4 Vinegar-based Remedies To Fight Lice Naturally
Do you want to know how you can fight lice with vinegar? These insects tend to appear often in childhood. In fact, when she has a child, she almost inevitably begins to infect all her schoolmates. For this reason it is essential to take preventive measures and have some natural and homemade solutions at hand.
In this article we share with you some vinegar-based folk remedies that were used in the past to fight lice, in the absence of specific chemicals. Vinegar must be combined with other proven ingredients, such as rosemary, tea tree essential oil, garlic, eucalyptus, anise and coconut oil.
I have lice!
Head lice are a frequent problem at school, due to the rapid and easy contagion between children that occurs through physical contact. These tiny parasites settle on the scalp and feed on our blood causing noticeable itching. Therefore, if there are any children with lice at school, prevention is essential.
As numerous researchers from the University of Frankfurt (Germany) rightly point out, there are numerous products and shampoos specifically designed to combat lice on the market. However, it is important to seek medical attention and remember that the most effective natural solution is to brush your hair regularly.
Folk remedies based on vinegar to combat lice
The basis of these remedies is vinegar, a product that is widely used to alleviate health problems, as well as in beauty treatments, house cleaning, etc. Some people believe that one of its possible benefits is to prevent nits (louse eggs) from adhering to the hair.
Numerous researchers from the University of Arizona explain that vinegar acts as a disinfectant and reduces the pH. For this reason, it was thought that, perhaps, it could also be useful for eliminating these annoying insects.
Nonetheless, research published in 2004 by the Revista de Enfermería Pediátrica showed that getting rid of lice with these remedies is actually quite difficult. In fact, contrary to what was expected, it was petroleum jelly that gave the best results.
For this reason, the information provided here is only indicative and it is therefore necessary to contact a professional, able to exclude the possible presence of any type of problem. Having said that, in the following lines we present some remedies that in the past were used to fight lice, mixed with natural ingredients and whose effectiveness has been verified.
1. Rosemary vinegar to fight lice
The most common and traditional remedy is certainly rosemary vinegar. Its effectiveness in eliminating lice was demonstrated by this study published in 2004 by the Journal of Medicine Entomology.
In addition, you can prepare it yourself by macerating this aromatic plant with antiseptic properties. In this way it will be ready when needed.
Ingredients
- 2 glasses of vinegar (400 ml).
- 2 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Preparation
- Pour the vinegar and rosemary into a glass jar.
- Close well and leave to macerate for a month.
- After this period, the product is ready for use.
2. Vinegar with tea tree
An excellent product that can never be missing from our natural medicines is undoubtedly tea tree oil, also called tea tree oil. As promising research conducted at an Italian university has shown, this essential oil helps to effectively fight lice.
This is why it is also a perfect ingredient to add to normal shampoo, as a preventive measure, while it is an effective and instant remedy when added to vinegar. The only thing to keep in mind is that it has a very strong and distinctive smell.
Ingredients
- A glass of vinegar (200 ml).
- 10 drops of tea tree essential oil.
Preparation
- Mix both ingredients in a nebulizer bottle.
- Shake well before using.
3. Vinegar, garlic and eucalyptus
Another ingredient that seems to work is garlic, because it works by killing bacteria naturally. Both for its components and its pungent odor, garlic is believed to be an excellent lice repellent. In addition, it has the advantage of being in any kitchen.
In this case we will add eucalyptus essential oil to give the remedy a more pleasant smell and, at the same time, enhance its effects.
Ingredients
- A glass of vinegar (200 ml).
- A clove of garlic.
- 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
Preparation
- Blend the vinegar and garlic.
- Filter the preparation, place it in a container and add the essential oil.
- Shake before using.
4. Vinegar, coconut oil and anise to fight lice
To prepare this home remedies we propose to mix vinegar with coconut oil and anise, as described in this experiment published in 2009 by the European Journal of Pediatrics .
This combination is expected to be 90% effective. Furthermore, this vegetable oil (increasingly popular, thanks to its multiple properties) has the virtue of protecting the scalp, while keeping the hair hydrated.
Ingredients
- A glass of vinegar (200 ml).
- 2 tablespoons of aniseed mixed with water.
- ½ glass of extra virgin coconut oil (100 ml).
Preparation
- Pour both ingredients into a bottle. It is important to keep in mind that coconut oil solidifies from 23 ° C.
- Mix well and shake before use.
Get rid of lice naturally
Thanks to these remedies based on natural products, attempts were made in the past to fight these parasites without resorting to chemicals. However, as you have seen, it has not yet been possible to prove the effectiveness of the vinegar.
For this reason, to avoid any irritation and other hair problems, consult a specialist. Also, if you think vinegar can be aggressive, use the other ingredients separately.
