Most students take some sort of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen or Advil to treat headaches, but a new homeopathic over-the-counter product called HeadOn Headache Relief promises to treat headaches and migraines.

HeadOn is unique because it is an invisible and non-greasy topical gel applied directly to the forehead, said Dan Charron, vice president of sales and marketing at Miralus Healthcare.

Edward Rosick, a physician at University Health Services and member of the American Holistic Medical Association, said he doesn't know if HeadOn works.

"If somebody wants to try it, there is nothing in it that will hurt you," he said.

Charron said the consumer has flexibility with HeadOn since it can be used anywhere, be taken with other medications and has no restrictions on the amount of times it can be used.

HeadOn has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Charron said.

Rosick said that there are large scale and rigorous studies currently being done on homeopathic remedies by the National Institutes of Health.

"Until the results are analyzed I can't say whether or not homeopathic medicine works," he said.

For that reason, it should not be discounted either, he said.

HeadOn works by "stimulating your body to overcome a headache or migraine," Charron said, instead of masking symptoms "like conventional headache medicines."

HeadOn is the "fruit of several years of research," he said.

There are five different forms of HeadOn, including HeadOn Migraine, Extra Strength, P.M., Children's and Tension Headache, Charron said.

Each HeadOn product has different active ingredients.

The active ingredients in HeadOn P.M., according to the HeadOn drug facts, are potassium dichromate, for pain relief; sublimed sulfur, a sleeping aid; and White Bryony, another ingredient for pain relief.

These three ingredients are found in the majority of HeadOn products and are formulated in precise amounts, Charron said.

Michele Briggs, owner of Nature's Pantry, 620 W. Cherry Lane, said that potassium is not typically classified as a homeopathic remedy and not found in traditional homeopathic treatments.

Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that involves using small dosages of drugs, which in large amounts would normally be harmful and cause symptom similar to the disease being treated.

White Bryony is associated with pain relief and various sulfurs are used in homeopathic treatments but Briggs said that she has never heard of sublimed sulfur.

Curt Omiecinski, professor of veterinary science and Hallowell Chair for the Center for Molecular Toxicology, said potassium dichromate is a known carcinogen.

Omiecinski said that he has not been able to do extensive analysis between the dosage amount used in studies and the amount in HeadOn.

However, the amount of potassium dichromate in HeadOn, 0.05 percent, is low, he said.

"In toxicology, the general dogma is the dose makes the poison," he said.

HeadOn can be found on the shelves of Wal-Mart.

"I don't recommend this product because I do not know a lot about homeopathic remedies," Jenny Plummer, the pharmacy manager at Wal-Mart, 373 Benner Pike, said.

Jenny Hwozdek, a homeopath at Nittany Mountain Homeopathy, said HeadOn is not considered a classical homeopathic treatment.

Hwozdek compares HeadOn and classical homeopathy to a person taking Pepto-Bismol for a stomach ache instead of going to see a doctor.

Homeopathic treatments are very specific whereas over-the-counter medicines are not, she said.