I recently wrote about perfumes in an article entitled Weight Gain & Resistant Weight Loss explaining that artificial fragrances are not only a significant contributing factor in our losing battle against piling on the pounds, but, they are a considerable contributor toward the UK gross domestic product, or GDP, which potentially has catastrophic consequences for our health as a whole…
UK GDP is a statistical representation of everything which is produced, bought and sold within the UK.
Frighteningly, the fragrance industry made a 0.3% GDP contribution within the UK in 2018.
But, why is this so disastrous? And, why are essential oils the antidote?
Plus, how is the way in which we apply perfumes the most optimally damaging for our health?
And, last but not least, why is the way in which we apply perfumes and aftershaves equally bad for our babies and toddlers as it is for us?
Fragrantly & Flagrantly Poisonous
Fragrances go a long way towards making cosmetics and toiletries more toxic than they need to be… Although, truth be known, most cosmetics and toiletries are swimming in so many toxic ingredients, which are immensely bad for us as well as our environment, they would already present us with significant health challenges over time, without the need for the additional toxic burden of fragrances, on top.
Read Skincare Ingredients To Avoid to see the extent of the problem where cosmetics and toiletries are concerned, as well as familiarising yourself with some of the worst toxins we are broadly and routinely exposed to on a daily basis.
Phthalates
Phthalates in perfumes, as well as pliable plastics and linoleum really disrupt our hormones. But it’s not just ingredients used to stabilise fragrances, like Phthalates which are the issue. It’s also the inherent toxicity of the synthetic constituents, which create the perfumery notes, that make up the whole noxious story.
It’s also important to realise there’s a real issue with the constituents that provide colour within our perfumes, toiletries and cosmetics, as well as those which enhance the perfumery notes. These colour producing ingredients all come from the Phthalates family too.
Plus, they are used as lubricants in cosmetics, and can be found in other beauty products and even pharmaceuticals.
So, what are Phthalates…?
Phthalates are petroleum-based chemicals which make plastics soft and flexible. Different Phthalates are also used in perfumes and synthetic fragrances to enhance the strength and sillage of a fragrance.
Phthalates are in EVERYTHING because we all demand products which have a nice fragrance… even toilet paper and female sanitary products… including the insertable variety… can have synthetic fragrances infused throughout. To carry a product, which is infused with synthetic fragrances, within our bodies for up to eight hours could be potentially catastrophic.
Our bodies absorb what sits on the the skin.
Phthalates are found in:
- Perfumes… including other people’s…
- Linoleum
- Skincare and cosmetic products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Dishwasher tablets
- Laundry detergents
- Shampoos (for retaining the colour)
- Soaps
- Air fresheners
- Household Cleaning Products
- Industrial Cleaning Products
- Fabric fresheners
The Damage From Phthalates Is Endless
National Geographic recently published an article on microplastic contamination of commercially available edible salt after testing 39 big-brand sea, lake, and rock salts from all around the world. Shockingly, 36 out of 39 were contaminated with cell-choking, phthalate-laden microplastics.
A Harvard study found that microplastics accumulate in our Livers, Kidneys and intestines, and that they can cause inflammation and poor cellular performance… which translates into systemic chronic disease and chronic pain.
Microplastics have also been implicated in cancers and brain tumours.
Because Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and inflammatory they have been shown to be a factor in the onset of several autoimmune conditions like Lupus and Diabetes, and they are also a suspected cause of abnormal sexual development and infertility issues as well as obesity.
Children’s Health Defense News
A leading organisation in the US, Children’s Health Defense, which is dedicated to the protection of children’s health, has published an important article about phthalates. Hopefully the initiative described in the article will have positive outcomes.
The authors of a new peer-reviewed article linking phthalates to long-lasting neurodevelopmental harm in fetuses, infants and children want the chemicals, found in toys, floor coverings and hundreds of other products, banned.
Experts Call for Immediate Ban of Entire Class of Chemicals Damaging Babies’ Brains
Adulterated Essential Oils
Essential oils are generally used for their many and varied healing abilities. But, even essential oils can be toxic.
Adulterated essential oils, in all truth, are often no better than synthetic perfumes. Adulterated essential oils can be very toxic. They are even potentially carcinogenic, which really makes them no different to synthetic fragrances.
***I detail the difference between adulterated essential oils and pure, medicinal grade essential oils towrads the end of this article…
How We Amplify The Poisonous Effect Of Our Perfumes
Perhaps the worst thing about the modern use of toxic perfumes is the way in which we use them.
Instead of applying beautiful essential oil blends to our pulse points where they would do optimal good, we apply synthertic perfumes where they can do the most damage.
