The Dangers of Using Antibacterial Products

Are you familiar with Triclosan? Triclosan is a pesticide; a potent wide spectrum antibacterial and anti fungal agent. Triclosan is one of the most common active ingredients in all the beloved antibacterial products people love.

As a society we are obsessed with killing germs and keeping our environment disinfected. We're even looking for our cutting boards, bibs, and high chairs to include some type of antibacterial protection and the government is hearing our cries.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), as of July 2008 the federal government has approved the pesticide Triclosan for use in 140 different types of consumer products including liquid hand soap, toothpaste, undergarments and children's toys.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for keeping our homes and bodies clean but this need to kill germs is causing much larger problems for us. The following facts will help explain why:

• According to the World Health Organization, disinfectant and antibacterial products are resulting in stronger, more resistant bacteria. Triclosan kills most - but not all - of the bacteria it encounters. The germs that survive emerge stronger and harder to kill in the future. This can make normal household germs more resistant.
  


• The American Medical Association recommends that triclosan not be used in the home as it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.


• A 2002 Swedish study found high levels of triclosan in 3 out of 5 human breast milk samples.


• A study of over 200 healthy households found that households using antibacterial products did not have any reduced risk for runny noses, coughs, and other symptoms of infectious diseases.


• Researchers have raised concerns about triclosan and its link to dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic chemicals that can cause severe health problems such as: weakening of the immune system, decreased fertility, altered sex hormones, birth defects, and cancer.


• Girl Scouts in St. Paul, Minnesota found that when they tried to use triclosan to kill bacteria they were growing for a science fair project, the bacteria actually started growing.


• Triclosan, when washed down the drain, is making its way into our water system and is highly toxic to a number of different types of algae which are the primary producers in many aquatic ecosystems.


• When triclosan reacts with chlorine found in tap water, chloroform is produced. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies chloroform as a probable human carcinogen.
• Research suggests that normal water treatment procedures could convert triclosan into a toxic dioxin and the conversion can be triggered by strong sunlight.


• Triclosan bio accumulates or becomes concentrated in fatty tissue in humans and animals that are exposed to this chemical.

These facts make it clear, triclosan isn't good for our health or our environment. Unfortunately there are over 973 products listed in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database containing triclosan. I bet you won't have any trouble finding products you use on this list.

What can you do to make sure that your exposure to this hazardous chemical is limited?

1. Watch for triclosan (and triclocarban, its chemical cousin) in personal care products. Read ingredient labels and use the Cosmetic Data Base to see which of your current personal care products contain triclosan.


2. Switch your personal care products to those that are all natural and free of triclosan and other hazardous chemicals such as Young Living Essential Oils. Young Living offers many personal care products that include Skin Care, Hair care, Bath and Shower Products, Kids products and, Oral Hygiene. Click to see the entire essential oil based product line here. (then click on the Personal Care tab)


3. Switch your antibacterial cleaning supplies for those that are considered natural and non-toxic such as Young Living's Thieves Essential Oil based Household Cleaner

Order Your Triclosan Free Personal Care Products Here.....

4. Make your own antibacterial cleaning products using essential oils. Essential oils are the lifeblood of a plant and the oil serves as its own chemical defense against fungus and infection. When used outside of the plant the essential oil is a powerful antibacterial and in fact, has been used to neutralize germs as far back as 1887. Here is a great article from another Young Living independent distributor on house cleaning with essential oils.


5. Forego antibacterial soap. Use Thieves Foaming Soap instead. Its made with the most potent antibacterial essential oils: clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary.


6. Avoid "Antibacterial" Products - these products may be labeled “antibacterial,” or make claims such as “odor-fighting” or “keeps food fresher, longer.” These products may be toys, bedding, bath accessories, and clothing. I think you will be surprised when you view the list of government approved products allowed to contain triclosan here. Shop for natural home items at Gaiam.com and Acacia Catalog.

Would you like to learn more about Triclosan and what the Environmental Working Group is doing to help get this hazardous chemical banned? Click here to learn more and if you like what you see and you support what they're doing why not click on their donate button and give them some support.

If you have any questions regarding this information or would like help getting chemicals out of your life, contact me. I'd be happy to help.

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Related information: Rub A Dub Dub....Is Cancer in Your Tub?

Homemade Chemical-free Baby Wipes!

Baby Wipes Recipe (these wipes are awesome and are 100% chemical free!)

1 roll of better quality Paper Towels (cut in half)
1 1/2 cups water (boiled)
1 plastic air-tight container (large enough to hold 1 half of the roll above)
2 tsp. Young Living’s KidScents Lotion
2 tsp. Young Living KidScents Bath Gel
2 tsp. Young Living’s V-6 Mixing Oil

Boil 1 1/2 cups water and mix in the Young Living KidScents Lotion, Bath Gel and V-6.

