I hate ticks

As my husband walked in the door my dog, let me repeat, MY dog ran up to him and told him he felt violated. My dog, Lou, continued to tell my husband that I had looked not only at his fur and crevices, but at his arm pits and privates. What he did not communicate was the events that led up to this earlier in the week.

On a rare beautiful day in April, in Michigan (very rare) my husband and I took our two dogs for a walk in a nature preserve. The previous week there was at least a few inches of snow in some locations. This time, not only was the snow gone, but everything seemed to be coming back to life, with a little touch of green here and there, even a frog jumping from the path back into the stream it had recently awoke in.

While there we came within a few feet of a blue herring standing in its own little pond of water, a small group of deer and many very happy birds that announced to anyone who did not already realize spring was here.

That night as I lay down I noticed my head itched, but since it had been very windy while we were on our walk, I didn’t pay much attention to it.

The following day I gathered my things to work on assignments. I had my diet coke, my computer, my blanket and some papers and books, as well as one dog on my lap and the other at my feet. My husband and son had left the house for a few hours, so I was going to get a lot accomplished, or so I thought. As I worked on my computer I itched my head again and noticed something that should not be there, a little bump. What is that I wondered as I pulled it from my head, long strands of hair making it difficult? As I looked I jumped up, reflectively throwing the tick that I had just removed from my head, as well as my dog, blanket and computer.

A TICK! And not just a tick, but a tick on my head. They are not supposed to be on me or in my house. We have lived here more than 10 years and I have never seen a tick here. Then it dawned on me. The long grass next to us as we walked on the paths at the nature preserve, where we come very close to deer and other wild animals that have ticks as well. Shoot, what about my dogs, I have not put the flea tick treatment on them yet as we still had snow last week.

Then I realized all of the chemicals that must be in flea/tick treatments. I started searching on line for alternatives to the toxic stuff I have always used. What I found was brewer’s yeast and garlic. I feed both of my dogs treats stuffed with pieces of raw garlic, checking the floor to make sure they had not spit it out afterwards.

After showering and making sure I didn’t have any more ticks on me, I vacuumed and cleaned my house for a few hours, trying to make sure the tick that I had thrown was no longer walking around my house. Then I spent hours checking my dog’s fur for ticks, with tweezers and alcohol and oil in the ready position.

Later that night my son called me into the hall. Right outside my bedroom door a tick sat on the wall. All the cleaning I had done to ensure he was not walking around my house did nothing, except clean my house. The tick was placed in a gob of greasy hair stuff and tissue, before being placed in the toilet and flushed out of my house.

Simplicity is the New Sophisticated

I spent some time reflecting on our class project to reduce the chemicals we introduce to our bodies and the environment. The main lesson I’ve learned from this experience is that of simplicity. The more I’ve simplified my purchasing habitats and ingredient list in my household products, the better I feel. I’m creating a better quality of life for myself and my family and reducing our impact on our local and global environment. Better living through chemistry no longer works in our society (if it ever did in the first place).

So what’s new this week…….
I LOVE the household cleanser I made a few weeks ago. The lemon zest has given the cleaning solution a really wonderful scent that fills the air as I clean. While I plan to use this cleanser for mostly everything, I just had to try Dr. Bonner’s solution on my kitchen floor. Yes, that’s right. I’ve never used Dr. Bonner’s inside the home, only during camping trips. GASP! I added the peppermint cleaning solution to warm water and also mixed in some baker soda for stains. My kitchen and wood floors gleamed and made the downstairs smell so good. Thanks Coleen for doing so much research on Dr. Bonner’s soaps! I felt good about the product and the mission of the company.

