2341091 ",Hair Care" This invention relates to hair care, and more

particularly to a method of and formulations for treating head-lice.

Headlice have always been a problem in human communities, their incidence rising and declining in 40 to year cycles, and there is currently an epidemic. For safety reasons, treatment involving pesticides, which have in the past been used extensIvely for this purpose, is no longer officially recommended.

The object of the present invention is to provide an effective method for the treatment of head-lice using natural-based formulations.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of to the hair and scalp 15 treating head-lice involves applying t a formulation including tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil in combination.

Preferably, the method comprises the successive use of a shampoo formulation, next a conditioner -formulation and 20 then a treatment oil formulation wherein at least the - oil formulation includes all three of said treatment essential oils in combination. Preferably, also, all three of said formulations include all three of said essential oils in combination. 25 Preferably, the method comprises applying the shampoo formulation at least once, rinsing the hair, applying the conditioner formulation without then rinsing the hair, 2 applying the treatment oil formulation, and leaving it on the hair for a period of 30 to 45 minutes before finally rinsing the hair.

Preferably, also, the method comprises leaving the shampoo formulation on the hair for one to two minutes before rinsing the hair.

Preferably, the method comprises placing a closefitting cap on the head throughout the period that the treatment oil formulation is left on the hair.

Preferably, also, the method comprises corrdDing the hair thoroughly with a finetoothed comb before finally rinsing the hair.

According to another aspect of the invention, a shampoo or conditioner formulation for use in any of the methods set out in the preceding seven paragraphs comprises a se-LectLon of active ingredients including a selection of essential oils which includes tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil, said selection of essential oils falling within a range of 0.5 to 10.0 per cent by weight of the formulation.

The selection of essential oils preferably includes also one, some or all of peppermint essential oil, rosemary essential oil and West Indian bay essential oil.

Preferably, the selection of active ingredients includes also a selection of other constituents including one, some or all of PEG40 hydrogenated castor oil, sulphur, thyme extract, ichthammoll, thyme oil and salicylic 3 acid, said selection of other constituents falling within a range of 0.5 to 10.0 per cent by weight of the formulation.

The selection of active ingredients preferably includes also a selection of extracts including one, some or all of sage extract, arnica extract, birch bark extract, camomile extract, yarrow extract and calendula extract, said selection of extracts falling within a range of 0.1 to 5.0 per cent by weight of the formulation.

Preferably, a shampoo formulation comprises also a selection of conventional shampoo ingredients and a selection of conventional conditioner ingredients.

A conditioner formulation preferably comprises also a selection of conventional conditioner ingredients.

Preferably, a treatment oil formulation for use in any of the methods hereinbefore set out comprises a selection of active ingredients including a selection of essential oils consisting of tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil, said selection of essential oils falling within a range of 2.0 to 50.0 per cent by weight of the formulation.

The selection of active ingredients in the treatment oil formulation preferably includes also a selection of extracts including one, sore or all of sage extract, horsetail extract, stinging nettle extract, varrow extract and neem extract, said selection of extracts falling within a range of 0. 5 to 8.0 per cent by weight of said formulation.

4 Preferably, the treatment oil formulation comprises also a selection of conventional carrier oils.

The tea tree essential oil, the lavender essential oil and the eucalyptus essential oil are preferably used 5 substantially in the ratio 20:3:1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is described by way of example, a shampoo formulation consists of:

1. Shampooing ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate, Cocoamidopropyl Betain, Coconut Diethanolamide (and) Glycerine, Propylene Glycol (and) DMM Hydantoin (and) Methylparaben (and) Propylparaben, Citric Acid.

2. Conditioning ingredients:

Adipic Acid/D-ime+lhyl-An.-4nohydroxy, Propyl Diethylenetriamine Copolymer, Polyquat.

Wheatgermamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydrolised Wheat Protein, Prc-Vitamin B5.

3. Active ingredients:

(A) Essential Oils:

Tea tree essential oil Lavender. essential oil Eucalyptus essential oil Peppermint essential oil Rosemary essential oil West Indian bay essential oil (B) Other constituents:

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (and) Sulphur Thyme Extract (and) Ichthammol (and) Thyme Oil (and) Salicylic Acid (C) Extracts:

Sage Extract (and) Arnica Extract (and) Birch Bark Extract (and) Camomile Extract (and) Yarrow Extract (and', 1.5 Calendula Extract.