Take one roll of “nice quality” paper towel and cut in half (to make 2 small rolls) take the core out of the middle of one of the small rolls and put into a airtight container.

Mix together with a wire whisk and pour over the paper towels in the container, let sit until it has absorbed the liquid.

When you’re ready to use pull wipes from the center of the roll. Keep in airtight container!

Order Young Living Products Here......

If you need any help ordering any products or if you have any questions, please contact me. I am always happy to help.

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,

Elizabeth

Have You Oiled Your Hot Tub Lately?

Rich and Shauna Dastrup wrote:

We were introduced to Young Living Essential Oils almost 8 years ago. At that time "ignorance" prevailed in our lives when it came to health, doctors, prescriptions, chemicals, and HOT TUBS. We, like most people, used the things we were told we were supposed to use in all areas of our lives.

Then something happened.

The grandparents of our daughter-in-law gave us a Young Living Missing Link cassette tape [now available in CD], which has had a profound effect on our lives. As we learned, used, and experimented we found we had a "killer" living with us called a HOT TUB!

We treated the water with lots of chemicals, which were contributing to our already poor physical health. What to do?

We talked with Gary Young about 6 years ago and what he had to say about chemicals scared the heck out of us and we quit using our HOT TUB! But then we decided to experiment with the essential oils in our hot tub. This is what we learned...

Our tub holds 300 gallons of water. In it, we used the "prescribed" chemicals and had it "balanced" so it was "safe" to use. Then we added 12 drops Young Living Geranium essential oil and circulated the water for 30 minutes.

We re-tested an hour later. Guess what? The bromine and chlorine indicator on the test strip was white, telling us they had disappeared. But the pH was holding just fine (wonder what happened to the bromine and chlorine?) and every indication was that the water was clean and balanced. We would guess that the bromine and chlorine were neutralized or "digested" by the Geranium oil. We have done this over and over and it keeps on doing the same thing.

Almost 4 years ago we started traveling in our motor home to teach and hold workshops with our Young Living distributors and we decided to experiment a little more with our HOT TUB during the time it was not being used to see if the desirable water conditions would hold without adding chemicals or more oils.

Each time we left we would add about 12 drops of Geranium oil, run it a few minutes, and turn the heat down - not off - down. Each time we returned (the longest absence being 6 months) we wondered what kind of scum we would come home and find. Each time we came home, including after the 6 month trip, the water was crystal clear. WOW!

Order Geranium Essential Oil here............

Prior to our experimenting, we maintained the tub using the standard chemicals recommended by the hot tub dealer. If the tub were not maintained on a regular basis we came back to a real mess.

Now when we are ready to change the water we clean the tub and fill it with water. We clean the 3 big filters and soak them in a mixture of about 15 drops Thieves oil in enough water to immerse the filters for about 3 hours. Then we put the filters back in and added 12 drops Geranium oil to the water.It is so relaxing and refreshing to soak in our clean, fresh, balanced, and safe HOT TUB.

For an extra treat, while we soak we like to toss in an Aqua Essence Bath Pack [no longer available so just add several drops of a favorite essential oil for scent]. Now this is the way to enjoy a REAL HOT TUB!

Wholesale Pricing is the way to go. Ask me how you can get yours...........

It is wonderful to get out of the tub smelling of essential oils instead of chlorine and knowing full well we are helping our bodies maintain health rather than compromising them.

We share this to encourage people to experiment and use Young Living Essential oils to protect themselves and remove as many chemicals as possible from their lives.

If you have any questions regarding any of the products mentioned or need help placing an order, let me know. I'd be happy to help you get the products so you can get the chemicals out of your life!!

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Rub a Dub Dub.....Is Cancer in Your Tub?

Do you know what chemicals are in your personal care products? Do you know the effect that these chemicals have on your or your children's body?

To help you understand I am offering a free booklet entitled "Rub a Dub, Dub... Is Cancer in Your Tub" This booklet offers an in-depth view of common ingredients found in shampoos, deodorants, mouthwashes, toothpastes, and other everyday items used in your home that have been scientifically shown to undermine health. This convincing and informative brochure helps you understand the importance of using products made with natural ingredients, such as Young Living's premium products.

To receive your free booklet please e-mail me with "Rub a Dub" in the subject line. Please include your name and shipping address and I'd be happy to mail this right out to you.

