Product Review: Bed Buddy ThermaTherapy Neck and Hand Wrap

For those of you following along in my Sharing a Challenge series, you know that I have been training for a half-marathon walk race. Given the associated aches and pains, it was excellent timing when I was asked to review the Bed Buddy®: Plush ThermaTherapy® Neck and Hand Wrap.

Here is the official description from Carex Health Brands:

This specially designed wrap with warming neck and hand pouches warms in minutes in the microwave. Moist heat ThermaTherapy® penetrates deeply to relieve aches, pains, tension or arthritis in chronic problem areas. Luxurious and soft, this wrap comfortably envelopes the neck, and hands can slip into warm pockets for indulgent therapy. Unique design allows you to sooth additional areas with the warming hand pouches. This reusable and long lasting wrap is filled with 100% all natural ingredients and is lightly fragranced with Lavender and Chamomile aromatherapy.

But, let’s cut to the chase.

It’s soft. It’s cozy. It smells really nice.

Creating heat

The first step is to microwave the Bed Buddy Wrap to heat it up. Nuke on high for 90 seconds, and if this isn’t warm enough, keep going in 20 second intervals up to two and half minutes.

I didn’t want to ruin my Wrap before I could even try it, so I went 110 seconds. This made it pleasantly warm, and I headed off to bed to enjoy the experience.

Then things went awry. Not with the Bed Buddy Wrap, but with the cats! We have to lock them in the front half of the house in order to stop the Siamese from yowling at us at 3 a.m. Normally, this involves a simple scoop and toss procedure. Scoop them off the couch and toss them through the French doors.

However, for some reason, both of them took off and I had to chase them around the living room. The whole time we are playing hide and seek, I’m getting more annoyed because I’m afraid my Bed Buddy will cool down and I won’t get to enjoy it.

I finally take it off my neck, capture my rogue cats, and toss them through the doors. In retrospect, they were probably trying to avoid the great yellow snake wrapped around my neck. Note to self: nuke the Bed Buddy AFTER the cats are corralled.

Anyway, I then dashed back to my Bed Buddy fully expecting to have to nuke it again.

Not so! It was still nice and warm, so I headed up to bed with it. After all, it is called a Bed Buddy.

The scent of lavender

Bliss. There I lay with lavender wafting into my nose, my neck gently cradled in warmth, and my hands all wrapped in coziness.

For over thirty minutes it stayed warm! And that’s not including the cat chasing time.

Mr Very Right has taken a great liking to the Bed Buddy as well. I arrived home from work one day to have him greet me at the door with his neck and hands enveloped in yellow plush. Not exactly a virile image, but, he had been working outside on one of my honey-do lists and had gotten chilled to the bone. Maybe not virile, but definitely endearing.

Checking out the durability

Having made the rounds of both humans in the house, and some serious cautious sniffing from the cats, it was time to test out the durability of the Wrap in the wash. I just popped out the sacs of herbs, and threw the plush in the washer and dryer. The instructions recommend using fabric softener, which I don’t use because I am sensitive to perfumes. I was worried, therefore, that it wouldn’t come out as soft as it went in.

Nope! It came out just as cuddly.

Unique use

The scent of lavender is a known stress reliever, and I proved this works after my escapade with the cats. Thanks to Mr Very Right, we also proved it nicely takes the chill out of your bones. But, ladies, I discovered a use for the Bed Buddy Neck and Hand Wrap that you won’t find on the box or product description.

Two words: menstrual cramps.

Yep, just warm that baby up, zen out to the scent of lavendar around your neck, and massage your belly with the hand pouches.

Gosh, I’m almost looking forward to my next period.

Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but now I have a natural solution for dealing with the awful bloating and pain associated with that time of the month.

Bed Buddy Plush ThermaTherapy Neck and Hand Wrap. Who knew? I think they really need to change their marketing strategy. Forget about the aches and pains associated with half marathon training. It’s all about menstrual cramp relief.

More information!