The shampooing and conditioning ingredients listed above are conventional. The selection of essential oils listed above falls within a range of 0.5 to 10.0, and is preferably 2.5, per cent by weight of the shampoo formulation; the selection of other constituents listed above falls within a range of 0.5 to 10.0, and is preferably 2.5, per cent by weight of the shampoo formulation; and the selection of extracts listed above falls within a range of 0.1 to 5.0, and is preferably 1.0, per cent by weight of the shampoo formulation. A conditioner formulation consists of 1. Conditioning ingredients--- 6 Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Methylparaben, Citric Acid 2. Additional conditioning ingredients:Polyquaternium-11, ProVitamin B5, Avocado oil, Amodimethicone (and) Tallowtrimonium Chloride (and) Nonoxynol-10, Polyquaternium-22, Wheatgermamidopropyl Dimethylamine, is Hydrolised Wheat Protein 3. Actve ingredients:(A) Essential. Oils:

Tea tree essential oil Lavender essential oil Eucalyptus essential oil Peppermint essential oil Rosemary essential oil West Indian bay essential oil (B) Other Constituents:

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor oil (and) Sulphur Thyme Extract (and) Iclitharinol (and) Thyme Oil (and) Salicylic Acid, 7 (C) Extracts:

Sage Extract kland) Arnica Extract (and) Birch Bark Extract (and) Camomile Extract (and) Yarrow Extract (and) Calendula Extract.

T -s Lhe conditioning and additional conditioning ingredient listed above are conventional. The percentage ranges and preferred percentages of essential oils, other constituents and extracts are the same as those set out above in respect of the shampoo formulation.

A treatment oil formulation consists of:- 1 r, 1. Carrier oils:Sweet Almond Oil Grape Seed Oil Olive Oil Neem Oil 2. Act-'ve ingredients:- (A) Essential oils:

Tea tree essential oil Lavender essential oil Eucalyptus essential oil (B) Extracts:

Sage extract Horsetail extract 8 Stinging nettle extract Yarrow extract Neem extract The selection of essential oils listed above falis within a range of 2.0 to 50.0, and is preferably 24.0, per cent by weight of the treatment oil formulation; and the selection o'r: extracts listed above falls within a range 0.5 to 8.0, and is preferably 2.0, per cent by weight of the treatment oil formulation.

In all three of the aforesaid formulations, the tea tree essential oil, the lavender essential oil and the eucalyptus essential oil are used substantially in the ratio 20:3:1. We have found that these three essential oils when used in combination have an unexpected and significant synergistic effect in the treatment of head- lice, that is to say their combined effect is appreciably greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Furthermore, there is a second-stage synergistic effect involving other active ingred.

ients of the formulations.

The method of treatment is as follows:

The hair is shampooed at least once and preferably twice in succession, each time using approximately 5 4tre3 of the shampoo formulation for short hair or 10 millil. millilitres thereof for long hair. Said formulation is massaged well into the scalp using the finger-tips, paying particular attention to the nape of the neck and behind the ears. The final shampoo is left on the hair for one to two 9 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm, not hot, water and then lightly towelling the hair until it is almost dry. The conditioner formulation is then applied to the freshly cleansed damp hair, using approximately 5 millilitres of the conditioner formulation for-short hair or 10 millilitres thereof for long hair. Said formulation is massaged Into the scalp gently but thoroughly, and the hair is combed through using a large-toothed comb. The conditioner formulation is not rinsed out, but is left on the hairr. The treatment oil formulation is then applied directly to the scalp, using a droplet bottle, on top of the conditioner formulation previously applied. Approximately -1 millilitres of treatment oil formulation is used, or a little less for short hair, again massaging gently but thoroughly into the scalp particularly at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. After massaging, a plastics cap is fitted closely over the hair using a clip or tie. This retains heat which intensifies the treatment, and helps to prevent drippj4ng down the face. The treatment oil formu,lation and the cap are left on for a period of 30 minutes for short hair and up to 45 minutes for long hair. After removing the cap the hair is combed through repeatedly using a fine-toothed comb, all residue being wiped from the comb onto a clean tissue and destroyed.

After combing, the hair is rinsed thoroughly using warm, not hot, water.

The formulation specified above, when used in accordance with the method described, effectively remove head-lice and their eggs from the hair and scalp, and have a residual repellency effect which provides a degree of resistance to re-infection. It is an important feature of,-he invention that the treatment oil formulation is applied last, after shampooing and conditioning. If the hair is clear of head-lice and continued repellency is desired, the treatment oil formulation can be left on the hair for considerably less than 30 minutes. The treatment is safe even on very young and old people. It is also a comprehensive treatment for other hair and scalp problems.

In one modification, only the treatment oil formulation includes tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil in combination. In another modification, only the conditioner formulation and the treatment oil. formulation include said essential&. oils in combination. in a further modification, the cap is dispensed with.

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