As Maddie would say, “Eww… stinky”
I had another “why haven’t I done this sooner” moment this week. As silly as it sounds, I was nervous to change from my Secret Powder Fresh antiperspirant to an aluminum-free deodorant. I sweat a lot, so I was a bit anxious to try a non-antiperspirant. However, I realized that I spent too many years placing my dislike for sweat at inopportune times (like work and formal occasions) over my health, and that had to stop. Aluminum, which is a main ingredient in antiperspirant, has been linked to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. In particular, breast cancer has been diagnosed earlier in women who began underarm hygiene practices (shaving, antiperspirant) before the age of sixteen (cancer.gov). While studies conducted to find links between antiperspirant and cancer have not been overwhelmingly conclusive, why take the risk? I immediately picked up Tom’s of Maine Wild Lavender deodorant, and I love it so far. I’ve worked in the yard, ran around after Maddie, run errands, and gone of runs (wow, that’s a lot of running), and I haven’t experienced an embarrassing underarm moment. Score!

Spring is a time of re-birth… including mosquitoes and ticks
I spend a lot of time outdoors. Whether it’s in the yard, camping, hiking, or doing on-the-job field work, I spend a lot of time exposed to mosquitoes and ticks. When I was pregnant and doing these activities, I simply went without any bug spray, because I did not want any dangerous chemicals to absorb through my skin and into Maddie. Since then, I have sprayed my jeans with OFF when conducting field work or at the campsite. I use the product sparingly, but it is also important to me to prevent against infection of Lyme disease and West Nile Virus.

This past week, I set out to make my own insect/tick repellant. I had a great recipe using olive oil and essential oils, and I went to the health food store to get the oils. $14 for a small container of lavender or thyme oil! After cringing over the cost of the ingredients for a recipe I wasn’t sure was going to work, I decided to look at the natural bug repellents that the store offered. There was a wide variety of insect repellents that had similar ingredients to the ones I planned to purchase: lavender oil, thyme oil, and witch hazel. Nestled amongst the national brands such as Burt’s Bees was a small bottle of BUG OFF! made at Jenness Farm, a local farm that is known for its amazing goat milk products. http://www.jennessfarm.com/

This was perfect! It contained the ingredients I wanted, was only $3.29, and buying it supports a local business. My work scheduled for tomorrow includes collecting groundwater samples, and several of the wells are located near a wetland and are situated within tall grass. I sample at this site every six months, and EVERY time I’m there I get attacked by mosquitoes and end up crawling with ticks. I also always get poison ivy when I’m there, so I’ve stocked up on Burt’s Bees poison ivy soap. (Sounds great, right? Anyone care to join me?) I will continue this post tomorrow after I’ve had a chance to test out this natural bug spray. My field partner has agreed to wear the traditional OFF Deep Woods spray for comparison. Let the best spray win, and watch out vermin!

Putting My Best Face Forward with Clear Sinuses and a Truly Healthy Glow

Quick shampoo update to get out of the way.  I have given up on anything containing castile soap to touch my head.  My hair is way to thin to handle the harshness of the soap and to offset it with even a tinge of oil will only prelude to a greasy meltdown.  I decided to simplify instead.  I now wash my hair with a half a palm full of baking soda (I have small hands so that’s probably 3 Tbsps) and work it into a paste on my head.  If my hair feels too much like straw, I bought Dr. Bronner’s lavender conditioner to soften my hair.  Furthermore, the magical powers of cornstarch rubbed into your hair starting at the scalp works in a pinch as dry shampoo.  

I do have a confession - this past weekend I slipped up and had forgone my all natural homemade concoctions for the convenience of the toiletries in my boyfriends shower. I was wrapped into staying at boyfriends house this weekend (he lives close to Lesley’s library) without going home to get my coffee/honey face wash and Dr. Bronner's soap.  I soon found myself faced with a plethora of shampoo options in his shower (I know, I could've gone without or used cornstarch) but the temptation was too strong.  I used the chemically laden lathers on my head and reveled in their suds.  Gah!  Although, I did miss my coffee/honey face scrub - it’s amazing how quickly your face can change depending what you put on it.  I broke out on my chin, and my skin tone became uneven because of the differing dry/oily parts from whatever face wash I could find in his bathroom.  

