Neem v. Lice, Midges and Mosquitoes
The Truth about Head Lice
A head louse is a tiny insect that clings to the hair and sucks blood from the scalp causing itching and irritation. Parents not only worry about their children catching head lice, but also about the treatment! Conventional treatments contain neurotoxins including the groups of insecticides known as pyrethroids and organophosphates. There has been recent concern over the potential long term harm to the nervous system, particularly in young children. Herbal preparations seem an attractive alternative, offering protection without the side effects. However, there has been very little research to confirm this.
Extracts from the Neem Tree may offer a more reliable alternative. Dr Mary Tatner and Mari Dudgeon of the University of Glasgow recently investigated the prevalence of head lice in school children, and the effectiveness of Neem Seed extract in treating lice. School nurses examined the heads of 581 children in 6 Glasgow schools, and found that more than 1 in 20 children had head lice. The researchers then tested Neem Seed extract in the laboratory and found that it killed 90% of the lice in 22 hours. This means that parents using a shampoo containing Neem Seed extract are likely to see a result within a day.
Myth |
The Truth |
Only children with dirty hair get head lice. |
Head lice prefer clean hair – anyone can get head lice. |
Head lice fly from person to person. |
Head lice don’t have wings and can’t fly. They walk from head to head when heads are touching. |
Using a shampoo can prevent head lice. |
Shampoos and lotions will not stop your child from getting head lice. The best prevention and detection methods are regular fine tooth combing. |
The first sign of head lice is an itchy scalp. |
Only about one in five people with head lice suffer with an itchy scalp. Regularly checking the scalp is the best way to see if your child has head lice. You may also notice the eggs of headlice, known as nits, which are white and glued to the hair. |
Midge Control
You are on holiday in the Scottish Highlands, it’s late afternoon and you fancy a quiet walk to enjoy the scenery. You are not long out when the sky darkens and you find you have attracted your own cloud, except this one doesn’t rain, it bites! An unnerving sensation. The Highland midge may only be 1.4mm long, but en masse they can be very intimidating and their bites cause itchy inflamed lumps which can last several days.
But it’s not just in Scotland that a visit can be marred by biting insects. Most holiday destinations have their share, and the mosquitoes which infest many areas of the world can carry harmful diseases such as malaria.
How do you avoid being bitten?
Protective clothing is not much fun to wear if you are on holiday, so most people rely on repellent sprays, lotions or wipes. The scent of a repellent masks the odours given off in the perspiration that midges and mosquitoes use to find their victims, so the insects cannot locate them.
Most conventional repellents contain an unpleasant substance called DEET, which has a strong smell and can dissolve some plastics and fabrics, so it is not surprising that many people are increasingly looking to natural repellents. In a recent survey of 2000 people in Scotland, almost a quarter currently used herbal-based repellents. While many plant oils, such as eucalyptus and citronella (an extract of lemon grass), are known to repel insects, few natural repellents have been subject to scientific research. However, recent research has shown that oil from the Neem tree is a powerful repellent for midges and mosquitoes.
Nicole, a keen walker, used Neem Insect Repellent on a recent hike on Goatfell, Arran: ‘It was very effective at keeping midges away, more so than the products being used by the other members of the group I was with. Its aroma was very pleasant, smelling natural unlike other formulas I have used. Its small spray bottle meant that it was easy to apply and convenient to carry’. .’
This herbal repellent, containing a blend of cold pressed Neem oil and the essential oils, Bergamot, Rosemary and Eucalyptus, was developed from research at the Scottish Agricultural College and Edinburgh University on the Highland midge.
Bookmark and share this page.