Neem Oil to Prevent Lice Infestation
Neem oil is the cold pressed oil of the seed from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, native to the Indian subcontinent. Neem oil is extremely bitter and aromatic and is known to repel insects and pests and is now gaining popularity as a natural way to prevent lice infestations. Neem oil has been the subject of several scientific studies on its anti-parasitic properties and has been found to be one of nature's most potent insect repellents.
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History
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Neem oil has been used for centuries in the traditional Indian system of medicine known as Ayurveda as a cure-all for skin diseases. Neem oil is now used as a natural pesticide and insect deterrent in agriculture and a variety of personal hygiene products including lice control. Neem is also traditionally used as a tooth cleansing agent, an acne soap and internally for parasitic diseases like malaria.
Effects
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According to a Neem Fact Sheet published by Cornell University, neem oil has a broad spectrum of activity against insects. The oil contains a compound called azadirachtin that inhibits the growing stage of young insects and larvae as well as repels adult insects. Neem oil is also antifungal and has a low toxicity level in mammals.
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Function
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On human head lice neem oil seems to be not only repellent but lethal. In a study published in May 2006 in the journal Parasitology Research, Egyptian scientists applied neem shampoo to the heads of 60 lice-infected people. The neem shampoo appeared to be highly effective against lice in all stages of growth and was well tolerated with no side effects.
Significance
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Most lice infestations are now treated with synthetic chemical formulas that not only have potential side effects but also lose effectiveness as lice populations develop resistance. In a study published in Parasitology Research, researchers compared neem shampoo against the chemical lice treatment permethrin. They found that neem shampoo was more effective than permethrin at killing lice and speculated that plant-based louse control products will eventually replace chemical products.
Considerations
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Neem oil does have a strong smell similar to garlic and is hard to wash out of clothes or bedding. If neem oil is used to prevent lice infestations on a regular basis, be ready to smell like the mighty neem tree.
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