Adopting all natural allergy abatements has given me mixed success.  I have been eating  a spoonful of local honey daily and rinsing my sinuses with a neti pot and saline nasal sprays about twice a day for the past few weeks.  This has certainly helped with  keeping my sinuses clear from the allergens, but I still get that drowsy histamine - zombie feeling from time to time. I’ll keep at this regiment, as I do believe it is helping.  One allergy related attack that has lead to drugs is when my body caves to dog or cat allergens.  I’m OK at first, but repeated exposure over a few days can have disastrous effects on my airways and causes me to breakout in hives.  I was reminded of this reaction this past weekend after rough housing with the cute pups belonging to my boyfriend’s roommates.  In an instant I wanted to scratch my way out of my skin and slept sitting up until the Benadryl kicked in.   Back to the drawing board with that one - anyone have any homeopathic remedies for animal allergens? 

The lab in my kitchen has churned out homemade face powder and bronzer.  The blogger, Crunch Betty, has some amazing recipes for all natural beauty products.  I tried her homemade bronzer and made my own face powder with just cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and a few drops of jojoba oil.  I cleaned out an old compact for my face powder and found a little plastic jar in my tupperware bin for the bronzer.  For application, I cut up the padding inserts in an old bra instead of using cotton appliques.  Results?  Meh.  The jojoba oil for the face powder really helped congeal the powders and made it easy for me to pack it into the compact.  However, upon application it feels heavy.  I got the color to match my skin tone, but it is a little grainy and weighs on my face.  The bronzer, however, is great!  I can now sport a truly healthy glow.  Here are some photos from the lab:

I have adopted Liz’s mantra for cleaning products to my cosmetics and toiletry usage.  If I wouldn’t cook and/or eat what I’m putting on my body, why should I use it?  If something is toxic to ingest, then how is applying it to my skin any different?  Your skin absorbs everything it comes in contact with, and after perusing what I used to wear in the Cosmetics Database, it is frightening how much toxins are a commonplace fixture in the beauty industry.  It is ironic how the purpose of make-up is to make someone look more attractive, and give off an image of health and of good offspring producing genes, yet those products can cause major health problems for the long term user.  

Homemade Shampoo #2

I am calling my blog #2 in honor of Melissa’s original go at making shampoo.

I thought I was being cleaver about going to a meet-up event where someone was going to show a group of us how to make natural beauty care products. I have had books and intentions on doing this very thing for a number of years. When I went back to look in one of my older books I discovered that my book was actually advising to use some questionable ingredients. When I took it to the workshop, the instructor said that yes, these products were no longer being used. I came back home and was so disgusted that I immediately got rid of the book before I was able to record the offensive ingredients – problem #1.

At the class/workshop we were shown how to make face cream, an exfoliant facial/body scrub, lip balm, and shampoo. All of the products were made using natural ingredients and recipes from Rosemary Gladstar (who I have met and interviewed for a previous class), and Dina Falconi who are both known as authorities in herbals and natural products. The most fascinating product made was the facial cream which was a somewhat complicated process of first mixing the solid and liquid oils after the solid ones were melted, then they were blended once they had reached the same temperature, and finally whipped in a food processor. I did not think to bring a camera with me but one of the other students did. I asked her to send me one of the pictures so I could use it in my blog and she said she would. After sending her two emails requesting the picture and not receiving any response in return, I do not think I will be getting a picture to add – problem #2.

The exfoliant seemed simple enough to make as long as you have a coffee grinder that you can use to grind nuts and seeds. We were given some of the lip balm and face cream to take home and try. While the mixture of scents in the face cream are not particularly to my liking, it does seem to be a good moisturizer as does the lip balm. Only one container of shampoo was made and one of the other students bought that, so I decided to make my own. I used the basic recipe that we were given along with a couple of adaptations and eyeballed the measurements. We were told that with a little oil in the mixture, you may not need to use a conditioner. With the amount of hair that I have and the fact that I always need to use a fair amount of conditioner to keep the tangles at bay, this sounded like a good idea. So I used a little extra oil in the mixture – problem #3.

