for burns, cuts, insect bites and wounds
Tea tree oil is antiviral – helps fight colds, flu, warts, chicken pox and measles
Tea tree oil is an insecticide – good for scabies, lice, and mosquitoes
Highlights of The Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Handbook
· Different methods of using tea tree oil
· A – Z conditions tea tree oil helps
· Uses for beauty and hygiene, household cleaning, and plant or pet care
Other Typical Childhood Ailments:
Everyone knows children get sick…and too often. Schools, daycares, playgrounds and community centres are feeding grounds for bacteria. With that kind of exposure, it is no wonder that kids become infected with both bacterial and viral infections on a fairly regular basis. Before you rush out to your local pharmacy to grab a bottle of disinfectant spray or cold medication, consider the all-natural and highly regarded essential oil from the tea tree.
Colds:
· Viral infection that can cause sneezing, coughing, runny nose, congestion, fever, ache and pains.
· Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer for inhaling.
· A small handkerchief sprinkled with tea tree oil under child’s pillow may help as well
· Preventive: wash hands with tea tree oil soap
Cradle Cap:
· Dermatitis of a newborn, usually appearing on scalp, face, and head. Thick, yellowish-crusted lesions will develop on the scalp and scaling will appear behind ears.
· Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil with 2 tbsp. Olive oil; rub into scalp, leave for 5 minutes; wash and rinse. Use a tea tree oil shampoo mixture, being careful to keep out of child’s eyes.
Cuts and abrasions:
· Clean area well, wash with tea tree oil soap. Apply a few drops of pure tea tree/lavender oil to area with a dab of aloe vera gel. Apply twice daily.
The Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Handbook is your essential guide to discovering the power of Tea tree oil and the multitude of ways it can help you now. It is available at you local health food store.
A Safe Alternative Treatment for Head Lice
By Cynthia Olsen
Author of The Tea Tree Oil Handbook
Published in October 2000 alive magazine
What are Lice?
One of the most common breakouts to occur for over 12 million children heading back to school after summer vacation is head lice Pediculus humanus capitus. Head lice are wingless insects 2-4 mm in size which spend their entire lives on human heads; fact being that they can not survive if they are removed from the head for over fifty hours. These little insects resemble six legged grains of rice often grayish white or reddish brown in color. The females lay 80 to 100 eggs (nits) within their lifetime. The nits are glued tightly to the hair close to the scalp. Ninety percent of the nits hatch within 7-11 days and mature 8 to 9 days later. New adults live 22 days, laying the next generation of eggs. Lice cannot hop or jump but are able to crawl onto clothing or nearby surfaces.
Contrary to modern myth, children who contact lice have absolutely nothing to do with life style, being rich or poor or having dirty hair. In fact, lice seem to gravitate toward hair that is cleaner.
Life infestation is easily spread. Scratching spreads the lice to hands and under fingernails. Poor hygiene then spreads and contaminates various parts of the body setting up secondary infection and the louse is consequently spread to other children through physical contact with each other. Borrowing combs, brushes, sharing pillows, towels or other linens can spread the lice. They cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. Lice seem to gravitate toward females between the ages of 3 to 10 and prefer children with longer hair. Studies have shown that lice rarely afflict African Americans.
Symptoms
· Excessive head scratching back of head and around ears
· Scalp inflammation
· Black fecal specks on back, shoulders and pillows.
· Rash on scalp
Chemical Treatments
Children are at higher health risks and reactions to chemicals partly because their body organs are still developing and their body weight is lower. Chemicals are transmitted through their scalps and enter the blood system, which may cause adverse reactions. Parents buy over the counter and prescribed lice products that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) giving false impressions that these products are deemed safe to use without adverse side effects. According to the World Resources Institute “..provides disturbing evidence that exposure to many common pesticides damage the human immune system, weakening the body’s resistance to infectious diseases and certain cancers. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of pesticides on their immune systems…”
Common over the counter lice treatments contain one or more of the following chemicals.
Pyrethrin- although the origin comes from the Chrysanthemum flower, do not be fooled. Pyrethrins have been banned from agricultural use as a pesticide. Side effects include asthma, respiratory failure, pneumonia, vomiting and muscle paralysis.
Malathion: high heat eradicates the nits and lice, but use of this chemical may cause a dangerous hazard due to the fact that it is highly flammable. Side effects include neurotoxins, dizziness, headaches, and numbness in extremities just to name a few.
Lindane: This chemical has been a popular head lice treatment. It has been banned in over 10 countries and in California in pest animal treatments. “ A single treatment of head lice or scabies with Landane pollutes 6 million gallons of water.” (District of Los Angeles website).
Permethrin: Side effects include vomiting, respiratory failure, pneumonia and asthma.
