A real head scratcher - treatments for head lice - Answering Machine

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 1995 by Jeanne Rattenbury

THE STANDARD TREATMENT for head lice--prescription or over-the-counter shampoos--has come under fire for several reasons. The first is that many contain lindane, a known toxin, as an active ingredient. Lindane, which is manufactured with the raw materials of benzene and chlorine, has been associated with aplastic anemia, leukemia and other blood disorders, according to the National Pediculosis Association (NPA), a Boston-based health-education agency established to build awareness about head-lice prevention.

Since 1994, when it launched a national reporting registry, the NPA has received reports of more than 330 adverse reactions to various lice and scabies treatments, the most common of these reactions being associated with exposure to lindane: seizures, behavioral changes, neuromuscular complaints, attention-deficit disorder, chronic skin eruptions and even death. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also has received such reports (albeit not as many), but it continues to call lindane "safe and effective when used as directed." The other active ingredients commonly found in lice shampoos are pyretherin and permetherin, which although not as toxic as lindane, are still poisons; after all, they're there to kill bugs.

Proper use of lice shampoos dictates that they be applied no more than once every seven to 10 days--preferably only once in total. If they are used that infrequently, they probably don't present much of a health hazard, though some individuals can be particularly sensitive. The problem is, many parents don't use them correctly, and this may be directly related to a another growing complaint about lice shampoos: They aren't always effective. "We're getting more calls than ever in our 12-year history saying none of these products is working," says Linda Menditto, the NPA's administrative director. When the lice aren't eradicated as expected, some parents use the shampoos over and over again, unwittingly exposing their children to higher doses of poison.

Devotees of Rachel Carson won't be surprised to hear that chemicals used for decades to kill lice are becoming increasingly less effective. As Carson pointed out in her classic, Silent Spring, only the hardiest of insects survive chemical attack, and these are the ones that reproduce. The shampoos may not be any different from when they were first introduced, but the lice are.

There are several alternatives to these harsh shampoos. Linda Dyson, N.D., a Tacoma, Wash., physician specializing in women's and children's health, has several botanical treatments in her arsenal. (Remember, however, that even herbs can be toxic to children, and must be used with caution.) After washing your child's hair very well and rinsing with hot water, Dyson recommends applying tea-tree oil and combing the hair with a very fine-toothed comb (or a pet's flea comb) in order to remove nits (young insects) and eggs. Then tie a cotton scarf around your child's head and leave it on overnight. Watch for redness around the scarf's edge--the neck and forehead area--and wash the oil out immediately if the child complains of burning. Another option is to mix one-half teaspoon of eucalyptus oil and one-half teaspoon of pennyroyal oil with two tablespoons of pure olive oil, then follow the same steps.

It may well be that if the lice are tough enough to withstand insecticides, they are also tough enough to withstand less-toxic botanicals. If this is the case, you may have to do what the NPA recommends from the outset: Remove the lice manually. Have two people check for lice at the same time, because lice move to one side of the head when you're working on the other. Take each individual hair and snip eggs out one at a time using safety scissors. Do whatever you have to do to get rid of the critters, because only visibly lice-free children will be readmitted to school. "If a girl has long hair, cut it. If it's a boy, get him a buzz cut, says Menditto.

It is essential to stop the spread of lice by washing brushes, combs, hair accessories, clothing, towels and bed linens in hot--not warm--water. Keep non-washable items in a plastic bag for five to seven days, or in the freezer for two to three days. Vacuum rugs and furniture thoroughly, then dispose of the vacuum bag outside. For more information, contact the National Pediculosis Association at (617) 449-6487.

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