The Bed Buddy Plush ThermaTherpay Neck and Hand Wrap will be given away on Silver & Grace. Make sure you come back on May 6 and enter to win.

You can get more information on the Bed Buddy at Carex Health Brands and the Bed Buddy Facebook page.

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Blog carnival

Do you have a post you would like to share on aging? Submit your post to the monthly Silver & Grace blog carnival.

Black cohosh: is it really safe?

Black cohosh. Every article or book you read on perimenopause and menopause suggests black cohosh as an excellent symptom reliever. But is it really the miracle cure it is made out to be?

What is it?

Black cohosh is an herb. It is also commonly known as black snakeroot, macrotys, bugbane, bugwort, rattleroot, rattleweed.

The magic of black cohosh is actually found underground in its stems and roots. It is used fresh or dried in the form of teas, capsules, pills or liquid extracts.

What does it do?

It does just about everything, it seems. Commonly known for relieving night sweats and hot flashes, it is also used for menopausal depression, vaginal dryness and menstrual cramps.

But is it safe?

Ah, now that is a good question! I am a bit cynical by nature when it comes to miracle cures, so I decided to investigate.

First I started with my resource library. Seems my favourite menopause authors are all for black cohosh.

Ann Louise Gittleman, Before The Change, recommends 4 to 8 milligrams daily for hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Nisha Jackson, Perimenopause: Balance Your Hormones Naturally, also recommends it for hot flashes and night sweats.

Christiane Northrup, The Wisdom of Menopause, suggests using black cohosh for depression, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and menstrual cramps. Although, she does add the warning that it may interact adversely with medicines for high blood pressure.

So, far so good, but …

Next, off to check with Mr. Google. And here is where it starts to get dicey. There are lots of articles hailing the virtues of black cohosh, but some articles questioning it.

There is this from the National Center for Complementary and Alternate Medicine:

United States Pharmacopeia experts suggest women should discontinue use of black cohosh and consult a health care practitioner if they have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice. There have been several case reports of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), as well as liver failure, in women who were taking black cohosh. It is not known if black cohosh was responsible for these problems. Although these cases are very rare and the evidence is not definitive, scientists are concerned about the possible effects of black cohosh on the liver.

And over at Livestrong.com:

In 2006, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom all took such actions, and in 2008, the U.S. Pharmacopeia (an organization that sets standards for foods, supplements and drugs) recommended that black cohosh products include a cautionary statement about the possibility of liver toxicity.

There is also conflicting evidence on whether black cohosh actually does relieve menopausal symptoms or not, as clinical trials have only ever lasted for periods of six months.

Also need to watch for …

As with any supplement, there are potential side effects, even if only mild:

• headaches
• heaviness in the legs
• upset stomach
• nausea
• constipation
• irregular or slow heart rate
• low blood pressure

To black cohosh or not to black cohosh

I am not at the night sweat or hot flashes stage … thank goodness … so, I have not had occasion to try black cohosh. I am not frightened off of it by what I’ve read, as the health risk seems to be fairly low, if any at all. However, like anything new I put into my body, I will very carefully monitor my body’s response to it. Anything out of the norm happens, and I’ll be flushing the supplements down the toilet faster than you can say “Hot flashes suck”.

I will also combine using black cohosh along with other symptom relievers, such as proper exercise and diet. It won’t be my miracle cure, but part of a symptom reliever package. As my mother always says “Everything in moderation”.

Have your say:

Have you tried black cohosh? If so, did it work for you? How long did you take it for? Any adverse symptoms?

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Putting menopause insomnia to rest

I always get up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom. In the past I wouldn’t even really wake up. I would just stumble through the deed on auto-pilot, back asleep as my head hit the pillow.

Not anymore. Now when I get up in the middle of the night, I stay up. Oh, I go back to bed, but I’m done sleeping for a good hour or more.

The alarm goes off shortly after managing to drift back to sleep. So, I haul myself out of bed and head off to work. But, I’m in good company once I get there, because I hear more than one woman my age complain about being awake for a good part of the night.

