By Nicole Duncan

With these tiny insects infesting the scalps of 12 million Americans annually—mostly children under 12—an effective remedy is high in demand. However, the main ingredient of most head lice treatments is an outlawed agricultural pesticide called lindane. (America is one of the last countries still permitting its use despite the reported side effects, including dizziness, skin irritation, and headaches.) An alternative we love: Quit Nits ($19.99; www.wildchildonline.com), which safely eliminates both lice and eggs (essential in preventing reinfestation) by using Jamaican quassia-wood extract, a natural insecticide that is nontoxic to humans.