Pulse Points
The pulse points on our wrists are where our blood vessels are closest to the surface of our outer skin. This means that substances applied on the inside of the wrists will enter the bloodstream fasten than if they were applied anywhere else on the body.
The pulse point behind the ear is where the Vagus Nerve, which governs the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the state which induces a relaxing, recuperative and restorative influence on the body, is closest to the surface.
The Vagus Nerve point is found at the base of the Mandible Bone behind the ear. Applying a Frankincense Essential Oil dilution, or a German Chamomile Essential Oil dilution to the Vagus Nerve point behind the ear will go a long way to removing us from the fight of flight mode, aka sympathetic nervous system response, back into a state of calm and rest, aka the parasympathetic nervous system response.
Learn how to massage your Vagus Nerve to exit ‘fight or flight’ and enter ‘rest and digest’ mode.
How We Amplify The Healing Effect Of Essential Oils
Using our pulse points for healing essential oil blends, like Hormone His & Hers and Thieves Oil 2020 for Hormone & EMF Detox, is definitely the way forward.
These points in the body, which also include behind the knees and base of the throat, all points in the body where we have traditionally applied natural perfumes and salves, because they are where healing essential oils are best utilised by the body.
The fact that we are now using all of these points to deliver toxic perfume ingredients more readily into our body just shows how out of touch we have become with our own personal healing and our body in general.
Perfume & Babies & Toddlers
Because we hold babies and toddlers in such a way that they are directly exposed to our perfumes and aftershaves, via our chest and neck and, when toddlers rest their heads on our shoulders, via the Vagus Nerve area behind our ears, etc, they can be exposed to a real toxic soup of immune-system compromising substances.
These toxic substances are so noxious that they are likely to impede the natural development of your child’s delicate immune system, whilst also placing a toxic burden and your child’s body going forward.
It is best to try and consciously limit the toxic burdens on your children so that they can develop as naturally as possible.
Read more about this in Essential Oil Safety For Babies & Children.
Essential Oil Perfumes
Essential oils are wonderfully aromatic. Some oils smell better than others, but blending oils always has an alchemical effect.
Because essential oils have a profound healing effect on the body when used in the correct concentrations within a good organic carrier oil, there is no contest between essential oil blends and perfume.
For example, everyone falls in love with the aroma of FACIAL OIL No. 2 and some find the refreshing notes within FACIAL OIL No. 8 wonderfully cooling during the hot months.
More often than not the aromatic notes of a healing blend of essential oils will smell fantastic. So, doesn’t it make sense to replace perfumes with aromatic oil blends that have profound healing effects on the skin and body?
There’s an increasing number of people who think so! And that can only be a good thing…
Personal Approach To Healing
It is abundantly clear we cannot rely on the manufacturers of products to consider or care about the health impacts of their products on us, the consumer. It is, therefore, vitally important that we take responsibility for our own health and get back in tune with what our body is trying to tell us.
Doing this will not only cut out all of the middlemen, but it will also mean that we start rejecting practices, like perfume use, which are damaging our health.
We could save ourselves and the National Health System a fortune!
In fact, if we took responsibility for our health we could reduce the burden on the National Health System by 90%, because we would render it, and it’s toxic pharmaceuticals, obsolete.
I’m all for keeping the ward which deals with broken limbs, but I’m not remotely interested in all of the chemical drug interventions on offer… and, if you’re reading this, then you are not likely to be interested either!
Using Essential Oils To Heal
Essential oils, when produced via distillation and C02 extraction, which are then kept in their natural state after extraction, are immensely healing.
You only need to read the Why Use Essential Oils article on this website to see the scope and breadth of the healing potential of essential oils.
You can check out the healing properties in Essential oils In Brief section of this website.
You can also gain advice about starting an essential oil collection in Essential oil Starter Kit and Essential Oil First Aid Kit.
Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended to replace the medical directives of your healthcare provider. This information is not meant for the diagnosis of health issues. If you are pregnant, have serious or multiple health concerns, consult with your healthcare provider before using essential oils or associated products. If you experience any complications or adverse reactions contact your healthcare provider.
Deepen your knowledge by using the Wild As The Wind Recommended Resources
Another resource you may find useful can be found by following the link below. *Please note, I use sources from the Recommended Resources list as well as sources from the Healthcare and Skincare Information Sources list when researching articles for the Wild As The Wind Blog.
Best Healthcare and Skincare Information Sources.
Wild As The Wind use a number of resources when deciding which essential oil formulas to put together for optimal healing and efficacy, as well as to support any health claims we may make.
We owe a particular debt to GreenMedInfo, and, of course, the teachings of Penny Price.
Other resources include:
PubMed.
Robert Tisserand
Dr. Robert Pappas
AromaWeb
Dr. Josh Axe
Dr. Eric Zielinski
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