Doing Research in Brazil

“I participated with a group seeking a formula that would protect beautiful tropical flowers from insect infestations so that they could be imported to the U.S. While working on this project we found ourselves (and the Brazilians around us) greatly affected by mosquitoes. Likewise, we observed animals (such as dogs) being tormented by fleas, mites, and ticks, as well as having terrible cases of mange. More disturbing, there were reports of farmers dying every day from spraying poisonous pesticides on agricultural crops.

While the non-toxic formula we developed successfully eliminated the pests infesting the plants, we discovered that it also resulted in leaves being so sensitive that they burned in the sun. Before continuing our work to eliminate the undesirable side-effect on the leaves, we decided to make a detour and redirect our efforts toward testing the formulation against insects on humans and animals. We knew we had an effective and non toxic formula that would eliminate the pests, now we needed to learn more about its applications for humans and animals.

Animal Applications (Shampooing) in Brazil Begins

Now more research was required using the specialized ingredients that worked well on the plants. We began with several local dogs including our own and kept them fenced in on 4 acres of property. Before testing began, the area was overrun by fleas. Each week we would apply the formula as a flea shampoo, washing and rinsing the animals in public view. After a few weeks, the dogs were totally clean, as was the previously infested property. Newly hatched fleas on the ground migrated to the dogs where they were later treated and rinse away, until there were no further fleas to migrate. The life cycle of the flea was broken within 4 weeks of 4 separate shampoo treatments. Fur grew back thick and shiny as the product did not dry the fur or irritate skin-it only removed the insects.

Someone was watching and one thing always leads to another — Schooltime®.

While using our formula to bathe the local animals and stray dogs in the area , we were approached by the principal of a local elementary school. He inquired if we might have something that could help treat the head lice infestation which was prevalent in his school. This was a condition rampant throughout Brazil, especially in the elementary schools and of course in families that had young children that brought the lice home from schools and other events.

Time to Try Out on Kids

We were soon testing our formulation on some of the young children affected with head lice. We first collected lice to test in vitro (outside the living body and in an artificial environment) and found that our formula instantly immobilized them with an outright “knock down effect” (making them immobile immediately). The ‘immobility’ is very important as it means poison is not necessary; we don’t have to poison the lice to eliminate lice- an important factor toward our purpose of creating a non-toxic product. Testing showed that the lice became immobile before they had a chance to ‘run’ from it. It isn’t the fact that they cannot move that is so important, but that the immobility keeps them from holding onto the hair. They simply and easily rinsed down the drain. If the lice weren’t killed outright, the final rinse finished the job.

Our testing continued on the children by first examining to see if they had head lice and then applying our product as a shampoo leaving it on for various timeframes to see how long it would take to have the best effect. The formula worked very well, not only in clearing the head of lice, but also in leaving the hair elegant, shiny, and renewed. We found that the scalp healed quickly from the scratches caused due to the itching scalp from secretions left under the skin while the lice fed on a ‘bloodmeal’. The lice literally fell out of the hair and onto the ground during final rinse.

World-Wide Acceptance

Head lice in the mid-1990s was growing in epidemic proportions worldwide. A country having one of the highest rates of infestation was the United Kingdom. In the US, high prevalence was demonstrated in Florida.

In early 2000 we became aware of a research specialist at the University of Bristol, UK who performed studies of various pesticide formulations used against head lice at that time and reported the formulations were losing their effectiveness as the lice were growing resistant to the active pesticide ingredients. He wrote articles about loss of effectiveness from Permethrin or pyrethrins pesticides. He also did some testing to show combing alone was not 100% effective without a liquid agent designed to eliminate lice used in conjunction with it.

From the early tests, we found our Schooltime® product sufficiently removed all the lice. It not only cleared the children of head lice, but also that a residue of the product remaining on the head helped them remain clear of lice – and combing became much easier. We have test results (and a photo) showing that the product softened and dissolved the glue that holds nits on to the hair shaft. It was also amazing to see how the eggs and lice would fall out when the hair was rinsed of the shampoo after a 20-minute application on dry hair. If they didn’t simply fall out, they combed out extremely easily.