Re: Head Lice?

Here is information with regard to the ingredients and complications using Nix, an over the counter head lice remedy.  Please be aware of the dangers.

Nix

Active Ingredients: Permethrin
Representative Names: Nix

What is permethrin lotion? (Back to top)
PERMETHRIN (Nix^® Creme Rinse) is used to treat head lice infestations. It acts by destroying both the lice and their eggs. Permethrin is also used to treat pubic lice. Generic permethrin lotion is available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine? (Back to top)
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•asthma
•an unusual or allergic reaction to veterinary or household insecticides
•an unusual or allergic reaction to permethrin, other medicines, chrysanthemums, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

What drug(s) may interact with permethrin? (Back to top)
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription medicine that is to be applied to the hair and scalp. These may affect the way your medicine works.

What side effects may I notice from using permethrin? (Back to top)
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•itching
•redness or mild swelling of the scalp
•stinging or burning
•tingling sensation

Last Updated:01/05/2007

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY©
GOLD STANDARD MULTIMEDIA INC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,533%7CNix,00.html

I would protect my child (or myself) and take a more effective, safer natural route:

• Mayonnaise, lime juice, green apple shampoo and a fine toothed comb.  First run a fine toothed comb through your hair and then apply real mayonnaise rub as if it were shampoo.  Next, apply lime juice on top of the mayonnaise. Run the fine toothed comb through your hair again then wash your hair out after combing for five to ten minutes and it should do the trick.  Continue using green apple shampoo (like made by Suave, for example).  Lice do not like the smell, evidently and it keeps them at bay.

   

• Neem oil or neem leaves.  If ready neem oil is available, apply generously on hair, soak for an hour and shampoo. Later comb out the dead lice.  If neem leaves are available, boil a handful in a mug of water and use the water on your hair after shampooing. Soak with the water on your hair for few minutes after shampooing and rinse with plain water. Repeat if lice persist. Bitter but effective remedy.

   

• Mayonnaise, plastic wrap, and bread tie.  Completely cover the hair and scalp generously with mayonnaise and knead in.  Wrap the hair and scalp with saran wrap and secure with a bread tie.  Use caution with children to make sure there is no danger of suffocation!  Leave on for three hours and the nits should be drowned.  Comb through with a nit comb.  Great for conditioning too.

   

• Olive oil and shower cap.  Saturate the hair with olive oil, put in a shower cap, or a Wal-mart size bag with clip, and leave in overnight. Brush out hair, then use nit comb to get out the lice and nits.  The best nit comb is the metal one, as the plastic ones break (especially if you have thick hair).

   

• Always wash all bed sheets, bed covers, clothes and towels when ridding someone of lice.

Taken from Collected Home and Herbal Remedies by Tony Isaacs