Killing Head Lice with OTC Products … Should I?

Personally, my question to parents is this: Why subject your innocent child to toxins when safe, alternative methods are known to work, some even better?

So, the answer to this question for me is a thunderous "No!"

Most people act impulsively and grab the first thing they see in the drugstore, which is usually Nix, Rid, Clear, Pronto, Elimite, or some other commercial product.

I say, please don't do this-at least not until you learn for yourself exactly what the profit mongers are pushing. Yes, they do still kill some head lice-although the lice have become immune to some of them over time.

But think of the question this way: Arsenic will also kill the lice as well, but would you give that to your child just because it would kill all the lice and their eggs? The obvious answer also should be the way you respond to these other poisonous substances, because these OTC products contain multifarious toxic ingredients, such as formaldehyde (yes!), propylene glycol (an antifreeze additive!), and other such harmful stuff.

For example, Permethrin 1 percent contains some known carcinogens, and you can read about it yourself at http://tinyurl.com/36qty.

Permethrin is in Rid, Nix, Acticin, Elimite, and LyClear, that I know of.

Another frequently used toxin in these commonly used products is Pyrethrin, which is known to have caused these symptoms in humans: Itching and burning, swelling and flushing of the face, convulsions and tremors, nausea, headache, sneezing and stuffiness, asthmatic-like breathing difficulties, and lack of coordination. Also, those allergic to chrysanthemums should avoid this insecticide chemical as well.

Read more about Pyrethrin at http://tinyurl.com/2agq5ru.

Should you decide to consult a medical doctor to assist in getting rid of head lice, whatever you do, I recommend that you do NOT use Lindane on your child. It is some bad stuff, that can attack the nervous system, the liver, and the kidneys, not to mention that it may well be a carcinogen!

Why doctors insist on doling out these poisons is beyond me, unless there is a profit motive involved somewhere, because there are so many other non-toxic solutions available.

Doctors refer to this type of drug as pediculicides, and all of them with which I am familiar require one to three applications to solve the problem-and you still have to do the nit combing … no getting around that!

Medical doctors do have a neat little instrument called a "Woods Light" that positively identifies the nits on the hair by showing them up as pale blue, so that is how they distinguish the little buggers from dandruff.

So, bottom line as to whether or not to go with OTC products, my hearty recommendation is a resounding "Don't do it!"


Diana Lodge has become an unofficial expert in the subject of head lice ... how to identify them, how to treat them, and most importantly, how to get rid of them for good, both from your head and your home! Although Diana has crafted a free mini-course for you, which you can get at http://wipeoutheadlice.com/head_lice_removal. In addition, Diana also has written a comprehensive e-book covering just about anything and everything you ever wanted to know about head lice, including the what's and how-to's using home remedies that work ... and that won't cost you big bucks. See http://wipeoutheadlice.com/lsl.html.