Head lice affect an estimated 12 million people in the United States each year, and are rapidly becoming resistant to over-the-counter and prescription medications. Additionally, prescription products such as lindane and malathion have recognized health risks. Therefore, a need exists for a safe, easy-to-use preparation that is effective against multiple strains of susceptible and/or treatment-resistant head lice.
 
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have found that ivermectin, a compound used to treat intestinal worms and plant parasites, was 100 percent effective in killing head lice resistant to many standard treatments. Ivermectin is not well-absorbed through the skin, which makes it suitable for products that are used externally. Researchers applied a topical preparation of ivermectin to the skin or scalp of school children in southern Florida with resistant head lice.  Formulations containing 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 percent ivermectin were found to be 100 percent effective in killing newly hatched lice following 10 minutes of exposure. A topical formulation containing a mixture of natural ingredients was also more effective than 0.5 percent ivermectin alone, indicating that the mixture may allow ivermectin to penetrate more easily into the lice.

The effectiveness of ivermectin could save children from multiple applications of toxic chemicals. "Since most people find head lice intolerable, they often repeatedly apply insecticides without realizing their potential for harm if overused or misapplied," says Clark. 

  Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that is made naturally in the body. The body uses CoQ10 for energy and cell growth and to protect cells from damage that could lead to cancer. CoQ10 levels decrease with age and are often low in patients with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription drugs, particularly statins (which are used to lower cholesterol), may also lower CoQ10 levels. CoQ10 supplementation offers benefits for patients with congestive heart failure, ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, reperfusion injury after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and other heart problems. CoQ10 interacts with the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin®), and should not be used by patients taking warfarin unless it has been discussed with their physician and warfarin therapy (INR) is monitored by laboratory testing when coenzyme Q10 is introduced and appropriately thereafter. 

The quality of supplements is very important. Ask us to help you select a quality supplement that will best meet your needs.

When children go to school or daycare, or when people are traveling, it is often more convenient to have medication packaged separately for home and "away". For example, individual doses of liquid medications can be packaged in oral syringes (with a "cap" on the end, no needle) so that each dose is accurately premeasured and waste or spillage is minimized. In some cases, short acting medications can be prepared as sustained-release dosage forms to eliminate the need for multiple daily doses.