Tag: stroke

Tomatoes Benefit Health And May Protect Against Cancer

Natural Medicine:
Tomatoes, once known as Love Apples, or Apples of Paradise, like the sun, and so long as they can get enough of it, with adequate watering, they will flourish in your garden. You can keep some seed from any good-tasting tomato from the previous year, throw a sprinkling of seed on some turned over ground, water occasionally, and they will be sure to come up.
Dig in a little organic fertilizer or compost about the plants once they begin to grow, to ensure that nutrient-rich fruits will later grace your table and give maximum flavour to your cooking. Do not plant tomatoes anywhere near potatoes, or your fruit trees.  They grow well next to beans and greens.
(Note:  This post first appeared on ‘Nutritional Tips’, a website which my son and I began. We have decided to put these posts onto this website because it already has a readership base.)
The humble tomato originated in South America, was brought to Europe in the 1700’s, and is today a mainstay of traditional Italian cuisine, which has proved to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. In Napoli, Southern Italy, where people eat vast quantities of tomatoes, olives, fruits and pasta in their mainly vegetarian diet, the incidence of cancer is low.
Cooking tomatoes does not ruin their nutrients, and some people believe that cooking may even enhance their healthful effects, which means you can eliminate guilt and enjoy that sauce-covered Italian pasta all the more.
 “La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets in exactly one hour” – see Wikimedia.org.
Tomatoes are a great addition to those rich items on the menu not only for their flavour, but because of their ability to break down fats. This attribute is considered helpful in preventing hardening of the arteries.
Tomatoes are a classed as a solanaceous vegetable. They are rich in potassium, which is important for the heart, for stabilizing blood pressure, and maintaining healthy brain cells.
They contain a variety of antioxidant and anticoagulant compounds, including Vitamin C, which are effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Tomatoes have been used as a detoxifying agent in some cases of chemical poisoning. As well as their antioxidants, they contain rich levels of chlorine and sulphur, which can greatly aid the body in combatting toxic overload from chemical environments. According to John Heinerman, there are
51 mg of chlorine and 11 mg of sulphur to every 100 grammes of raw, sun-ripened vine tomatoes.
A good dose of tomatoes daily can help to restore a tired liver and help combat cirrhosis of the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that the nutrients in tomatoes can even help rebuild liver cells, as in cancer.  Tomatoes could be important to restore the liver, when part of the liver has been removed.
Vitamin C, Lycopene, Quercetin and Lutein are some of the vital-to-health antioxidants found in tomatoes.
These compounds are all natural blood-thinners which can help to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the risk of strokes.
Tomatoes contain another natural blood-thinner in the form of salicylate acid, which is reproduced in aspirin. (also found in white willow bark, a natural alternative to aspirin) Salicylate medicines are often given to the elderly who otherwise might be susceptible to having a stroke.
If you are taking these synthetic, blood-thinning salicylate medicines, then you probably need to go easy on natural blood-thinning vegetables, fruits and vitamin C.
Why not eat more tomatoes, dandelions, and other natural blood-thinning foods instead? (ask your doctor)
Vitamin C, Lycopene, Quercetin and Lutein are all thought to be helpful in preventing cancer, especially prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cancer of the colon.
Lycopene is one compound which is especially important for helping to prevent prostate cancer, but it also helps to prevent the blood clots which cause strokes, and it is beneficial to the heart.
To protect against prostate cancer, some sources recommend serving generous helpings of Lycopene-rich tomatoes at least twice a week. or using tomato sauce liberally each day. This is supposed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer around 34%. (see The ABS Diet, David
Zinczenko, p.88)
Lutein is one compound which is now recognized as being greatly beneficial to the eyesight. It is even given as a supplement by some orthodox eye specialists these days for helping to treat and prevent macular degeneration.
Quercetin is another ingredient of tomatoes which is beneficial to the eyesight. It is thought to help prevent cataracts from forming, and is strengthening to the heart.
The heart muscle, blood pressure, the brain, the eyesight, and the immune system all benefit from eating tomatoes on a regular basis.
Conclusion: Unless you have an allergy to them, tomatoes are greatly beneficial to the health and may go a long way towards protecting you from disease.
Sources:
Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
Heinerman, J., Parker Publishing Company, 1988
Food is Better Medicine Than Drugs
Holford, P., & Burne, J., 2006
The Nature Doctor
Dr H.C.A. Vogel, 1995
100 Best Health Foods
Wills, J., Love Food Parragon Books Ltd., 2010
The ABS Diet
Zinczenko, D., Rodale Inc., 2004

