THE GOOD

ADAPTOGEN: (Maca is an endocrine adaptogen.) Greek adapto 'to adjust' and the suffix gen 'producing'. A natural substance that increases the body's endurance and resistance to physical, chemical and biological stressors. Adaptogens help normalize the functioning of various body systems by affecting the hormone activities. They've been found to enhance immune response, reduce inflammation, stabilize blood sugar and support the hormone systems, particularly the adrenal and pituitary glands.

ADRENAL GLANDS: are located on top of the kidneys and are responsible for releasing three classes of hormones that control metabolism, blood sugar levels, inflammation, balance of salt and water, control fight or flight response to stress, maintain pregnancy, sexual maturation during childhood and puberty. They also produce sexual steroids estrogen and testosterone.

ARNICA: is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It's commonly used for treating sprains, bruises, sore muscles, (pain), inflamed insect bites, diaper rash, superficial burns and sunburns. Rinsing hair with arnica extract has been used to treat alopecia neurotica which is an anxiety condition leading to hair loss. Note: don’t ingest arnica herb or oil. Extremely diluted arnica is safe for internal use in proper dosage but overdose is toxic and can result in poisoning. It can cause contact dermatitis in some people, so if you get a rash discontinue use, as you may be allergic to the compound helenalin found in arnica. It's not intended for prolonged external use.

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide): is a byproduct of wood pulp processing. The remarkable thing about DMSO is that it is able to transport other substances through cell membranes. Which is why it's often mixed with things like It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There are two types of DMSO, industrial and medical. Medical grade DMSO is used to protect human tissue when frozen for storage. It helps heal skin ulcers, softens collagen, reduces inflammation, relieves muscle and joint pain, it's even said to relieve blood vessel constrictions and prevent brain damage. DMSO has a side effect whether taken internally or used externally, it causes a bad taste in the mouth and you can smell like garlic.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: is composed of the hypothalamus, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid, heart, pituitary glands, striated muscles, skin, adipose tissue, stomach, duodenum, liver, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, testes, ovarian folicles, placenta (when pregnant, and uterus (when pregnant. It's function is to release hormones and regulate metabolism, growth, development tissue functions and mood.

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): is muy importante for joints, cartilage, skin, hair and nails. MSM delivers sulfur to the body in a useable way. Sulfur maintains the structure of connective tissue by forming cross-links via disulfide bonds, meaning It strengthens the tissues that make the joint. MSM is 34% sulfur by weight. The sulfur in MSM is incorporated into proteins and joint tissues. GAG molecules are the basic building blocks of joint cartilage, those are linked together in chains by disulfide bonds, these bonds are between two sulfur atoms. Cartilage integrity is sulfur dependent. It's good for arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint problems, sports injuries, tendonitis, tennis elbow, inflammation, etc. The effects of MSM only last as long as you are taking it. So you have to keep taking it. James Coburn infamously credited MSM publicly with making it possible for him to work as an actor via overcoming his pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Sales went way up after that.

awesome website with detailed MSM information:

http://www.a1msm.co.uk/msm_crystals_flakes.htm

ROSEHIP SEED OIL: (found in the wild rose facial oil) is chock full of vitamin A = great for aging skin. This oil is used for cell regeneration and helps increase collagen and elastin. It's also high in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, linoleic and linolenic acids. Good for stretch marks, UV damage from sun, scars, burns, acne, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, premature skin aging, hyper-pigmentation, dermatitis, sunburn, radiation burn, age spots, brittle nails and dry hair. Yay!

THE BAD AND THE UGLY

PARABENS (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl)

One of the most common preservatives in personal care products. They have caused allergic reactions, rashes and are highly toxic. Makeup and lotions are of greatest concern because of the amount of time they sit on your skin, and thereby the lengthy ‘exposure’ time equaling migration time into the bloodstream. The effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems gives cause for concern, specifically with regard to BREAST CANCER in women. Parent chemical of paraben is 4 hydroxy benzoic acid. A UK study has established the presence of intact parabens in human breast tumours. This chemical is considered an Unclassifiable Carcinogen by the World Health Organization & the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is a Suspected Endocrine Disruptor - may interfere with, mimic or block hormones. Estrogenic substances are chemicals foreign to the body that mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone, exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.

