Lice

Overview

Both Eucalyptus and American Pawpaw have limited evidence for lice, tested mainly in combination products across three studies. A eucalyptus-containing product reduced head lice egg hatching by only 3% but outperformed a pyrethrin treatment in children when applied once weekly for three weeks.

An American pawpaw shampoo cleared lice and eggs completely in a small study without a comparison group, making individual ingredient effects unclear. See the evidence reviews below for details.

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Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Eucalyptus	★★★★★	Low
American Pawpaw	★★★★★	Low

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Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

2 supplements for rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

EucalyptusView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Topical eucalyptus oil has only been tested together with other ingredients, so it is not clear how well it works by itself.
A product called MOOV Head Solution, containing 11% eucalyptus oil and 1% lemon tea tree oil, reduced head lice egg hatching by only 3%, which is less than other products tested.
However, in children, applying MOOV Head Solution once a week for 3 weeks was better at getting rid of lice than a common treatment using pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide once a week for 2 weeks.
After completing treatment, 71% of children treated with the eucalyptus product were lice-free compared with 33% treated with the standard product.

Browse 2 studies

RCTThe efficacy of Australian essential oils for the treatment of head lice infestation in children: A randomised controlled trial2017

In children with head lice, Australian eucalyptus plus Leptospermum oil applied three times cured 83% versus 36% with pyrethrin-piperonyl mousse; a single application achieved 100% pediculicidal activity in a follow-up trial.

Effect: Benefit
Population: Adults

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RCTAn ex vivo, assessor blind, randomised, parallel group, comparative efficacy trial of the ovicidal activity of three pediculicides after a single application--melaleuca oil and lavender oil, eucalyptus oil and lemon tea tree oil, and a "suffocation" pediculicide2011n=31

An ex vivo trial in head-lice egg carriers compared tea tree/lavender, eucalyptus/lemon tea tree, and suffocation pediculicides after one application, ranking ovicidal efficacy across hair types using pre- and post-treatment egg collections.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 14 days
Participants: 31

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American PawpawView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceLowTrustLow

Evidence Review

In a small study, a shampoo with American pawpaw extract, thymol, and tea tree oil cleared lice and their eggs completely when used three times over 16 days.
The study did not include a comparison group, so it's unclear which ingredient was responsible for this effect.
More research is needed to confirm if American pawpaw alone works for lice.

Browse 1 study

Clinical trialDevelopment of a paw paw herbal shampoo for the removal of head lice2012n=21

In a clinical trial of 21 head-lice cases, a paw paw herbal shampoo with 0.5% extract achieved 100% lice and nit removal after optimization of the formulation.

Effect: Benefit
Dose: 40 mL/day
Participants: 21

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Evidence visualised

Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.

Purchase-guidance distribution

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Effect-size distribution

How large the reported benefits tend to be

Study distribution across 2 supplements for lice (3 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Eucalyptus	★★★★★44%	2	0	67%
American Pawpaw	★★★★★40%	1	0	33%

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Overview

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