Neem to Treat Lice

An estimated six to 12 million head-lice infestations occur each year in the United States among children three to 11 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past, children were so stigmatized by a diagnosis of lice that they and their parents often resorted to drastic measures, such as shaving the child's head or using gasoline, kerosene or other dangerous folk remedies. Fortunately, cases of head lice today can be easily treated with oil from a tree native to India--Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem.

Background

Symptoms of a head lice infestation include a tickling feeling or something moving on the scalp, itching, irritability and difficulty sleeping. The presence of lice isn't a sign of a lack of poor hygiene; lice are passed along by sharing personal belongings, such as hats or hairbrushes.

History

Neem oil has been part of traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and was referred to in ancient Indian texts as "the curer of all ailments." The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been studying neem since 1972 and the Environmental Protection Agency has approved neem products for insecticidal use. Neem has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic and antiparasitic properties, one reason it's now widely used in many toiletries and skin-care products.

Effectiveness

The Cornell University Pesticide Information Project reports the key insecticidal ingredient found in the neem tree is azadirachtin, which blocks the ability of insects to molt and stops them from feeding, thus breaking their life cycle. Depending on the stage of the life cycle, death should occur within several days.

Studies

In a study published in "Parasitology Research" in May 2006, Egyptian scientists treated 60 heavily lice-infested children aged four to 15 years and found that neem seed extract shampoo proved to be highly effective against all stages of head lice. A separate "Parasitology Research" article, from a collaboration of researchers in Brazil and Australia, found that neem shampoo was more effective than the traditional chemical treatment, permethrin, at killing lice.

Cautions

Neem oil has an odor similar to garlic and may be difficult to wash out of fabrics. It can also aggravate asthma in some children. Neem should also not be used internally. Reports from India told of children who developed symptoms of Reye Syndrome after ingesting neem oil, although the effects were later found to be impurities in the neem oil and not the oil itself. Use a product that is aflatoxin-free.