Menopausal insomnia. Gotta love it.

Most of the literature associates the sleeplessness with night sweats. I’ve never had night sweats, so that’s clearly not my problem. I just find that I’ve become a very light sleeper, and any disruption brings me to a fully awake state. Heading off to the bathroom wakes me up, and returning to a snoring Mr Very Right keeps me up.

And if the bedroom isn’t pitch black, I might as well not even bother going to bed.

Eliminate sleep disruptions

There are ways to help get a good night’s sleep. Obviously eliminating disruptions help. I find not turning on any lights when I go for my middle of the night bathroom visit helps. And ear plugs block out my husband’s symphony. We also have thick shutters that block out all external light sources.

Tryptophan is your friend

Tryptophan is used by our bodies to make serotonin, which controls sleep patterns. Drinking milk before bed helps. Most literature suggests the milk has to be warm, but there isn’t actually any evidence that the tryptophan is more bio-available in warm milk versus cold. Personally, the thought of drinking warm milk makes me queasy, so I drink mine cold.

Other tryptophan sources are:

• bananas
• dates
• figs
• tuna
• grapefruit
• peanut butter
• and the ever famous sleep inducer, turkey

Other sleep inducers

Exercise! When I run during the day, I sleep much better.

Take time to unwind from a busy day. Turn off the electronics and pick up a book. I used to play those fun little computer games just before bedtime, but then I’d lie there staring at the ceiling while my mind blew up little coloured balls.

What not to do before bed

Drinking caffeine and alcohol should be avoided three to four hours before bedtime. If you like a nice cup of tea to wind down with in the evening, make sure its herbal.

Make sure you eat these foods early in the day, as they act as stimulants:

• cheese
• bacon
• sausage
• tomatoes
• spinach

Don’t watch the clock

The absolute worse thing I can do when I can’t get back to sleep is watch the clock. That just makes me anxious and irritable about how long it’s taking me to get back to sleep, and how soon the darn alarm clock is going to go off.

Instead, I just lie there in a relaxed state. I might not be sleeping, but at least my body and mind are resting. Most days, therefore, I am still able to get up feeling somewhat refreshed, and on the days I truly am exhausted I just go to bed a little earlier and hope it all evens out in the wash.

Your thoughts:

• When you find yourself wide awake in the middle of the night, do you stay in bed, or do you get up and do something until you are tired again?
• Are there foods or activities that you absolutely have to avoid at night in order to get a good sleep?

Suggested reading:

How to Beat Insomnia Through Menopause
Menopause Insomnia: Symptoms and Treatments
Eliminate Menopause Insomnia And Sleep Well Again

Your turn

Do you have a personal story to share? Silver & Grace is always looking for stories that turn the theory into reality. To submit your story click here.

Is there a topic related to the spiritual or physical aspect of aging gracefully that you would like to see covered? Please send post ideas to Eliza by using the Silver & Grace contact form.

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Cold and flu fighting foods

Winter is a really bad time for me health-wise. I go into total hibernation mode. I don’t exercise and I don’t eat properly.

Of course, cold and flu season is the worst possible time to let my body’s defenses down. So, I investigated immunity-boosting foods to help me stay healthy this year.

Turns out it will be quite easy to incorporate them into my diet, as most of the fall into my ‘winter comfort food’ category.

 

Now, I just have to find a way to motivate myself to exercise.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E boosts the production of T-cells, which are infection fighting white blood cells. Great for resisting flu and upper respiratory infections.

Fantastic Vitamin E sources:

• sunflower seeds
• almonds
• wheat germ
• hazelnuts
• peanuts

Selenium

Selenium is an antioxidant that gets the good bacteria intestines to do battle with the bad bacteria floating around in there. Parasites and E. coli beware! A little bit with do it though. Too much selenium is not good for us, so eat in moderation.

