Home Herbal Remedies for Treating & Repelling Lice

Head lice are small, warm-blooded wingless insects found on the human scalp. They have six legs and a set of claws, which help them to cling and crawl through human hair. Lice survive by feeding on their human host, piercing the scalp with their mouthpart to draw out the blood. The infestation of lice is known as Pediculosis. Eggs of lice are known as nits and are small, yellowish-white and oval in shape. Head lice spread when one comes into contact with an already infected person or by sharing infested clothing and items. Lice can be irritating and annoying, but treatable with the following herbal home remedies.

Sweet Flag

• Traditionally, the aromatic root of this plant is pounded into a powder, then made into a poultice or paste and rubbed directly on affected areas. However, because of its hallucinogenic effects when taken in large quantities, it has been banned in the United States. Other countries still grow and use it.

Tea Tree Oil

• Tea Tree oil naturally kills lice. Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. Apply the oil to the hair overnight and wash it off the next morning. Ten to fifteen drops of tea tree oil can be added into shampoo and used to wash hair.

Neem and Tumeric

• Turmeric, a kind of spice, and Neem, a large oak-like tree, both have oil in their leaves and seeds that eliminate insect pests. In a study conducted in India, the use of Neem and turmeric was found to be 98-percent effective in treating lice. Wet the hair of the infected person, apply Turmeric powder mixed with Neem oil, comb thoroughly and wash out. Alternatively, you can find Neem oil in ready-made shampoo.

Almond and Lime Juice

• Take about eight to 10 almonds and grind them into paste. Add two to three tsp. of lime juice. Apply this to the scalp and leave for half an hour, then comb and rinse thoroughly to eliminate lice.

Quassia

• The parts of this plant are used as a nit treatment in many parts of the world. To get rid of lice and nits, boil the wood chips in water for about 20 minutes, drain and use the water as a final rinse when washing the hair.