Would you like to see how your personal care products rank and how dangerous they are to you and your family? Then head over to The Environmental Working Groups Cosmetic Database I promise you'll be shocked to see what poisons and toxins (such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, DEA, excessive Fluoride, etc.) are hidden in the products you use daily, such as soap, shampoo, rinse, toothpaste, mouthwash, skin cleansers and moisturizers, etc. - that is, unless you are using Young Living Products.

Ask me what Personal Care Products Are Available from Young Living.....

Young Living personal care products and Thieves Household Cleaner contain only natural ingredients. They have no harsh chemicals. None. Never have; never will. They're completely natural, made from only the finest natural ingredients, and enhanced with 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oils. You will never find any of the poisons or toxins described in the Rub a Dub, Dub report on the ingredient list of any Young Living product.

These are products that not only work, they're really good for you too!

If you have any questions or need help ordering Young Living products, please contact me. I'd be more than happy to help!

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Beach Bag Essentials - Oils that is!

Ahhh, Summer - its officially here!

Despite the debate as to whether the Summer Solstice (the unofficial mark of Summer's start) is the 20th or 21st of June, I know its here because the kids are finally done with school and my thoughts are turning to lazy days and fun times.

If you live in the proximity of the beach then another unofficial mark to the start of summer is the packing of the beach bag.

My beach bag has expanded to more than one bag over these last few years, heck, just needing 6 beach towels will do that! But for the most part my beach bag still includes the basics with a few extras for the little ones. Gotta keep 'em happy!

Here are some suggestions for a well packed beach bag. Some are no-brainers but there are a few "essential" additions that just might make that trip to the shore a bit more enjoyable:

• Beach Bag - of course, can't pack a beach bag without a bag



• Sunscreen - I know you don't need to be reminded of this however, I did want to point you to a report of the best and worst sunscreens with regard to the amount of chemicals they possess and their effectivness. Take a look at the Enviornmental Working Group's Report they released last year and choose wisely. I think you'll be surprised, like me, to find that 85% of 1,074 sunscreen products they tested had inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.



• Water - goes without saying. Try spiking your water with a couple of drops of Lemon Essential Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil. Both are very refreshing and envigorating. Read how great Lemon water is for you here.



• Snacks - Add some non-perishable high energy snacks in your beach bag and even when the cooler is empty there will be snacks available. I like to keep pouches of NingXia Red, trail mix, or granola bars. I'm going to order the new Manna Bars and add them to my bag. They'd be a good addition as they are loaded with great whole food nutrition and they sound super yummy!



• A Good Read - The beach is a great time to catch up on your reading, so grab something new from the Bestseller List or that book that you've been meaning to read for years. I'm starting my summer reading with Quantum Wellness by Kathy Freston.



• Disposable Camera - capture those precious moments without the worry of having your good camera getting ruined.



• Peppermint Essential Oil - great for helping you cool down! Add a couple of drops to your water, rub on your feet, or you can put a few drops on a bandana to wear around the head for summer cooling. Mixing Peppermint and Lavender oil with water makes a very simple and pleasant Cooling Spritz (see recipe below).



• Lavender Essential Oil - Make a Cooling Spritz and Sunburn soother in portable spray bottles and add to your bag (see recipes below). Feeling a little stinky? Apply a couple of drops of Lavender under your arms to use as a portable deodorant. Lavender will not only cover any unpleasant odor, it also prevents the occurrence of odor-causing bacteria.



• Lavaderm Cooling Mist - if you don't want to make your own Sunburn Soother than you can purchase this pre-made skin soother. It includes Lavender Essential Oil and Aloe Vera. Its great as a first aid spray and for soothing bug bites!




If you purchase an Essential 7 Kit you'd have 3 essential oils mentioned in this post.....




• Horsefly Repellent - to me, nothing can ruin my day at the beach more then when those pesky, biting, flies arrive to nibble on our toes, and legs, and arms and well, you get the picture. You can repell them by making a floral water with Idaho Tansy essential oil (see the recipe below). Bathing on the dock of the bay? Then mosquitos may be your problem. Check out my Mosquitoes Bugging You? post for an insect repelling recipe.



• Cornstarch - easliy removes sand from your feet. If you'd like to make it more refreshing add some essential oils (see the recipe below). Please don't use babypowder. Inhaling baby powder has been linked with respiratory illnesses.



• Garbage Bag - please bring an extra bag with you to stash your trash! While you're at it, do what my family does and get each one in your beach party to pick up their trash and one extra piece of trash. The beach critters and us loyal beach goers would greatly appreciate it!

Order Young Living Essential Oils here.......

Recipes:

Lavender and Peppermint Cooling Spritz

Add 5 drops Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint to 1 cup distilled water. Spritz on arms and legs to help you cool down. Do not spray near face; if you wish to use this mixture near the face, dampen a cloth and lightly apply to the face.