Onions Help Sleep May Prevent Asthma Cancer Stroke Heart Attack

Natural Remedies

The healing compounds in the humble onion are truly remarkable. Onions are rich in Vitamin C, Selenium, and other phytochemicals which are thought to prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other maladies. They also do much to help prevent asthma attacks.

The oil of the onion is strongly antiseptic, and also has a soporific quality which will be welcome news to the insomniac. Eating onions in the evening will not just do much to benefit your immunity, they can help give you a sound night’s sleep.

Note:  Habitual lack of sleep leads to poor memory function, poor decision-making, and poorer health in the long run.  Sleeplessness is usually due to anxiety, but it can be that the thyroid gland is not functioning properly.  Extra iodine can help to remedy an overactive thyroid, as well as an underactive thyroid. (see Dr Caroline Shreeve, who recommends using kelp to up your iodine and other minerals)

Get a checkup from your doctor or naturopath to make sure there is no serious underlying cause to your sleeplessness.

A medical book from the early 20th century recommends the eating of raw onions to encourage sleep, and quotes a Frank Buckland, who said: ‘Everybody knows the taste of onions; this is due to a peculiar essential oil contained in this valuable and healthy root.  The oil has, I am sure, highly soporific powers.  In my own case, it never fails.  If I am much pressed with work and feel I shall not sleep, I eat two or three onions and the effect is magical.’

(From The Doctor At Home and Nurses Guide’, published in London and Melbourne by Ward, Lock and Co Limited.  No date, but the book is very old, from early 1900’s.  Some drugs recommended in this book, such as mercurial salves, would be quite toxic, and we would avoid them at all cost. However, the book  makes interesting reading and does discuss some commonsense home remedies such as this onion remedy, which can only do you good)

I find that eating an onion sauteed in butter or oil also enhances sleep, if it is taken in the evening. Even half a raw onion, chopped finely and added to crackers and cheese for supper at night, can be  helpful towards attaining sound sleep.

This old book also advises that ‘tea and coffee taken during the day are particularly prejudicial in the interests of sleep.’  We all know this, but how eloquently put…..

I would try an inhalation of onion:  Cut up half an onion and pour over boiling water.  Inhale the steam with a towel over your head.  This can be used as a therapy for many ills, including sleeplessness, flu symptoms, onset of asthma or bronchitis. Be careful not to get too close to the steam, or to burn yourself.

Other helpful hints in the interests of quality sleep, from various sources:

Homeopathic Remedies: The biochemic cell salt Kali phos (potassium phosphate) can help.  A lack of this mineral in the blood can cause sleeplessness. Constance Mellor advises the dose of two pilules before each meal, dissolved on the tongue, and four pilules to be taken just before bed.

Ms Mellor also suggests having a warm bath or shower at bedtime, but not drying oneself completely.  Instead, wrap up in a warm clean sheet to absorb the moisture, and presumably, go to bed with the wrap still on.  This is a similar remedy found in other writings, where a damp wrap is left on at bedtime:  The effect is to bring an increase in temperature, which can be very useful for sweating out the beginnings of a cold or flu.

Suggested Remedies for Sleeplessness Before Midnight:  Depending on the other symptoms, one of these could be helpful:  Ambra, Arsen alb, Calcarea, Calc phos, CCarbo veg, Coffea, Conium, Kali carb, Lycopodium, Magnesia mur, Mercurius, Nat mur, Phosphorous, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Sepia, Silicea, Sulphur. (see Dr Andrew Lockie)

Suggested Remedies for Sleeplessness After Midnight: Arsen alb, Capsicum, Coffea, Hepar sulph, Kali carb, Nux vomica, Phosphoric ac., Silicea.

