Tea Tree Oil

Who hasn’t heard of tea tree oil?  Lot’s of products even those manufactured artificially contain this essential oil in order to help remedy a number of ailments including pimples, dandruff, lice, boils, eczema, psoriasis and even yeast infections.  It is a common ingredient in creams, shampoos, lotions and soaps.  But how much do you really know about tea tree oil?

Tea Tree oil is distilled through steam from a plant called Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to Australia.  It was originally used as a substitute for tea, hence the name.  The medicinal part of the plant is its leaves which contain antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

The Australian Aborigines used Tea Tree oil to cure burns, skin cuts and infection by grinding the leaves and applying the crushed leaves directly onto the infected area.

Today tea tree oil is used in a wide array of personal care cosmetics.  One of the most well known applications is to help minimize and remedy acne or pimples.   Researchers in Australia noted during a study that people who experience mild to moderate acne found a significant improvement after application.

People who suffered from dandruff also benefit from tea tree oil.  The same study also extended the research to dandruff sufferers and found that dandruff was controlled after 4 weeks of continuous use.

Tea tree oil has been around for centuries and researchers are finding more ways to utilize this product.  This oil is used in diluted form as allergic reactions can be experienced when used in its full strength.

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The Truth Behind Natural hair Dyes

Since reports of hair dyes being a cause of cancer in human body have come out, there has been a clamor over safer alternatives hair-dye-crazy people can use. This is to be expected since hair is considered as one’s crowning glory and seeing it go from beautiful, lustrous colored hair to salt-and-pepper gray must be hard to accept. Most people associate hair to one’s age and gray strands are truly a standout among your age group hence the need to cover up regularly. It seems that the fight against graying hair signifies the long-standing battle of human and aging.

Chemical based hair dyes are known to damage hair and not only that, the chemical in it somehow manages to enter your system through the scalp’s pores which will eventually cause cancer. This analogy certainly makes sense but what about those commercially sold hair dyes which boast of being organic and natural? Can they also make some damage or are they safe enough to be used?

The rule of thumb is always check the label, anything in there that you find hard to pronounce should be dumped at once! Steer clear of it also if it mentions coal tar as the substance was found to be a carcinogen too. The most popular among natural hair dyes are henna and those vegetable-based ones.

Unfortunately, natural hair dyes have their own share of mishaps. Henna is also known for its unpredictability even when used regularly. It has one thousand and one color spectrums that you’ll never really know until your hair dries up. For vegetable based hair dyes, it usually takes longer to prepare than the dye actually sticking on your hair.

Personally, I would rather go natural i.e salt-and-pepper gray if nature has it, than gamble with the unknown.

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Organic Skin Care for Pregnant Moms

Pregnancy is one joyous event in a woman’s life and should be cherished forever. It signals another turning point in her life which leaves behind an indelible mark in a woman’s heart. Unfortunately, it does leave marks—inside and out.

The common skin problem for pregnant women is stretch marks; usually accompanied by slight hair loss and minor bouts of rashes and skin breakouts. Dryness and over pigmentation are common occurrence to a pregnant woman’s life. Just the same, they can be quite irritating and frustrating to look at.

Pregnant women are highly discouraged from using chemical-laden skin care products since these are easily absorbed by the skin therefore can affect the baby inside your womb as well. If you want to help your skin to cope up with pregnancy stresses, your best bet is to go organic.

There are organic creams made for stretch marks; although these creams won’t erase those nasty stretch marks, it will minimize the appearance and will make your skin achieve a healthy glow. Some girls are wise enough to know that stretch marks could be avoided by using toning oils and organic creams during the pregnancy itself. While it was found out that hair fall during pregnancy is a hormonal response of the body, pregnant women should use organic hair care products instead of regular shampoo since these types of shampoos can only aggravate hair loss.

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Shampoo Contains Toxic Chemicals

Researchers from the National Institute of Health have found out that the chemical MIT or methylisothiazoline which are commonly used in shampoos and conditioners can cause nerve damage to animals likewise to humans.

The experiment was conducted on laboratory mice.  The brain of the mice showed nerve damage after contact with MIT.  Scientists and researchers have found MIT in popular shampoo brands like Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Clairol and Suave.  They are cautioning pregnant women since exposure to the chemical can also cause damage to the fetus.

Studies have shown that MIT is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous disorders.  MIT causes the slowing down of the nerve’s response time preventing communication between the neurons.  Since our central nervous system which is comprised of neurons, brain function and networking signals can become suppressed with over exposure to MIT.

However, people are wondering why these products are still seen and patronized in grocery shops across the nation.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which oversees such testing spends majority of its time approving drugs and medicine and not enough time looking into the harmful effects of shampoos and conditioners containing MIT and allowing them to stay on supermarket shelves everywhere.

Before purchasing any brand of shampoo, conditioner or any personal care product, know what is inside the bottle.  The FDA’s website is actually awash with chemicals and guidelines on which chemicals are classified as toxic and safe.  Since the FDA is doing only half its job, then make the right choice and make sure that the product you are using is healthy and safe.

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Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is dubbed as the healthiest oil on Earth due to its many health benefits including hair care and skin care. It also aids in weight loss and proper digestion. This tropical oil has many applications under its belt such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial. Coconut oil showed such great potential in curing HIV and cancer, two of the most baffling diseases to hit mankind.