I should have learned from Melissa’s experience, but no. I had been successful in the past at making an herbal rub and medicinal teas so I was a bit too cocky in my attitude toward using the recipes. The result was, as you can imagine, not good. I did not even manage to leave the shower to get a proper greasy head shot. I had brought my old shampoo in with me and had to use it after my homemade version to get the oil out and then use conditioner. The picture above is of the ingredients I used to make the shampoo as well as the finished product. I even made my own nettle infusion to get the benefits of the herb I normally drink to help me with my hormonal balance. I also added some vitamin E to help with the health of my hair. I’m sure the ingredients would have worked fine if I had used the correct proportions.

I then took Melissa’s advice from her more successful venture at shampoo making and added a little more of the Dr. Bronner’s and a little bit of vinegar. The result looks the same and while the smell is not quite as pleasant with the vinegar, I have now managed to have a shampoo that I can use. I am still not able to use it without conditioner though. It cleans but leaves my hair too tangled on its own. I will have to go back to experimenting at a later date. As far as trying to make conditioner, I went to Whole Foods and after carefully reading many labels bought a conditioner from Aubrey Organics that appears to be made from all natural biodegradable products and even is packaged in a recyclable container. I have not tried it yet, but am feeling much more confident in my purchase than I would presently be in my own endeavor.

Basic Shampoo Formula
This basic formula provides the framework upon which to devise your own customized shampoo. Note that if you would like to increase the detergent effect of a shampoo, simply add more castile soap. And keep in mind that if you do not use up a batch of shampoo within a couple of weeks, it is best to store it in the refrigerator.
6-8 oz. herbal infusion of choice (1 cup of dried herbs in 1 quart of hot water – sit for 4-8 hrs and strain liquid)
3 oz. of liquid castile soap
¼ teaspoon carrier oil of choice (virgin olive oil is heaviest, apricot oil is lighter, etc.)
up to 60-70 drops of essential oils of choice
Pour strained infusion, liquid castile soap, carrier oil and essential oils into a jar or squeeze bottle, cap and shake. It is ready for use. Always shake these shampoos before use. Makes about 9-11 oz. of shampoo.

Variations: The amount of essential oil you use will depend on which ones you choose and the effect you are trying to obtain. You can omit the carrier oil if your hair is very oily, or add more if your hair is very dry. Additional ingredients, such as aloe, tinctures, etc., may be added to this basic shampoo recipe to adapt it for various hair and scalp needs.

Balanced Households

What does one do with those random leftover cleaning products that conscious environmentalists are afraid to throw away in fear that they will contaminate the groundwater?

Well, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation website says that their Ecodepot takes Hazardous Household products but does not list cleaners on their list. Confusing. So I called them. It turns out they do in fact accept household cleaners, so I can finally get rid of the last of my household known toxins. The RIRRC has certain collection days at their center in Johnston, RI and they visit different towns from time to time. Finally, this Saturday I can get rid of my remaining household cleaners and paint cans.

On the greener household cleaner front, I have been using baking soda and vinegar to clean for some time but I did not know how to properly clear my drain. Kim enlightened me that the addition of hot water to this mixture would clear my drain and I am happy to report results in the affirmative.

The only remaining cleaning solution I needed was for shower mold. I found this recipe for cleaning mold on the RIRRC website:

Mold killers - 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water. Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups. The RIRRC page has a whole list of green cleaning recipes.

My gross shower, which has looked this way since I moved in, has been scrubbed by many a concoction and is looking forward to smelling nice, if not actually becoming cleaner.

In class, Kim introduced us to a database called, Skin Deep, which provides an analysis of the negative effects of the ingredients in cosmetics and other personal care products. Each product also gets its own overall score from 0-10, 0 being the greenest. So I took a look at what I was I using to see where I could improve.