Sunburn Soother

Add 20 drops Lavender to 1 ounce water and 1 ounce Aloe vera. Spray on affected areas as needed.

Horsefly Repellent

Add 10-20 drops of Idaho Tansy Essential Oil to a spray bottle filled with distilled water. Spray generously on exposed skin being careful to avoid the eyes.

Foot Powder
Measure the cornstarch and pour it into a widemouthed glass jar or a spice powder container. Then add the essential oils. Tighten the cap, and let the foot powder sit for a day. Shake before using.

Chamomile: 20 drops
Clove: 5 drops
Cinnamon: 5 drops
Cornstarch: 2 Tbsp

Foot Powder Recipe from 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy: Mixing Essential Oils for Every Use by Carol & David Schiller, ©1994.

Happy Summer! I hope you enjoy it and that you create many special memories with your family and friends!

If you have any questions or need help placing an order please contact me. I'd be more than happy to assist!

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Mosquitoes Bugging You?

It's that time of year when the mosquitoes come calling. For my family it means we have to be ready to fight one of our biggest outdoor challenges so we can enjoy some outdoor fun.

We live in a highly wooded yard and the mosquitoes can get so bad my children will actually fore go outdoor activities rather than be bitten by these loathsome critters. I can't very well blame them especially when I see the welts these pests leave on their delicate skin. More worrisome then the welts are the chance of contracting West Nile virus or the other diseases that mosquitoes carry. Yet we have to get outside!

Aggressive action is needed at our house to win the battle of Us vs. The Mosquitoes; and that is exactly what we do! We use a variety of methods to manage the mosquitoes. We use a propane powered Mosquito Trap, we hang pheromone Mosquito Traps, we use candles with drops of essential oils in them when we dine outside and we have my children's favorite mosquito warfare tactic - shooting them down with water guns. But the one action I won't take is spraying bug spray that contains DEET on my children.

Yes, DEET is the most powerful insect repellent made but I can't bring myself to apply this chemical onto my children and here's why. DEET is known to cause neurological damage, and once it enters the bloodstream, it makes its way to the nervous system, where it is known to cause seizures and even deaths.

DEET can be especially harmful to children, which is why The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one application of DEET per day for children. Okay, great, so one application a day won't cause any damage? But what happens over time when my children's bodies have absorbed years of DEET use? No Thanks, I don't want to know! I'll stick to my homemade bug sprays made with essential oils!!

Essential oils work wonderfully to repel mosquitoes without any neurological damage ;-) and when you use Soybean oil as the base for the lotion you will have a very effective mosquito repellent. An efficacy test at the University of Florida on various types of repellents indicated that a soybean oil-based repellent is as effective as repellents with low concentrations of DEET and when USDA researchers tested the success of a soybean oil repellent, they found that it provided protection from bites between 5 and 8 hours, depending on the species of mosquito they studied.

Essential Oils to Use for Natural Mosquito Repellent:

Single Oils - Peppermint, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon, Lime, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Geranium, Idaho Tansy, Rosemary, Patchouli, Citronella, Lemongrass, Thyme

Young Living Blends - Purification, Thieves, Melrose

The following Blend is found in the Essential Oils Desk Reference (3rd Edition)

Insect Repellent Blend
6 drops Peppermint
6 drops Tea Tree
9 drops Eucalyptus Radiata

Get Young Living Essential Oils here...

How To Use Essential Oils as Mosquito Repellent:

1. Make a lotion using 10 drops of essential oil to 2 Tablespoons Soybean Oil.


2. Make a spray by mixing the essential oils with water in a spray bottle. Shake the mix before using and take care not to spray the eyes.


3. Having a party? Cut some festive fabric into strips and dip into the insect repellent blend or one of the insect-repelling essential oils mixed with water and hang or tie to trees around your yard to make a natural barrier for the mosquitoes.


4. Add a few drops of your choice of insect-repelling essential oils to your shampoo, conditioner, or liquid soap to help counteract the perfumes in these products that attract the mosquitoes.


5. Wear a Terra-Cotta Pendant Simply put a few drops of the insect-repelling essential oils onto the pendant and wear it around your neck. These pendants will diffuse the oils in your space and keep the mosquitoes away.


6. Add a few drops of Cinnamon Oil to standing water such as bird baths and rain barrels. According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Cinnamon Oil has been found to be more effective in killing mosquito larvae than DEET.