ILLNESS AND DISEASES LINKED WITH PARABEN

1) Breast cancer

2) Alien female hormone/Weakly estrogenic (Preservatives have the ability to mimic estrogens in the body with butylparaben being the most potent. Scientists believe that the parabens are absorbed through skin, where they may act as an alien female hormone. A male exposed to this hormone as a fetus may develop fertility problems as an adult.)

3) Gum diseases/Tooth staining (Prolonged use of mouthwashes or toothpastes that contain parabens leads to tooth staining and gum diseases although they also claim that these paraben mixtures can kill oral bacteria.)

4) Leukaemia (Parents who uses sex stimulant products that contain parabens have 80% chances to have kids that suffer from leukaemia.)

5) Mental Disorder - Depression, Schizophrenia, etc. (Babies that are being lactated by their mothers while consuming products that contain parabens have been associated with mental disorders later in life.)

6) Liver Disorder/Failure (Consuming slimming pills, tablets, patches, drops, etc. that contain parabens are said to cause liver disorder and liver failure.)

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health sites that every cosmetic product on the market is formulated for a shelf life of over three years, therefore it contains a large amount (usually four synthetic parabens) of preservatives to prevent spoilage. These preservatives are cellular toxins, otherwise they could not kill microbes.

ARE PARABENS BANNED ?

1) Cosmetics that contain parabens have been banned by Japan and Sweden.

2) Australia and New Zealand are taking precautions and necessary actions to ban this substance to be used in cosmetics and food products.

3) The cosmetics industry is very poorly regulated. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act does not require cosmetics or their ingredients to be approved before they are marketed and sold to consumers. FDA regulation starts after they are already in the marketplace.

4) Heptyl paraben which was used in many frozen foods has been banned in the U.S.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE – SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE

Is a harsh detergent, primarily used to create a foamy effect. We think foam equals soap equals cleaning.

It is often disguised as a ‘coconut derivative’.

According to the Journal of American College of Toxicology, SLS corrodes and damages the hair follicles. Because it is such an effective degreaser it dries and strips the skin and hair of natural oils. It may even cause the layers of your skin to inflame and affect the immune system. It has been linked to eye damage, intestinal damage, breathing problems, skin problems and cysts. It can cause cataracts in adults and prevent children’s eyes from properly developing.

After exposure, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can stay in your body for up to 7 days. It penetrates your skin and lingers around your heart, liver, lungs, and brain. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org), these surfactant molecules stay on your skin long after you think you've washed them off and as they sit there, they literally strip-away fatty acids, moisture and amino acids from your hair and skin. TOM’S OF MAINE TOOTHPASTE HAS SLS.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL / SORBITAL

Propylene Glycol is the main active ingredient in anti-freeze. There is no difference between the Propylene Glycol used in anti-freeze and the Propylene Glycol used in personal care products. It can also be found in brake fluid and hydraulic fluid.

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) warns companies who put Propylene Glycol into their products that it: May cause skin and eye irritation, may be harmful if inhaled or ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, and depression, can inhibit skin cell growth. This means that your cells will not be able to reproduce normally, can damage the skin and muscle tissue.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires food workers to wear protective gloves, clothing, and goggles when working with Propylene Glycol, because it penetrates into your skin. It is, also, linked to contact Dermatitis, liver and brain abnormalities and kidney damage.

ALUMINUM

Has been linked to Alzheimer's, osteoperosis, kindney and liver damage. Since your body has no useful purpose for aluminum, it considers it a toxin. Studies show that regular use of products with aluminum compounds can increase your risk of Alzheimer's. It can accumulate in the brain causing seizures and reduced mental alertness. Certain compounds in aluminum, such as aluminum fluoride can easily pass through the blood brain barrier which filters the blood. Many municipal water supplies are treated with both aluminum sulfate and aluminum fluoride. Hair analysis can be used to determine levels of aluminum in the body. Taking calcium helps your body to deal with aluminum.