Fantastic selenium sources:

• brazil nuts
• tuna
• beef
• cod
• crab
• oysters
• chicken
• turkey
• garlic

Zinc

Zinc is a crucial mineral and performs many functions. It helps in cell division, assists the liver to function, metabolizes carbohydrates, and regulates our immune system

Fantastic zinc sources:

• oysters
• beef
• crab
• pork
• chicken
• cashews
• beans

Beta-carotene

Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by our bodies. Vitamin A keeps the lining our lungs and digestive system healthy, which are our first line of attack against infection.

Fantastic beta-carotene sources:

• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• spinach
• kale
• Brussel sprouts
• pumpkin
• apricots
• papaya
• mango

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is generally the first vitamin we think of for staving off colds. It keeps our defenses strong, and has been proven to shorten the length and severity of colds when we load up at the first sign of trouble.

Fantastic vitamin C sources:

• kiwis
• papaya
• peppers
• broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• citrus
• strawberries
• leafy greens

And there are enough overall options, that I can avoid those nasty Brussel sprouts which appear on a couple of lists!

Your turn:

• What do you do to enhance your immune system?
• Is it an effort for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the winter?

Suggested reading:

9 Power Foods That Boost Immunity
Immune Boosting Foods
15 Best Foods to Improve Your Immunity

Product Review: Lunapads & Lunapanties

Ladies, how many of you have opened a box of sanitory napkins and thought “Wow, these are really pretty!”  Or, ever put the words incontinence pads and sexy in the same sentence?

Zero to none of you. That’s what I thought.

And yet, when I opened my package of Lunapad cloth menstrual pads my very first reaction was “Wow, these are really pretty!”

And when I looked a the the Lunapanties, “Wow, these are really sexy!”

A year ago, I purchased the DivaCup, a menstrual cup, and wrote a product review. The good ladies at Lunapads suggested I try their reusable pads. And knowing I was a runner, they also suggested Lunapanties for the occasional urinary leaks.

Lunapanties

Let’s start with the Lunapanties.

Sexy red low rise panties, with a sewn in absorbent gusset of soft brushed cotton.

That’s right. Sexy! Not old granny pants. And not bulky incontinence diapers.

I wear them during my period over night, either with or without the DivaCup. Zero leaks onto the bedsheets.

I also wear them when I do high impact sports like running. No uncomfortable wetness to put a damper, pardon the pun, on my run.

Lunapads

My second thought when examining the Lunapads was “These will never stay in place.” 

They are built with wings that wrap around the gusset of your underwear and simply snap together. Surely the pad was going to slide back and forth.

I was wrong. They do not budge. Ever.

As a matter of fact, they are more secure than traditional pads with sticky tape. Probably because the Lunapads are thin enough to be held snugly to your body by your underwear. And they are super soft, so they aren’t chaffing against your skin, which also causes disposable pads to shift.

Care of both the Lunapads and Lunapanties

Just chuck them in the washing machine and dryer. Simple as that.

And since I do the household laundry, I don’t have to worry about the males in the house running screaming into the night.

You can also wash them in the sink and air dry them.

When you are out and about

I just carry a two small zip lock bags in my purse. One for the clean pads and one for the dirty pads. And I actually find the pads so absorbent, I don’t need to change them as often as disposable pads anyway.

Oh, and on that note, basically no odour either!

Cost

Loving my Lunapad experience so much, I purchased a kit with enough pads to last an entire average cycle. While the investment may appear expensive at $130 USD, the savings quickly adds up.

The pads last 3 – 5 years, making that a cost of  $25 – $45 per year. How much do you spend on pads in one year? I was certainly spending way more than that!

The panties are $15 USD. I wouldn’t spend that for old grannie pants, but for sexy underwear? I wouldn’t even blink.

Good for the environment

According to the Lunapads website “over 14 billion pads, tampons and applicators going into North American landfills every year”.

And that is just the North American statistics!

Given the convenience and comfort of cloth pads, there is simply no excuse for junking up our planet with disposable feminine hygiene products.

