Licefreee! Non-toxic Lice Killing Hair Gel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Licefreee! Non-toxic Lice Killing Hair Gel is the name of a topical non-toxic treatment and homeopathic remedy for infestation by ectoparasites, specifically lice, in humans. Headlice, body lice, and pubic lice and their eggs are killed by the treatment, which uses a patented composition of sodium chloride suspended in a gel. [1] Nits, often harder to destroy with conventional treatments, are also killed. The product was developed by and is manufactured by Tec Labs in Albany, Oregon. [2] [3]

Licefreee! gel was first marketed in 1999 as an alternative to delousing treatments that used the insecticides pyrethrum and permethrin, to which lice have shown resistance in clinical studies. [4] Its manufacturer has positioned it as an alternative to the prescription insecticide malathion [5] and the now-banned insecticide lindane [6], both clinically proven to cause damage to the human brain and nervous system. Licefreee! gel, according to the manufacturer's website, is marketed as safe for babies over six months of age and pregnant women and can be used as often as desired.[7]

In 2006 Licefreee! sponsored The United States PTA's “Keeping Kids Lice Free” program to help schools comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for headlice prevention and control. [8] The manufacturer supplies schools and medical professionals with educational videos on how to conduct a headlice check program as well as how to identify and treat infestations. [9]

The active ingredient in Licefreee! Non-toxic Lice Killing Hair Gel is natrum muriaticum 1X (sodium chloride, USP). Inactive ingredients are aminomethyl propanol, anise oil, carbomer, cocamide DEA, fragrance, polysorbate 20, and purified water. [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wikipatents Official Website. US Patent 6607716 [1]
  2. ^ “Business Briefs, The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), Sep. 1, 2003. [2]
  3. ^ Dan Morse, “Creepy-Crawly Neighbors; At the ‘Bughouse’ in Maryland Suburb, Insects are Primary Residents,” Washington Post, Jan. 3, 2006 [3]
  4. ^ “School of Public Health Researchers Find Pesticide-Resistant Head Lice in U.S.,” The Harvard University Gazette, Sep. 30, 1999 [4]
  5. ^ United States Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “ToxFAQs for Malathion,” Sep. 2003 [5]
  6. ^ United States Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “Public Health Statement for Hexachlorocyclohexane,” August 2005 [6]
  7. ^ Tec Labs Official Website; Licefreee! Product Page [7]
  8. ^ Deborah Kots, “A Real Head-Scratcher: Schools are Struggling with How Best to Handle Lice,” US News and World Report, Oct. 2, 2006 [8]
  9. ^ "Tec Laboratories Named Proud Sponsor of National PTA," PTA Official Website, June 2, 2006 [9]
  10. ^ [10]

[edit] External links