Onion Pack: The onion pack for pleurisy is worth remebering.  This involves cutting an onion, skin and all, covering with water, and simmering for ten minutes or so.  Soak a flannel or piece of cotton material in the onion water.  Wring out, and apply hot to the chest.  Wrap up the pack well to keep the heat in.  A woolen blanket around the chest works well. Cover up in bed and keep the pack on for several hours if possible.  After several hours, the onion water can be heated up again, and a fresh pack made to put onto the chest.  This treatment should work well to bring about peaceful sleep, as the essential oils from the onion will be absorbed into the skin.

Keeping the feet warm is important for sleeping well.  A hot water bottle in cold weather, and woolen socks, are good recommendations.

Putting a sprig of rosemary, lemon balm, or lavender under the pillow can also be helpful in gaining restful sleep. Dried hops sewn into a wee sachet also work as a soporific.

Homeopathic Bothrops Remedy Can Help Speech After Stroke

Natural Remedies

Homeopathic Bothrops Lanceolatus, which is derived from Martinique’s deadly, venomous snake,  can be used to help stroke victims who have speech difficulties such as stammering.

This information comes from page 204 of ‘Herbal Remedies and Homeopathy’, published by Geddes and Grosset, Scotland, 2001.

Do remember that homeopathic preparations are made quite differently to herbal medicines.  The principle of ‘like treats like’ is the operative phrase in homeopathy.  A minute and almost undetectable amount of the original substance is all that is left after the process of diluting and succussing a homeopathic remedy many times.

The Bothrops remedy in homeopathic form is a massively diluted preparation of the venom from the deadly poisonous snake, Bothrops Lanceolatus, which is also known as Yellow Viper or Lachesis Lanceolatus.  You would not ever try to make up your own homeoopathic remedy from this deadly snake. But the Bothrops remedy can be purchased from reputable makers of homeopathic medicines.

Stroke damage to the left side of the brain causes problems with speech, as well as paralysis and weakness on the right side of the body.  These are aspects which occur with people unlucky enough to get bitten by the Bothrops snake.  With homeopathic dosage of infinitessimal amounts, these maladies can sometimes be reversed or helped by giving the Bothrops homeopathic remedy.

Haemorrhage and Strokes:  Homeopathic Bothrops Lanceolatus can also be used to curb the bleeding of haemorrhages of many types.  The remedy, therefore, could be useful in preventing bleeding of the brain after a  stroke.

Thrombosis: Homeopathic Bothrops is listed in several of the ‘Materia Medica’ as being a remedy for Thrombosis.

Gangrene:It is also listed as a remedy for preventing Gangrene after haemorrhage. The venomous bite causes gangrene in its victims, which is why the homeopathic preparation can reverse or help prevent the development of gangrene.

Blindness Caused By Bleeding: Amaurosis, a bleeding into the retina, is one effect of poisoning by the Bothrops venom, so it is very likely that in homeopathic microdoses, the preparation of homeopathic Bothrops could also stem bleeding into the retina.

Other Useful Homeopathic Remedies To Prevent Stroke Or Treat Effects of Stroke:

Dr Caroline Shreve lists Homeopathic Opium if a stroke seems imminent.  Opium is a good, basic remedy to have on hand.  It can help prevent a stroke. For a slow pulse.

Arnica For Avoiding Strokes:  Homeopathic Arnica is great for emotional upsets and shocks of any kind.  It can be used if you suspect a stroke might occur. Homeopathic Arnica for a fast pulse, difficult breathing and weakness on the left side of the body and limbs.  High blood pressure can be an indication of an on-coming stroke. Homeopathic Arnica can help reduce the blood pressure, thus preventing a stroke occuring.

Baryta Carbonica can be used after a stroke, especially with right-sided complaints and paralysis, with tongue and speech affected.  Baryta Carbonica has a similar effect to the Bothrops remedy which can help left-side brain damage.  Left-side brain damage manifests as right-sided weakness or paralysis, and speech difficulty.

Natural Remedies

Culpeper says of Sage that it ’causes the hair to become black’.

Garden sage has many therapeutic uses.

In the garden, its flowers provide medicine and nectar for the bees, as well as a herbal tonic to the neighbouring plants.

It is well-known as an aid to oral hygiene.  It has strong antiseptic qualities and is supposed to whiten tooth enamel.