Purchase information

Lunapads and Lunapanties are available to purchase at www.lunapads.com

Remember that silly commercial about having a happy period? Well, with Luna products I actually am!

Only this time, as the Lunapads company tag line says “happier periods, naturally”.

Going Gray book give-away winner

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Andrea, who won a copy of Anne Kreamer’s Going Gray. I know she will enjoy it immensely.

A big thank you to all the contest participants. It’s fantastic having you a part of the Silver & Grace community. There will be more book give-aways in the future, so keep trying!

For those of you who haven’t read my review of this great book, please check it out here.  And if you are interested in buying this book, it is available through the Silver & Grace Amazon link.

For more on going gray, you might also want to read my post on Gray hair can be beautiful and sexy.

This was great fun, and I look forward to offering more give-aways. Stay tuned!

Book give-away contest: Going Gray

I love books! I love the smell of them. The feel of them. The curling up with them.

And when I’m done with a really good book, I love paying-it-forward.

Welcome to my first Pay-It-Forward Give-Away contest.

I am pleased to give away my copy of Going Gray: How To Embrace Your Authentic Self with Grace and Style, by Anne Kreamer. It is pre-loved, but I promise I haven’t dog-eared it, dropped it in the bathtub, or spilled my coffee on it.

And no, you don’t have to be in the process of going gray yourself to read this book. It is a funny and thought provoking look at society’s views on aging. You can read my book review on Going Gray to learn more.

Contest rules are simple:

1. Using the Silver & Grace contact form send me an email
2. In the subject line write Going Gray Give-Away
3. Submit the email by October 4, midnight, Eastern Standard Time.

After the contest close, I will number the submissions in order of receipt and pick a winner using a random number generator.

I will notify the winner by return email (make sure you use a valid email account), and ask for an address to mail the book to.

And I’ll pop the book in the mail!

Simple as that.

Have fun, and good luck.

Graceful Women: A Deeper Connection

Through my review of the DivaCup, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by the co-founders of Lunapads, Suzanne Siemens and Madeleine Shaw. Wanting to know more about these women, whose philosophy on women’s health and environmental health matched that of Silver & Grace, I read their bios.  This statement about Madeleine jumped off the page at me:

“Switching from tampons to cloth pads brought her the unexpected benefit of discovering a deeper connection with her body”.

I immediately knew I had to have her write a Graceful Women’s post. I am honoured that she accepted my request.  Here is Madeleine’s story.

Connecting with my fertility cycle

 As someone who has built a 17 year career in the field of women’s fertility cycles, I have taken a particular interest in my own cycle and how my relationship to it has changed through my teens, 20s, 30s and now 40s. 

Coming of age as a young woman I was fascinated by menstruation and was an avid reader of Judy Blume’s classic Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.  The magic of being an adult woman absolutely tantalized me and I could hardly wait to be initiated into its beautiful, powerful mystery.  Menarche itself, however, was painful and unheralded by celebration.

I started using tampons pretty much immediately, and within a few years added birth control pills to my monthly routine. Even as a self-proclaimed feminist in my late teens and early 20s, I never questioned the potential downsides of either of these choices.  It simply felt like the modern, convenient thing to do: freeing even, to have such “control over” and “protection from” my own body.  In hindsight I am appalled at how thoroughly brainwashed I was.  And as for any health or environmental implications, they simply never entered my mind.

When I finally realized that my recurrent bladder infections were connected to my use of tampons, I was in my mid 20s, and I was about as disconnected from my cycle as I could be.  Going off the pill and switching to washable menstrual pads coincided to bring about a profound change: for the first time in my adult life I was actually experiencing my unmitigated, complete cycle from start to finish.  After a few months I was amazed by how different I felt, and literally wept with regret over the years I had abandoned my body and the wisdom that my girl-self had known was there all along.

By chance at about that time I came across a powerful article called The Truth About Tamponsand learned about the environmental impact of disposable pads and tampons, as well as questionable health and regulatory issues, particularly with respect to tampons.  I created a business venture to manufacture alternative products that were reusable and “birthed” Lunapads in 1993 at the age of 25.  I continued my journey to go deeper with my cycle, attending Goddess rituals, reading extensively and reaching out to other women via the internet.

