All Natural Treatments – A better option for head lice?

Friday, January 15th, 2010

If you looked at the label of a food or drink you were preparing to give your child and saw dihydrogen monoxide as an ingredient, what would you do?   What if something contained phenylalanine, glutamic acid or arginine?

As a mom, I’d have no problem giving my children anything with any of those ingredients – they are the scientific names for water (H2O) and common amino acids, the building blocks for all proteins.

The point is that even basic elements of life (such as water) can be made to sound scary or commonplace by selecting how we choose to name and represent them.

(Photo Credit - Auburn University Office of Sustainability)

First, we should probably define what it means to be “all natural”. 
All Natural:  A title usually given to products, foods, etc. that contain ingredients only found in nature.  They claim not to contain ingredients based upon processed or synthetic ingredients.
                The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate the use of “all natural” claims on products.

So, is it important to choose a product that makes an all-natural claim when treating your child for head lice?
That is a decision only you can make and should be made in conjunction with your child’s health care providers.
What is important is for you, as the caregiver, to do your research and get the scientific facts about the product you are choosing to use?

All FDA approved products, by law, have to submit extensive clinical studies and receive approval from the FDA before they are available to the public for use.  They also have required safety monitoring.  Some treatments that were common 15 years ago are being phased out as newer, safer products emerge that put the child at a lower safety risk.   What’s important is that there is a legally-required process by which safety is monitored, and products are both introduced and removed from the public’s use.
Many common treatments were originally FDA approved and became Over-the-Counter after their safety was proven as prescription-only product. 

Does that mean they are without risk?  Absolutely not. 
It just means they don’t require a prescription, but you should only use them exactly as they are intended (check package labeling for age restrictions and other warnings).  You should always follow directions precisely.

(Photo Credit: MobileHealthNews)

The internet is full of products that make claims to be “All Natural” and “Pesticide Free”.  I'd recommending verifying if they are approved by the FDA by looking at this chart.  I’d recommend you call the manufacturer and  request scientific data to support their claims of effectively removing head lice and nits before purchasing the products.  If their website only has testimonials of satisfied customers, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) warns “Buyer Beware”.   

There are a lot of compounds that occur naturally that are not healthy for us.  Ask the parent of a child who’s allergic to peanuts or bees.  Those are natural products that could have a devastating effect on their child. Just because something is natural doesn't mean it is going to be safe for everyone.  As parents, it's our job to learn about the substances our children are exposed to.  Not all products are harmful, and some may be effective in treating head lice.

Our advice – do your research and really learn what ingredients are in the product you’re wanting to treat your child with. 

ALWAYS speak with a qualified health care provider (pediatrician, family practitioner, nurse practitioner, nurse, pharmacist, etc) about what they recommend. 

We advise the use of FDA approved products because of the access to credible clinical data and safety monitoring.