Usually this inaccurate data comes in the form of Material Safety Data Sheets that have been taken out of context.  Unfortunately MSDS often use animal studies as a determinant of safety ,  This however is not accurate and does not follow that that the same adverse effects are inevitable in humans.

Using animals as a means of deciding whether drugs and chemicals are safe has no weight what so ever. Most drugs are metabolised entirely differently by humans then animals. Even within the animal family some species will have no health affects while others will be killed by the same substance.

Thalidomide, a drug prescribed for morning sickness in the 60′s was tested on animals prior to release and deemed safe upon animal testing but soon after was found to cause birth defects in humans. Aspirin also causes birth defects in monkeys amongst many other animal species but is safe in humans.

With the massive amount of inaccurate information flying around the internet is it any wonder that consumers are going natural but natural does not mean safer for allergic skins.

Lavender oil which is frequently used in baby products and liberally in adult cosmetics is considered by most people to be fantastic because of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender however makes the skin more prone to burning from UV rays and also causes pigmentation, a condition that women pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to get rid of.  Of course natural companies will not tell you that by using their lavender product that they will give you pigmentation.  You are only told how fantastic it is and not what the long term consequences of use are.

Lavender and Tea Tree Oil have also been dubbed gender bender chemicals. Both of these natural oils have been shown to induce breast development in prepubescent boys. The report in The New England Journal of Medicine found that use of personal care products was a strong contributor to this phenomenon.

Lavender also is associated with contact dermatitis and allergies.  Lavender contains Coumarin (makes you burn quicker), Geraniol, Limonene and Linalool; all of which are listed of the EU regulated list of contact allergens.  Not a good choice for those with hypersensitivities. Of course this information about natural products is hidden from consumers in an attempt by natural companies to get a competitive edge over their synthetic counterparts.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is hailed as being terrible for your skin and there is no doubt it can dry your skin and cause problems.  Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is the benchmark for irritancy, it is what everything else is compared to.  However replacing SLS with other surfactants does not mean you will not have an allergy.  The newest breed of surfactants are derived from sugar and so are deemed natural, the fact that SLS comes from coconut another natural souce is not mentioned of course by natural companies.  The Glucosides come from sugar and yes they are natural, but don’t use them if you have allergies.  I have seen first hand people who look like they have been burnt from a couple of uses.  Decyl Glucoside which is commonly used has a pH of 11.  Yes you read that correctly.  It is so alkaline that Citric Acid must be added at the end of formulation to bring down the pH so it does not burn your skin.

Do not rely on safety data sheets as an indicator of safeness.  What causes an allergy in one person does not in another.  Education however is the best knowledge you can have as it allows you to have choice and not be misled by hyped up advertising.

Originally posted 2009-12-23 06:54:29. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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This shocking side effect was reported by researchers at the University of Colorado and the environmental health branch of the US National Institutes of Health in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The strange condition known as gynecomastia was observed in three boys aged 4, 7, and 10 who developed enlarged breasts after using skin lotions, hair gel, shampoo, and soap containing the natural oils.

“These plant oils, sometimes called ‘essential oils,’ are added to many health-care products, usually for their scent. The oils are sometimes found in other household products or sold in purer forms. Tea tree oil is sometimes used in shampoos for head lice,” revealed Jeff Donn of the Associated Press.

“The three boys were brought to their doctors with overdeveloped breasts that looked like those of girls in early puberty. They were sore in one case. For each boy, doctors could tie the problem only to their use over several months of the natural-oil products,” Donn added.

It wasn’t clear how the oils led to this problem but researchers suspect they contained chemicals that affected the boys’ hormonal balance. They appear to mimic estrogen, the female hormone that promotes breast growth.

The oils are believed to have affected young girls in the same way, including a 17-month-old child whose parents used a lavender soap to wash her feeding bottle, according to Dr. Clifford Bloch, a hormone specialist in Greenwood Village, Colorado, who treated the patients.

“Be cautious. I would not give these products to my children,” Bloch said.

“On product labels, the oils sometimes are listed by their scientific names: Lavandula angustifolia (lavender oil) and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). Such products do not require government approval to be sold unless they make specific health claims,” Donn revealed.

None of the researchers, however, called for a ban of these products, considering that the problem is rare and clears up when they are no longer used. However, they did advise parents to consider the risks of using such products.

As we wait for more developments in this area, it’s best to use other products in the meantime, especially since the long term effects of the above essentials oils remain unknown. For those considering breast augmentation, play safe by using the Clevastin Natural Breast Enlargement System. This product contains natural plant estrogens that will tighten and improve your breasts. Check out http://www.clevastin.com for more information.

Originally posted 2009-12-05 09:04:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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