 My 30s brought about yet another major change – just as I had started formally charting my cycle I discovered that I was pregnant with my daughter.  Saying goodbye to my cycle for a while ironically made me all the more grateful for it, feeling for the first time its true purpose and power.  By the time my period resumed over 2 years later I felt as though I was hitting menarche all over again, but this time from a healed, empowered perspective – it felt wonderful.

In the last few years I have noticed that things are shifting yet again and I am unquestionably feeling the onset of peri-menopause.  My period itself remains relatively problem-free, but for about 10 days immediately preceding it I am beset with cramps, moodiness and aching breasts.  The upside is that for the rest of the month I have abundant energy.

What does my body need during this change, what can I learn, and how can I support myself?  With the help of a progressive family doctor, naturopath, massage therapist and simply paying gentle attention to my body, I hope to be able to continue to reap the gifts of my cycle.  And when my cycle finally ceases, I hope I move through the next phase of womanhood with an equal amount of care and grace.

 Madeleine Shaw is co-founder of Lunapads International (www.lunapads.com), the web’s finest collection of natural menstrual products.  She lives in Vancouver Canada with her family.

Book review: Going Gray

I purchased Anne Kreamer’s book Going Gray, because I couldn’t believe that going gray was worth an entire book. In my transition from dyed hair to natural silver, I wrote a couple of fun posts, but a whole book? I was intrigued.

The sub-title was the clincher for me: How To Embrace Your Authentic Self With Grace And Style. Authenticity, grace, and style. Key words in the Silver & Grace philosophy.

Boy, am I glad I purchased this book! It is a funny and honest account of the psychological and emotional challenges that Ms Kreamer faced in her own graying process. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover the book is also an intelligent and in depth look at societal views on aging. Or rather anti-aging. And, why we fight so hard to appear youthful, be that by colouring our hair, surgically manipulating our bodies, or simply dressing like a twenty year old.

Deciding to go gray

The first chapter of the book describes why Ms. Kreamer decided to stop colouring her hair. I nodded knowingly from paragraph to paragraph. Her experiences were my experiences. From women who got outright upset at the idea, to the opposite extreme of going gray evangelists. It seems there is no middle ground when it comes to the concept of going gray.

Well, except from men. Her husband’s response to whether she should stop colouring her hair was benign “Sure, why not?”

When did all this colouring business start?

Ms. Kreamer then discusses the history of colouring and its link to our concept of aging. In 1950, 10 percent of American women coloured their hair. Now, the percentage is closer to 75 percent. The big business impact on our perception of hair colour and aging is outright scary. Think Clairol’s Does she … or doesn’t she? campaign.

Extreme investigation

While I blogged about my graying process a couple of times, Ms. Kreamer decided to take the analysis to extreme lengths.

First she created a survey with fascinating results. It turns out that gray hair does not make us look older than our real age, as is a common fear. It just makes it easier for people to judge our true age. Of course, this in itself is something people are afraid of with that whole “29 and holding” response to being asked how old you are.

(By the way, I was born in 1963 and not afraid to tell anyone that.)

But it’s when Ms. Kreamer uses herself as a guinea pig in her research that the story gets extremely humourous. Let’s just say, it takes a very secure husband to stand by and watch his wife sign up for online dating, and go cruising at bars. All in the name of investigative analysis.

Thought provoking

Whether you are gray, colour your hair and have no desire to stop, or are trying to figure out if you want to stop colouring, this book is a fantastic read. By talking about her decision to go gray, Ms. Kreamer is really addressing the fears we have of appearing our age, or horrors, even older than our age. As well as, the external forces which mold our thinking causing society to go from hardly anyone colouring their hair, to most women colouring their hair.