PHENOLS

Used to be called carbolic acid and is derived from coal tar. They were used as an antiseptic, but the skin irritation was so great that surgical gloves were first used to protect doctor’s hands from phenol burns. It’s the active ingredient in Chloraseptic throat spray and is the starting material in the industrial production of aspirin, weedkiller and synthetic resins. Exposure to concentrated phenol solutions can cause severe chemical burns. It’s used in cosmetic surgery to remove dead layers of skin and to treat ingrown nails. Phenol injections were used by the Nazis in the concentration camps. The Material Safety Data Sheet that comes with this product – has a health rating on it of 3 (severe) Poison, Contact Rating 4 (corrosive). It also states on there that it is investigated as a mutagen, tumorigen and reproductive effector.

Someone asked me recently about other names for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on product labels and I just came across this on a chemical and toxin database as a list of some of the aliases. I'm stunned by it, truthfully. But here it is, in alphabetical order:

AI3-00356, Akyposal SDS, Anticerumen, Aquarex ME, Aquarex methyl, Avirol 101, Avirol 118 conc, Berol 452, CCRIS 6272, CP 75424, Carsonol SLS, Carsonol SLS Paste B, Carsonol SLS Special, Caswell No. 779, Conco Sulfate WAG, Conco Sulfate WAN, Conco Sulfate WAS, Conco sulfate WA, Conco sulfate WA-1200, Conco sulfate WA-1245, Conco sulfate WN, Cycloryl 21, Cycloryl 31, Cycloryl 580, Cycloryl 585N, Dehydag sulfate GL emulsion, Dehydag sulphate GL emulsion, Dehydrag sulfate gl emulsion, Detergent 66, Dodecyl alcohol, hydrogen sulfate, sodium salt, Dodecyl sodium sulfate, Dodecyl sulfate sodium, Dodecyl sulfate, sodium salt, Dreft, Dupanol WAQ, Duponal, Duponal WAQE, Duponol, Duponol C, Duponol ME, Duponol QC, Duponol QX, Duponol WA, Duponol WA Dry, Duponol WAQ, Duponol WAQA, Duponol WAQE, Duponol WAQM, Duponol methyl, EINECS 205-788-1, EMAL 10, EMAL O, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 079011, Emersal 6400, Empicol LPZ, Empicol LS 30, Empicol LX 28, Emulsifier No. 104, Finasol osr(sub 2), Finasol osr2, Gardinol, HSDB 1315, Hexamol SLS, Incronol SLS, Irium, Jordanol SL-300, Lanette wax-S, Lauryl sodium sulfate, Lauryl sulfate, sodium salt, Laurylsiran sodny [Czech], Lauyl sodium sulfate, Maprobix NEU, Maprofix 563, Maprofix LK, Maprofix NEU, Maprofix WAC, Maprofix wac-LA, Melanol CL, Melanol CL 30, Monagen Y 100, Monododecyl sodium sulfate, Monogen Y 100, Montopol, LA paste, NALS, NCI-C50191, NSC 402488, Natrium laurylsulfuricum, Natriumlaurylsulfat, Neutrazyme, Nikkol SLS, Odoripon AL 95, Orvus WA paste, P and G emulsifier 104, Perklankrol ESD 60, Perlandrol L, Perlankrol L, Product No. 161, Product No. 75, Quolac EX-UB, Rewopol NLS 30, Richonol A, Richonol AF, Richonol C, SDS, SLS, Sinnopon LS 100, Sinnopon LS 95, Sintapon L, Sipex OP, Sipex SB, Sipex SD, Sipex SP, Sipex UB, Sipon LS, Sipon LS 100, Sipon LSB, Sipon PD, Sipon WD, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium dodecyl sulphate, Sodium dodecylsulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfate 30%, Sodium lauryl sulfate ether, Sodium lauryl sulfate, dental grade, Sodium lauryl sulphate, Sodium monododecyl sulfate, Sodium monolauryl sulfate, Sodium n-dodecyl sulfate, Sodiumlauryl ether sulfate, Solsol needles, Standapol 112 conc, Standapol WA-AC, Standapol WAQ, Standapol WAQ Special, Standapol WAS 100, Steinapol NLS 90, Stepanol ME, Stepanol ME Dry, Stepanol ME Dry AW, Stepanol T 28, Stepanol WA, Stepanol WA paste, Stepanol WA-100, Stepanol WAC, Stepanol WAQ, Stepanol methyl, Stepanol methyl dry AW, Sterling WA paste, Sterling WAQ-CH, n-Dodecyl sulfate sodium