Please take caution and don't spray or apply any insect repellents over cuts, scratches, rashes, or other open spots in the skin. And note that while these repellents do work, they are certainly not as effective as DEET. You will need to reapply these homemade insect-repellents more often than you do commercial brands but I think you will find the benefits of not absorbing the toxic chemicals far outweighs the reapplication.

Let me know if you try these solutions and how they work for you.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need help ordering any of the oils.

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Baby, Its Hot Out There!!

Its hard to believe its only the beginning of June. Here in the Northeast we have been seeing temps at 100 degrees and that has been at 3:00 in the afternoon! Are you looking for some relief from the heat? Below are some recipes made with essential oils sure to hit the spot!

If you have children, the NingXia Red Creamsicle is not only a tasty treat but is a powerhouse of nutrients you can feel good about your child eating (read more about the nutritional value of NingXia Red here).

NingXia Red Creamsicle

1 cup Young Living's NingXia Red juice
1 cup Vanilla Yogurt
1 cup fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, banana, etc.)

Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into your mold of choice. Freeze about 4 hours, serve.

Try and avoid plastic molds because of the chemicals; Some good substitutes might be: a glass Pyrex dish (scoop the frozen mixture into pretty serving dishes). Or, use regular paper cups, nonwaxed - wax is a petro chemical, and stick a wooden popsicle stick in the center, peel the paper cup off for serving.


Lavender Vanilla Ice Cream

Wow, is this easy and excellent!!! Who would have thought this combination would taste soooo good!

1 quart of nice quality vanilla ice cream (soften a bit)
2 drops Young Living's Lavender essential oil

After the ice cream has softened enough to stir, scoop it out into a mixing bowl. Put 2 drops of Young Living's Lavender essential oil into the ice cream and stir well to disperse the lavender oil. Put the ice cream back into the freezer so it can harden. Serve.

Lavender Lemonade

7 lemons, peeled and juiced
2 limes, peeled and juiced
14 c. water
1 ½ c. Blue Agave
1 drop lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or Blue Agave, depending on the size and tartness of the fruit.

Need help ordering these items? Contact me and I'd be happy to help!

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth

Remember use only 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Oils such as Young Living Essential Oil in recipes. With other oils you just don't know whats in them.

Recipes courtesy of Evelyn Vincent's newsletter, The Very Essence. Evelyn has a wonderful blog called Aromatherapy 4U that you should check out and Young Living's Lavender Farm Blog , also worth a visit.

Clean Your Air Naturally Without Harmful Chemicals

Did you know that when the Natural Resources Defense Council conducted tests on popular air fresheners they found that 12 out of 14 contained the harmful chemical Phthalates (pronounced tha-lates)? Read the report here and see a list of the worst offenders.

Phthalates is a hazardous chemical that has been found to cause reproductive problems, birth defects and hormonal abnormalties in humans. In addition, exposure to Phthalates in indoor enviornments has also been associated with allergy symptoms and asthma.

Air fresheners release Phthalates into the air where they are inhaled and/or land on the skin and are absorbed. Phthalates are then absorbed into the bloodstream and that is when the problems begin.

Clearly, air fresheners are not a good solution for freshening or even cleaning the air, as some air freshener companies’ claim. A safe alternative and one of the best ways to purify and scent the air in your home or office is to use a cold air diffuser with essential oils.

A cold air diffuser consists of an air pump (like the pump for a fish tank) that blows room temp air through a tube and into a hand blown glass nebulizer. This action puts micro-fine particles of the essential oil into the air. The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of the essential oils, along with the negative ions and oxygenating molecules that are released when essential oils are diffused, remain suspended in the air to help reduce chemicals, bacteria, and metallics in the air. All added bonuses to scenting the air!

What oils should you diffuse? Most single oils are great for diffusing and Young Living offers some blends especially designed for diffusing. Here are some suggestions:







Peace and Calming is a wonderful blend to diffuse to create a calm environment. This blend is great for calming overactive children.










Purification is specifically designed to purify the air. This blend works great to rid your home or office of odors and air borne bacteria. Diffuse this blend after cooking a seafood meal and you'd never know you had fish for dinner!









Thieves Blend was tested by Weber State University and was shown to kill 100% of the airborne bacteria present when diffused into the air. This is a great blend to diffuse in times of illness or to ward off airborne bacteria to prevent illness.










Citrus Fresh is a beautiful citrus scent that makes your enviornment smell clean and fresh and works as a great air purifier.






Keep your indoor air quality free of Phthalates and at its best by avoiding commercial air fresheners, invest in a cold air diffuser.

*Ask me how you can get 50% off a Young Living cold air nebulizing diffuser.*

If you have questions or need assistance in placing an order contact me, I will be happy to help you.

Yours in Scentsible Wellness,
Elizabeth