Not Back to School Yet, and Already Itching? Natural Remedies for Lice
Kids haven’t even returned to school fully, and they’re scratching their heads? Here’s a recommended natural solution, along with its downsides and who it may not suit.
(Photo: shutterstock)"I can't believe we just went back to school, and my daughter already came home scratching her head. I dealt with cleaning out her head during the summer vacation, and I thought it was all behind me," wrote a desperate mother on social media, and she's not alone.
Many mothers complain at some point during the school year about this phenomenon, and the question is what can be done and is there a natural solution for lice? The answer is yes, but with a slight caveat. "Rosemary oil, that's what saved me from unreasonable amounts of lice," writes a woman named Hila Twitto, alongside a picture of her daughter's long and luscious hair. "Today, I don't even know what lice are, and you can imagine what it's like to clean hair that long. In one word – nightmare."
How effective is rosemary oil in actually killing lice?
Contrary to popular belief that it kills lice, experts say it is more focused on prevention. If you apply it to the scalp and massage it well before leaving the house, while maintaining hygiene and daily combing – it will work. "Unlike what they tell you, which is to put drops behind the ears and the nape, that’s not at all true," writes Twitto about what worked for her. "That won't prevent lice. What you need to do is drip 5-6 drops on your hand, and if it's long hair, at least 10 drops. Rub your hands well and apply from scalp to tip. Then tie the hair in a braid or ponytail, and you can say goodbye to lice."
Another slightly different method from what Twitto suggested is to steep 50 grams of rosemary in a liter of boiling water, wait about 15 minutes, then strain and cool. Once the mixture cools, wash and massage the clean scalp with it after shampooing.
Who should avoid using rosemary oil?
- Epilepsy patients
- Pregnant women
- People with high blood pressure
Risks of using the oil and other aromatic oils:
- Skin irritations caused by a high level of compounds released all at once, such as phenols, aldehydes, and monoterpenes.
- Sensitivity to phytochemicals found in aromatic oils.
- If the oil is expired or made from bad parts of the plant – it can potentially cause toxicity. Therefore, pay attention to the expiration date and ensure the product is approved by the health ministry.