Sage is still used today in some tooth-pastes.  It is reputedly one effective remedy for bleeding gums,  and improving gum health:  The crushed fresh leaves are massaged several times a day onto the gums and teeth.

The tea is gargled to relieve sore throats, colds and flu,  and ulcers in the mouth.

It can be effective to reduce fevers, and has been used in the past for thyphoid fever. (see ‘Herbal Remedies  and Homeopathy’ published by Geddes and Grosset.)

It is a valuable nerve medicine, and is a useful stomach remedy for improving a weak appetite.

Natural Herbal Hair Dye and Tonic:  Sage can help restore healthy hair and improve the colour.

Strong sage tea encourages hair growth and darkens the hair, if it is used on a regular basis. Many herbalists describe it in their writings:  see John Heinerman’s ‘Encyclopedia of Fruits Vegetables and Herbs’.

Rosemary is another wonderful herb which can help hair growth, but it does not have such a darkening effect on the hair, as sage does.

Recipe For Sage Hair Dye:  Here is a simple, natural hair dye and tonic which you can try.  It is perfectly safe to use, as it does not contain any harmful additives such as you might find in commercial dyes for darkening the hair.

Take two cups of fresh sage leaves and put into a stainless steel saucepan.

Add one cup of dry black tea leaves

Add half a cup of cider vinegar and eight cups of water.

Simmer very gently, with no lid, for one hour on a very low heat.  You should have around half the original quantity of liquid left at the end of an hour.  If you need to add a little more water, make sure you do so well before you finish simmering the brew.  If you add more water at the end of the simmering, then your mixture will not keep so well.

Take off the heat after an hour of simmering.  Set aside to cool.

Once your sage mixture has cooled properly, strain it off.

To the liquid remaining add the same amount of vodka.

Put into a bottle with a screw-top lid and store in a cool place.

Massage around a tablespoonful of the sage infusion into the hair each day.  Use more or less, depending on how much hair you need to cover.

Massage the sage tonic well into the roots of the hair as well, so that it feeds the scalp and hair follicles.  Massaging the scalp with the sage tonic will help the hair to grow again.

The oils in the sage leaves will put a natural shine to the hair.

Once the hair is sufficiently darkened, which may take several weeks, you can reduce the amount of applications each week.  Once or twice a week may be enough to maintain the darker colour.

Sage is really very good for the hair in so many ways.

Alternative Sage Tonic Without Alcohol:  You could make up your sage tea without the alcohol if you wish.  Only, remember that your mixture will not keep for longer than a week, and it must be kept in the fridge.  You could make up a lesser amount, enough to last a week, and then make up a fresh brew of tea for the following week.

My new book is available on Amazon:

See Merrilyn’s song, ‘Marianne, Let Us Be’ on Youtube:

 

Chromium

CHROMIUM
Deficiencies of Chromium are thought to be wide spread, affecting roughly 50% of the population in Western societies.

Older women, and expectant mothers, need to ensure that their chromium levels are maintained.
Chromium is necessary for the processing of sugar and alcohol.
It feeds the nerves and helps to promote a calm state of mind.
Chromium helps to monitor your cholesterol levels and helps in the manufacture of essential natural cholesterol.
It helps prevent high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Chromium is especially important because it helps regulate the supply of insulin in the body. Adequate chromium helps protect you against sugar-related conditions like hypoglycaemia and diabetes.
A normal healthy body will utilize the Chromium within foods to process their sugars: Fruits, honey, root vegetables, treacle, molasses and maple syrup all contain chromium, which is used by the body to process the  sugars they contain.

The reason why  refined, white sugar is so bad for the general health is perhaps not just because of the sugar content, but because processed sugar has been stripped of its chromium value. White sugar  has been left bare of the valuable nutrients which naturally help with the assimilation of sugar in the body:

Sugar cane is extremely high in Chromium. Treacle and molasses, which come from the less refined sugar cane product, are  also rich sources of Chromium.
Chromium is found naturally in the outer part of grains which contains the bran. Hence,  processed grains are deficient in Chromium. Brown rice is preferable to white rice for this reason, just as wholewheat flour is  the preferable choice
to white flour. Use oat bran instead of the more processed fine oatmeal to make your porridge.
Chromium is found in good quality cooking oils such as grape seed, olive oil, avocado oil and rice bran oil.