According to a US lice study performed by school nurses in Massachusetts and Idaho, “Our sample of United States lice was biased towards those taken from children who have already been exposed to pediculicides. Permethrin is a synthesized pyrethroid chemical formulation. Therefore, what we have shown is that if an over-the counter preparation doesn’t end an infestation, then additional treatments with the same product or higher concentrations of the same active ingredient won’t help either.”
A safe alternative treatment using Australian Tea Tree Oil Melaleuca alternifolia
A natural proved antiseptic and bactericide, which originates from the New South Wales Australia region. The leaves from the trees are steamed distilled and produce an aromatic pungent essential oil, which has been used topically for medicinal first aid purposes for over 80 years.
Since lice are easily transmitted between people, all personal clothing, hats, bed linens, towels and stuffed animals should be washed in hot water and dried on hot cycle for 20 minutes. Articles that can not be washed should be dry cleaned and sealed in plastic bags for 2 weeks. Disinfect hair combs and brushes by soaking in hot water (above 130 F) and Tremenda 15% tea tree oil solution for 10 minutes. Vacuum all home areas thoroughly.
Treemenda Lice Stop Kit
1.Use on dry hair
2.Shake Lice Stop conditioning solution well before using
3.Lightly massage half the contents of bottle (30-40 ml) into hair
Apply enough Lice Stop shampoo to saturate hair and scalp. Place enclosed protective scalp cap on to head to cover hair
4.Leave on for 10-15 minutes
5.Remove cap and rinse hair and scalp thoroughly with water and dry with towel.
6.To remove lice eggs ( nits)
Comb wet hair with regular comb to remove tangles. Do not re use this comb prior to cleaning. Separate ½ “ section of hair and using enclosed Lice Stop nit comb tilt toward scalp;comb hair from scalp to ends. Repeat several times on each section of hair until entire head has been combed. Use brush to remove lice and nits from nit comb, and use enclosed Lice Stop magnifying glass and tweezers to ensure all lice and nits are removed.
Repeat treatment 7-10 days later, following steps 1-6.
HAVE YOUR KIDS BEEN SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS IN FRUSTRATION?
Would you consider using bug spray???
If lice have been a problem in your household lately you’re not alone. At any given time there are approximately 81 765 elementary school-aged children infested in Canada.1 These tiny wingless parasites are getting to epidemic proportions and the trouble is that too many parents innocently treat their children for lice without being fully aware that lice-killing products are actually pesticides and not necessarily effective.
Close your eyes for a second and imagine spraying a mist of bug spray over your child’s head. Why not? It probably contains permethrin, the same ingredient found in popular lice treatments. So while this image may sound disturbing it is essentially what you are doing when you use many of the over-the-counter lice and egg removal kits that are available today.
Permethrin, the toxin of choice, has been shown to be losing its effectiveness. A recent study published in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 66, 130-143, 2000, examined the level of permethrin resistance in human head and body louse (lice) populations and confirmed that there is a lice resistance to permethrin. In another study by the Harvard School of Public Health it was concluded that permethrin did not affect head lice from chronically infested children who had previously been treated for head lice. The study also determined that lice that are resistant to permethrin at low doses are generally resistant to high doses as well.2
Why take the risks of using a pesticide on your child when there is a safe natural inexpensive alternative - Tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil is widely recognized in Australia as a very effective anti-bacterial, antifungal and antiseptic agent. Tea tree oil's overall effectiveness has been evaluated by many different organizations, among them the Australian Journal of Pharmacy. Their evaluation concludes that "tea tree oil is safe, easily accessible, and its side effects profile is superior to most products”
Tea tree oil has a complex chemical composition that makes it difficult for organisms to develop resistance to it. Belonging to the same family of plants as the eucalyptus tree, the Melaleuca alternifolia or tea tree contains a major component - terpinen-4-ol - which research shows has a high solvent action that attacks mature lice and dislodges them from the scalp. The result is a high mortality rate after the first application.
Treemenda Lice Stop is an all-natural lice and egg removal system that contains no harmful pesticides. It uses a liquid Tea Tree Conditioning Solution in conjunction with a unique metal pin lice comb to help rid a child or adult of lice and their eggs. So the next time you are contemplating putting a pesticide onto your child’s head why not give Treemenda Lice Stop a try. In fact in clinical studies Lice Stop’s metal comb and Tea Tree Conditioning Solution both proved to be 100% effective in killing lice and nits.
Treemenda Therapeutics is a line of quality Tea Tree Oil products. The Australian standard requires a terpinen-4-ol of greater than 30 percent. The Treemenda Therapeutic line has at least 40 percent terpinen-4-ol making the products more therapeutic and effective.
For quality Tea Tree Oil just look for the Koala-T-Bear symbol of approval.
References:
1. “Head to Head with Lice”, University of British Columbia, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology and Statistics Canada
2. “Differential Permethrin Susceptibility of Head Lice Sampled in the United States and Borneo”, Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 1999;153:969-973