Anti-Dandruff Chemical Prevents Seizures, Too

Coming soon: Head & Shoulders Seizure-Control Formula?

In a surprising bit of scientific research, an active ingredient in dandruff shampoos, zinc pyrithione (ZnPy), has been found to facilitate the flow of potassium to soothe overactive cells that fire too freely in epilepsy and seizure disorders. According to a Johns Hopkins researcher, Min Li, "If you think of these [potassium] channels as doors on the cell’s surface, then ZnPy made this door both easier to open and stay open longer. It’s like a tunable hinge that helps sticky doors swing freely." More potassium, fewer flakes: It's a wonder drug, all right.

It's great to think of a solution to seizures being found in something so everyday as shampoo, but also a little unsettling to think about these things we put on our heads as chemicals with powerful properties. What else might we find in our shower stalls? Could conditioner tame wild kids as well as flyaway hair? Could a dab of "No More Tears" baby shampoo cause depression to lift? Or could the drugs used for split personalities also heal split ends?