My major self care items include: Tom’s of Maine Lavender Deodorant (2), Avalon Organics Lavender shampoo (5), Dr. Bronner’s almond castile soap (2), and Avalon Organics Vitamin C facial cream (4).

According to Skin Deep, it looks like I could switch to using Crystal Deodorant (0) and cut out the Lavender shampoo altogether (I mean really, I don’t usually have that much hair anyway, I can use the castile soap). As for a comparable moisturizer, there were many to choose from that came up with a zero. I think this one is probably the closest to what I am using: Image Skincare - Enhance 25% Vitamin C Facial Enhancer. Now to see if I can find it!

It will be a nice feeling when this blog section is through and we all have more balanced feeling households.

Scent of a Woman

Have you ever wondered what makes me smell, well, just so damn good?  Wonder no more!  My secrets are revealed below.

I have been scrutinizing my toiletry and cosmetics choices for over a year, and this project is the perfect opportunity for me to review my progress and identify areas for improvement.  Many women cannot imagine going without makeup, but I do not use it at all.  I am unwilling to invest the time primping and makeup does not fit with my tomboy image.  I bathe with goat’s milk soap, which I found at the farmers market earlier this semester.  In the shower, I gently apply a facial scrub made by mixing used coffee grounds and honey.  (We still do not have the ratio just right, and it is more abrasive than I prefer.)  I also use organic extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizer; it takes only a small amount.  However, the olive oil provides no protection from the sun.

Below are the items I commonly purchase at the grocery:

Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) Volume Plus Shampoo & Conditioner - These products are certified organic, 100% vegetarian, not tested on animals, and packaged in recyclable plastic bottles.  They do rate moderately hazardous on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website, due to potassium sorbate, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil, and cocamidopropyl betaine.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Peppermint/Spearmint Shaving Gel - Truthfully, I could probably use my goat’s milk soap for my shaving needs, but I do not grow wispy, dainty hair.  My hair is of the hardy variety, and the peppermint/spearmint gel works well for keeping razor burn at bay.  Plus, the product is certified organic and fair trade, not tested on animals, and packaged in a recyclable plastic tube rather than the typical metal cans.  (Disclaimer: I am not advocating plastics!)

Preserve Razors -These razors are made primarily from recycled Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups.  The razors are meant to be returned at end of life in their packaging, which doubles as a travel case, for reuse.  They can be returned by mail, or to any Whole Foods Market, which Charlotte unfortunately does not have.  Both the razor handles and packaging can be recycled with municipal plastics as well.  Since the first razor I bought still works fine, I have not needed to recycle one yet.  Of course the blades must be replaced periodically, so there is some waste.

Maxim Organic Cotton Swabs - What can I say?  Guilty pleasure!  I know these are controversial for a variety of reasons, but I absolutely cannot stand to have water in my ears after my shower.  And towels are just too thick to do an adequate job.  However, over a year ago, I did reduce my usage 50% by using only one swab after my shower instead of two.

Crystal Essence Mineral Deodorant Roll-On (Pomegranate) - First of all, I have never been able to use a roll-on in my life.  I am opposed to all things sticky.  Yet this deodorant feels pleasantly creamy to my pits.  As far as odor control, I have tried a wide variety of eco-friendlier deodorants previously without success, but this stuff works!  It is paraben-free, contains no aluminum chlorohydrate, and the bottle is recyclable.  According to EWG, this product rates as a low hazard with the caveat that the company is non-compliant with fully disclosing its ingredient list.  Grumble, grumble...


Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste (Fennel) - I have an aversion to licorice, which is what fennel tastes like.  Nevertheless, this toothpaste does give my mouth a decidedly clean feeling, which has not been true of the many other eco-friendlier choices I have tried.  The toothpaste is fluoride and sodium lauryl sulfate free, but EWG says that the company has not signed The Compact for Safe Cosmetics, which, among other things, means that they may not disclose all ingredients.  Therefore, even though, the toothpaste is rated low hazard, that rating could be misleading.  Further, the tube does not appear to be recyclable.

