SUPER SOAP

 More and more companies are introducing pure, natural soap onto the market. You might find a local company selling this type of soap at your neighborhood health food store. That would give you the best value for your money. We have a great local distributor who sets up at the Whole Foods store here in Franklin, TN.

I have been using Indigo Wild all natural goat’s milk ZUM BARS for many years. They contain only goat’s milk, vegetable/bean oils, glycerin, essential oils, and natural mineral pigments.

The essential oils used in these soaps are 100% pure. These bars contain no beef fat, PEG-6, EDTA or other synthetic chemicals or preservatives. They smell wonderful, look wonderful (crazy swirls and other fun patterns), and come in a variety of different scents. You can get discount packs and specialty packs like the Irish collection and the Christmas collection (Frankincense and Myrrh, peppermint, and more). I like mint, patchouli mint, and lemongrass the best, along with the Christmas collection. Give these handsome and healthy soaps a try!

The other products in the ZUM line are really fun too, like Zum Mist and Zum Oil. Gotta love this company…

How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer and more

Check the comment under my first post (A Great Pure and Natural Hand Soap) to find out how to make your own hand sanitizer and how to make a high-cost liquid hand soap go a whole lot further...

Happy Birthday to You - Hand Sanitizing

More to come on hand sanitizers at a later date. Today I just wanted to add a tip. We all know that we are supposed to wash/rub our hands under water for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. What most of you probably don't know is that what actually kills the germs is not the soap, it is the rubbing action. (The water helps, too). A scientist friend I worked with at Abbott told me this.  So if you don't have any soap, and even if you don't have any water, just do the Happy Birthday rub.

To Neem or Not to Neem?

Neem oil has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and insect-repelling properties. The oil has a garlic-like odor and is yellow in color. Neem oil has been used in the past for many ailments, both internal and external.

Many neem oil products only contain a small amount of neem, so these most likely pose no threat to your health. Pure neem oil should be used with caution. Do not apply neem to the skin extensively or for long periods of time.  Application of neem to any part of the skin is contraindicated for pregnant women and for children. Neem can stimulate the immune system, so it should not be used by people who have autoimmune disease.

Some people take neel oil by mouth/internally. Research suggests this is safe for most adults for a short period of time. When taken in large doses or for long periods of time, neem can harm the kidneys or liver. I would advise against using neem internally, or only under the close supervision of a holistic doctor.

Neem leaf extract (whole neem) is more dangerous. I once found a wonderful hand soap that only had 5 ingredients, one of which was neem leaf extract. I bought this soap, not knowing anything about whole neem. I now use it only to keep bugs off my garden plants. It would be all right to use a hand soap like this occasionally, but not every day. Also, whole neem is toxic to fish so we need to consider the impact of products like this on the environment.

Neem is widely used as an insecticide. It’s safe to eat vegetables that you have sprayed with neem. You don’t need to worry about residues. Neem is much safer than most conventional pesticides used in agriculture.

So, the bottom line is, use neem judiciously, with caution, and be extra careful of neem leaf extract. Do not use neem at all if it is contraindicated in your case. Do not use neem on children or pets.

A Great Pure and Natural Hand Soap

A wonderful product: South of France liquid hand soap. You rarely find a product with so few ingredients. This product contains only water, coconut and olive oil, vegetable glycerin, cellulose, fragrance/essential oils, citric acid, and Vitamin E. None of those long scientific/chemical names that are unintelligible. This soap feels wonderful on your hands (slippery) and is non-drying. Yes, it's a little pricey, but if you use hand soap the way I do (i.e., this stuff is soaking into your skin every day), it's worth it. Just use a small amount each time.