What is in the most common head lice treatments?
The most common active ingredients are pyrethrums, permethrins, lindane and malathion. Pyrethrums are derived from chrysanthemums. Just because they occur in nature doesn’t make them any less concerning, Nature is more than capable of producing very powerful poisons. Permethrin, a synthetic pyrethrin, is used to control insects on animals, house or gardens, and in agriculture. If you read the active ingredient label on wasp & hornet killer, flying insect killer, ant & roach killer, house foggers and fumigators, yard sprays, and commercial insect killers, you will see you may be applying the same chemical to your child. (Although at different concentrations depending on the product.) Lindane is an organo-phosphate, yes that’s right the same type of chemical as used in sheep dip, nerve gas and timber treatment. In the progressive state of California it is banned outright due to concern over it’s potential to cause cancer and nerve damage while also polluting the water supply. Malathion i