Crest Glide Deep Clean Floss (Cool Mint) - There are three issues I can think of with this floss.  First, the company does not disclose what they use to coat and flavor the floss.  Secondly, floss is just so wasteful.  The hard plastic case is recyclable, but all of the floss goes into the trash.  And I use lots of floss!  I like a clean section on each side of every tooth.  After all, what is the point in threading a dirty section between your teeth?  I have read the recommendation that a gum stimulator can be used instead of floss, but a gum stimulator does not seem to clean as well between teeth.  Finally, buying Crest products patronizes the giant multinational corporation Procter & Gamble.

Tea Tree Therapy Mouthwash - This tea tree based mouthwash is alcohol free.  Interestingly, neither this product nor the company are listed in the EWG database.  I did look up all of the ingredients listed on the recyclable bottle, which were primarily listed as low hazard.  However, the company may not have disclosed all of the ingredients.  Additionally, “mint flavor” is vague, and sorbitol, while listed as low hazard, has been associated with cancer.

V’TAE Vanilla Body Mist - The true secret to my scent is vanilla.  I always use some type of perfume or body spray with a vanilla base.  My latest option from V’TAE comes in a recyclable bottle, but is not listed on the EWG database.  However, the first ingredient, alcohol made from corn (SD40), is considered a moderate risk.  I imagine that the corn is probably genetically-modified as well.  Again I find some ambiguity on the ingredient list, such as fragrance and other essential oils.  Even though essential oils sound harmless, they can range from low to high hazard on the EWG database.

TRESemmé Tres Two Spray Ultra Fine Mist - Finally hairspray, my toiletry vice!  When the hairdryer is off, my hair is like limp noodles!  If I gave up my hairspray habit, then I may as well walk around all day with bed head.  It would be an equally attractive, more efficient option.  However, when I use hair spray, I always wonder about the particulates I am breathing.  I have tried BWC’s hairspray, but it is more a stream of liquid than a fine mist.  Surprisingly, EWG lists my current non-eco-friendly hairspray as a moderate hazard.  However, once again, the company has not signed The Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  Of the ingredients listed on the label, the primary questionable item is fragrance, which is a high hazard ingredient because of its unknown nature.  Fragrances can be harmless or toxic.  When the source of the fragrance is undisclosed, one cannot tell the difference.  Sigh...  (On a positive note, Charlotte recycles aerosol cans!)

As you can see, I still have plenty of room for improvement.  I will review the changes I have made in my next post, Scent of a Woman, The Sequel.  Coming soon to a blog you are reading!

Homemade Hair Gel

Oh, I am SO fed up with my hair! It is softer than it has ever been before…but it feels GREASY. Is this what my hair is supposed to feel like when it’s not coated with chemicals? I have no idea. What does that say about the American beauty industry when I don’t know what “normal” hair should feel like?

In any case, soft hair = frizzy hair for me, so I tried my hand at making some homemade gel. Here’s what I did:

1. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil.

2. Add 2 T of flax seeds.

3. Boil for 10 minutes.

4. Pour into a strainer to separate the gel from the flaxseeds. I collected the gel in a liquid measuring cup.

5. Whisk 1 part aloe vera gel with 3 parts flaxseed gel.

This is when things started to fall apart…

6. Use a funnel to try to get the gel into a squeeze bottle.

7. Realize that the gel was so dense that you couldn’t get it into the squeeze bottle.

8. Try shoving the gel through the funnel and into the bottle with a martini stirrer.

9. Get the martini stirrer stuck in the funnel.

10. Pop the bubble that was preventing the gel from flowing into the bottle.

11. Have the gel suddenly start overflowing from the bottle (but VERY SLOWLY).

12. PANIC.

13. While still holding the funnel (with the trapped martini stirrer) in place over the bottle, grab the closest thing (a beater from my hand mixer) and use it to try to direct the gel coming out of the funnel into another squeeze bottle (sitting empty, at the ready).