And in the process, Ms. Kreamer debunks a lot of myths on how we gray haired women are perceived. Basically, the only one who thinks we will be perceived differently, or held back, is ourselves.

But then again, we women are pretty famous for imposing limitations on ourselves, aren’t we? Time we learned to embrace our authentic selves with grace and style.

A healthier alternative to commercial shampoos

I find that as I am getting older, I am becoming more aware of the unnecessary chemicals I have been using. So, when I learned that the use of commercially produced shampoos is highly over rated, I jumped on the Poo-Less Train. I switched to a baking soda wash and apple cider vinegar rinse, and my hair is the healthiest it has ever been.

What are manufacturers telling us?

Hair care manufacturers have led us to believe that we need to use their products, and we need to use them often. In fact, they tell us the ideal shampoo use is once a day with multiple lathers and rinses.

What are manufacturers not telling us?

First, we are not being told that daily washing is not a good thing. It strips our hair of its natural oils, and forces an over production of sebum. This creates a vicious cycle of needing to wash our hair daily to keep it oil free.

But what is quite disturbing is that we are not being told about the potential dangers of all the chemicals that are being used in shampoos.

What chemicals are used in shampoos?

This list is quite exhaustive of potentially harmful chemicals that show up in our shampoos. And just because the product is advertised as mild (such as baby shampoos) or herbal, doesn’t make them any less harmful. The following is a list of some of the ingredients you might find in commercial shampoos:

• methylisothiazoline (MIT) – causes neurological damage, and can be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease
• alcohol, isopropyl (SD-40) – dehydrator which strips away our natural immune barrier, leaving us exposed to bacteria, molds and viruses
• FD&C colour pigments – contain heavy metal salts causing skin sensitivity and irritation
• mineral oil – clogs the pores and interferes with our bodies ability to eliminate toxins
• propylene glycol (PG) – penetrates the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure
• sodium laurysulfate (SLS) & sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – can cause eye damage, depression, diarrhea, severe skin irritation
• formaldehyde – a neurotoxin linked to cancer

What are safer, more natural solutions?

There are a number of natural shampoo recipes, but the most basic one is simply baking soda:

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in just enough water to make a paste
Gently massage this into your roots using your finger tips in gentle circles
Let sit for 1 minute then rinse out with warm water

This can be followed by a conditioning rinse:

Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water
Apply to ends of hair only
Let sit for 1 minute then rinse out with warm water

Are there other options besides baking soda and apple cider vinegar?

Yes, you can find many good recipes on the internet. And you may need to experiment to find the solution that works best for you. For example, you can:

• add honey to the baking soda solution
• use lemon or lime juice instead of vinegar
• add essential oils such as tea tree, lavendar, or rosemary
• use a bit of olive oil on the ends of your hair

Is it an easy transition from chemical shampoos to natural shampoos?

I will be honest with you, the transition is not easy. Along with switching to baking soda, the trick is to also wash your hair less often. Twice per week is plenty. However, your hair is used to over producing sebum, and requires a transition period to balance out. 

My transition took five weeks, and it can take up to two months. And there are times when you want to grab the nearest shampoo bottle. I avoided this impulse by throwing out my shampoos.

What are the results of going poo-less?

Besides the obvious one of helping out the environment and my health, I experienced the following benefits:

• my wild Irish hair is no longer wild and frizzy
• my natural curls actually curl in the right direction
• the rosacea on my forehead has completely cleared up
• I have no more acne on my back or chest

I have also learned to work with my hair instead of against it. Each morning I take a look in the mirror and make a decision to leave my hair as is, rinse it with water only, or actually wash it. And somedays it is super curly and somedays not, but ultimately I let my hair decide. And I can honestly say, I have not experienced a single bad hair day in over a year.

Suggested reading:

The No Shampoo Alternative
When It Comes to Shampoo, Less Is More
Popular shampoos contain toxic chemicals linked to nerve damage

Your turn:

• If you have made the poo-less transition, do you have any tips to share?
• Are there other beauty and health care products you use that are more ecologically sound?

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