Eating a good diet and drinking enough water can greatly reduce unpleasant body odor, but sometimes that's just not enough! We all know that conventional antiperspirants work great to prevent sweat, while deodorants do a standup job acting as odor neutralizers. But what most of us don't know, though, is how these products work, and how they can affect our bodies physically, therefore energetically, spiritually, and so on.
The skin absorbs around 60% of what we apply to it topically. I remember being blown away when I learned that in beauty school! What's crazier to think is it was estimated that the underarms and genitalia have a 100% absorption rate, according to a study conducted by Naturopath
Ananda Mahony. Most antiperspirants on the market contain aluminum, a heavy metal that can travel into your lymphatic system (which supports your immune system, and does a whole bunch other stuff, too!) under your armpits. Aluminum is linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Aside from aluminum, most antiperspirants contain parabens, a type of chemical preservative which actually mimics the hormone estrogen in our body, as well as disrupts our body's endocrine system- virtually affecting every cell in our body. Although thought to be better for you than antiperspirants, most deodorants still contain parabens and synthetic fragrance.
What's our alternative to absorbing all those toxins in conventional products? We use a natural crystal deodorant, which is derived from potassium alum, a mineral salt that naturally occurs on rocks as encrustations. When the human body sweats, it releases salt and water, which has no smell of its own. The odor is actually produced from bacteria living on the skin. Potassium alum works by inhibiting bacterial growth, therefore preventing an unpleasant odor when we sweat. Granted, it doesn't help with your underarms staying dry! So if that's important to you, here's an easy recipe you can mix up in the kitchen, pour in a jar or an old deodorant container, and apply each morning after you use the crystal.
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 5 TBS coconut oil
- 20 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)
It will be easiest to mix and pour into a container if the coconut oil is melted down first! It will take a few hours for the coconut oil to solidify afterward, and voila! Homemade deodorant. Hope this gives you some good ideas for natural alternatives to your conventional products.
We'll hitting the road before the sun rises tomorrow. Looking forward to an adventure with our family & the trees in Big Sur! Much love and make it a joyful weekend, friends.