14. Somewhat successfully get the rest of the gel into the second bottle.

15. Wash a pot, spoon, whisk, measuring cup, funnel, martini stirrer, and beater that are COMPLETELY COATED IN GEL. Imagine that. Gel. All over. Allow at least 20 minutes and 900 bajillion gallons of hot water mixed with dish soap.

Yield: 4 T of gel that contain no preservatives, so must remain refrigerated and will last less than a week.

OK. So, the gel actually works pretty well – I need to use a lot of it, but it does give me soft, orderly curls. BUT, I don’t think I will be making it on a weekly basis. I read that you can freeze the gel…so I’m thinking I might make this recipe times 4 or 5 to make enough for the month. I could do this once a month. It’s a total pain in the butt, but I could do it.

It was as I was viciously scrubbing the gel pot that I felt the need to remind myself why I’m going through all of this. A very vocal part of my brain is saying, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Just about every woman you know uses the hair products you’re trying to avoid. No one’s losing their hair. No one’s really sick.”

But then I have to stop and think – is that true? My friends and family are, generally speaking, NOT healthy. My roommate has recently been accosted by monthly yeast infections caused by her birth control (which her doctor calls a “normal” side effect). My five closest friends are, respectively, lactose intolerant, anemic, gluten intolerant, suffering from an influx of Candida (forcing her to drastically change her diet or deal with the risks associated with lacerated intestines), and a severe asthmatic going through immunotherapy to help her cope with her allergies. My dad is a diabetic, asthmatic, heart patient with severe allergies. My brother (and nephew) have Barrett’s esophagus, which is like heart burn that eats away at your esophagus (and can cause esophageal cancer). I have polycystic ovary syndrome and have been afflicted with some severe respiratory thing at least once a month for the past year. And this isn’t even looking at all of the people I know who are taking anti-depressants.

Do YOU know anyone who is perfectly healthy?

It’s not as though all of these people have the SAME health problems, but when I see THAT many people with debilitating issues on a day-to-day basis, I am forced to think…what are we doing wrong? Have people always been so…broken? There are certainly environmental factors that contribute to all of these issues, but I think the American mindset has become, “Well, when something goes wrong, a doctor will fix it.” I think people used to take better care of themselves, have better lifestyles – that whole “my body is a temple” thing. The “sound science” principle seems to affect not only the rationale behind allowing potentially harmful materials (e.g., lead, parabens, BPA, PVC, etc.) into our products, but also how we treat our bodies. What better time for the precautionary principle (“Well, this could cause a problem, so let’s avoid it!”) than with regards to our own bodies? And really, from an ecological perspective, it’s not that far of a jump to see how we should then also be using the precautionary principle with regards to all environmental issues as well. What we put in our water, in our air…we PUT IN OURSELVES. So, if anyone has ever done any research that might suggest that the crap that goes into my hair gel might be harmful to myself or the environment, then JOHN FRIEDA CAN GO TO HELL. I will designate one of my second-hand pots my “gel pot,” and flaxseeds and I will bond. Shoot, I will make VATS of the crap and start giving it away to friends and family.

One small step for beauty, one giant, righteous step for our collective well-being.

P.S. Warning: I’m about to make a sexual reference that might make some people uncomfortable. Read at your own risk…

For those of you who might be interested, I found out that my gel recipe (minus the aloe vera) can also be used as a personal lubricant. Who knew? Lube is another ball of wax altogether. Did you know that the glycerine used in most lubes is actually a leading contributor to yeast infections? I also heard a rumor that neither lube nor sex toys are regulated by the FDA because they’re considered “novelty items.” So, they are not subject to the same level of scrutiny. I plan to investigate this a bit more…