Coconut oil has lesser calories than any other oil in the market today and its fat content is easily converted to energy thus eliminating the possibility of fat residue clogging the heart and arteries. It also boosts energy and endurance among athletes.

These oils are derived from fresh coconuts found in tropical areas around the globe and they are used as alternative remedy to many health concerns. For hair care, coconut oil is topically applied to the scalp and hair giving it a lustrous glow after washing. It will also help eliminate dandruff and lice while encouraging hair regrowth.

Coconut oil is very soothing hence a good stress reliever used for massages. It is also an effective moisturizer for all skin types due to its moisturizing effect and can also be used in treating skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema and other skin infections.

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Propylene Glycol (PG)

Propylene glycol is an organic compound that is faintly sweet, colorless and in liquid or vapor form. Generally, due to its low oral toxicity, it is recognized as safe to use as an additive to food but we should also know that some of its uses include antifreeze, photo developing solutions, brake fluids, and coolants. That’s how “industrial” this toxic chemical is and yet it can be found in our daily personal care products such as hair products, liquid foundation, suntan lotions, deodorants, and toothpastes.

Propylene glycol acts as a humectant. It absorbs water and maintains moisture to medicines, personal care products and food while boosting artificial color and flavor of the product you are going to buy. Exposure to propylene glycol will cause systemic retention and can cause skin irritation and inflammation, kidney damage and liver problems.

Since propylene glycol serves its purpose well, allowed by the regulating government and most of all they are cheap, it is not hard to imagine why an antifreeze agent could end up in our shampoo bottles.

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FD&C Color Pigments

Colorful things are surely attractive especially for kids. For women, we choose colorful makeup and other cosmetic products to enhance our general appearance while kids prefer to use bubble baths and soaps with bright colors. With men, they find it necessary to cover up gray strands of hair thus the need to use hair dyes.

FD&C color pigments are usually made from tar and they can also cause irritation to the skin. They are most commonly found in eye makeup, lipsticks, hair dyes, nail polish and even with your colored medicinal tablets. These color pigments are for enhancing natural color to create a visual effect tempting enough for consumers to buy them.

Hair dyes contain coal tar and phenylenediamine, both are known carcinogenic that also causes inflammation of the scalp and in some instances, blindness. With regular use of hair dye products, the risk of developing bladder cancer is much higher than those who don’t use them. Bright nail polishes contain toluene, together with color pigments, they are more than toxic causing headaches, confusion and memory loss. Daily exposure to toluene may induce hearing loss.

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DEA, TEA & MEA

These toxic chemicals are used for regulating pH in cosmetics and personal care products. DEA provides luxurious consistency to lotions and creams and rich lather in shampoos since it is an emulsifier and foaming agent. While DEA was not found to be harmful to our health, its by-product NDEA or nitrosodiethanolamine is. NDEA is a proven to be a cancer-causing agent and can be easily absorbed by the skin. It has strong links to stomach, esophageal, liver and bladder cancers to humans.

Just a note, DEA is a generalized term for all diethanolamine and TEA and MEA are related substances. When applied topically, it may result to skin irritation or burning of skin. It can also cause impairment of vision with eye contact. If inhaled accidentally, it irritates the nose and throat. This chemical also disrupts hormone cycle thus affecting all hormonal balances of the body including testicular degeneration and low sperm count.

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Lead Acetate. Toxic to us, our children and our environment

Lead acetate is commonly found in hair dyes.  This chemical is used as “color additives”.

The FDA has approved the use of lead acetate in hair dyes after strict laboratory experimentation.  Subjects who used hair dyes with the chemicals were found to have “no significant increase in blood levels of lead was seen in the trial subjects and the lead was not shown to be absorbed into the body through such use”.

The FDA has also mandated hair dye producers to correctly label their products.  The FDA has prescribed a regulation prescribing that the following be clearly labeled in all hair dye products containing lead acetate.

“Caution: Contains lead acetate. For external use only. Keep this product out of children’s reach. Do not use on cut or abraded scalp. If skin irritation develops, discontinue use. Do not use to color mustaches, eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair on parts of the body other than the scalp. Do not get in eyes. Follow instructions carefully and wash hands thoroughly after use.”

The public has a right to be cautious.  Lead acetate is a known carcinogen.  It may also cause birth defects in unborn children.  It may also cause brain damage and damage to blood cells causing anemia.

Aside from possible human harm, lead acetate is toxic for the environment.  It is considered a bio hazard and products containing the chemical should be disposed of accordingly.

There are hair dye alternatives that do not contain lead acetate.  You can use natural ingredients like henna powder for black hair.  If you want your hair to be brown, you can use amla (powdered Indian gooseberry) and walnut.  Indigo when added to henna also gives off a brown shade.

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Dibutylphthalate- Banned cosmetic ingredient

Dibutylphthalate or DBP is most commonly used by the cosmetic industry in nail polishes to make them less brittle and minimize cracking; in hairspray to make the hair less stiff allowing the user to style the hair even after the hairspray is applied and as solvents in perfume.

The use of this substance has been banned by the European Union since 1976.  And as of 2006, all major nail polish producers have eliminated the use of this chemical due to its effects on the endocrine system.  Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors which may cause birth defects and fertility issues among those exposed to it.

Other possible effects of prolonged exposure are: dizziness, headaches, nausea and seizures.  Reports also indicate that this chemical may be absorbed through the skin.

The good news is that the use of DBP has been eliminated by major producers of cosmetics.  However, this chemical is still used in adhesives and certain inks.

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