The recommended daily allowance of Chromium is 200 mcg.
One of the best sources is Brewer’s yeast, which contains 100 mcg per each tablespoonful.
Two eggs contain 60 mcg.
1 cup of fruit juice such as orange or apple contains about 115 mcg.
Kiwifruit is fairly high with 35 mcg per average sized fruit.
One potato contains roughly 20 mcg of Chromium.
Most other vegetables contain roughly 20 mcg per 100 grammes.
Meats contain about 55 mcg per 100 grammes.
One slice of wholemeal bread has about 17 mcg.
One tablespoon of molasses or treacle has about 25 mcg.

Household Chemical Reactions

Toxic Chemicals in the Home:

There are many household chemicals which are very poisonous.  Household chemical reactions are not uncommon, as there are  not only many invisible toxic chemicals in the environment, but those  to be found  in many products you have around the house, from cleaning products to that face cream you smear on your face daily.

There are many household chemicals which could cause reactions: 884 different toxic chemicals have been found in personal care products alone.

Here are some of the most common household chemicals which you would be best to avoid using, whether they be found in cleaners or make-up, or products designed for your baby:

PROPYLENE GLYCOL:

Even if you avoid using products which contain harmful chemicals, it is difficult to avoid contaminating your environment with this chemical, as we shall see. This insidious chemical is found in many products which we use every day in the bathroom or the kitchen. Propylene glycol is used in many toothpastes, face creams, shampoos, conditioners, ice cream, and BABY PRODUCTS.

Propylene glycol  is commonly known as industrial anti-freeze. It is one of the most corrosive chemicals known. It is to be found in the mechanic’s workshop, and sometimes in the garages of the home handy-man, as it is used in brake fluid, degreasers and anti-freeze products .

Petrol stations are the worst place for picking this chemical up, as it gets spilt about when people top up their brake fluid, or use anti-freeze.  Propylene glycol is carried about from place to place very easily, as the greasy quality of anti-freeze and brake fluid makes it easily transferrable. You get a coating of it on the soles of your shoes as you fill up your car with petrol, and walk over to the check-out to pay your bill. The coating on your shoes then  gets transferred to your car floor, and then to  floor of the house when you return home.

This is one very good reason for removing your shoes at the door, before you enter your house, or that of anyone elses.

In a chemical analysis which I read about, it was found that propylene glycol was the most common chemical to be found on the floor of well-trodden public places, such as pubs, or railway stations. It was commonly found in the carpets of most households. You can see how easily propylene glycol can get onto your skin, or onto your food, simply because there is a film of it on the floor of your house which has been  tramped in from the street.

Propyelene glycol, or ‘anti-freeze’ is  known as a humectant, which means that it is capable of attracting water. This is the reason it is used in cosmetics, because it keeps your skin moisturized. This is why it is used in baby products, as it works to ‘protect’ your baby’s skin from nappy rash.

So- there is a danger to health if you regularly  apply  face creams to your skin, or use nappy-rash creams or moisturisers on your baby: you will absorb small amounts of propylene glycol through the pores of the  skin. The stuff then finds places to store itself in the body, most commonly in the liver.

Propylene glycol, or anti-freeze has very bad  side effects.  In my view, this chemical is possibly more to blame  than plastics are, for the many conditions of ill health which afflict so many people today.

Propylene glycol is an  extremely corrosive substance, it eats away at your nervous system, and weakens the walls of the veins, capilliaries and arteries. Breathing the fumes from brake fluid is just about as damaging to your throat and lungs as is smoking. It is extremely irritating to the eyes. It will increase blood pressure and cause heart palpitations. This is because the body sets off alarm bells in order to try and shunt the blood around more quickly in order to rid it of the toxins eroding its pathways. This increases the liklihood of stroke and heart disease.

It has an immediate effect on the pituitary gland, which controls the hormonal production of the various centers in the body’s glandular system. The  result of exposure to propylene glycol – a disfunction of the pituitary gland,  could be the reason so many people have a problem with obesity and depression today.

Remember that whilst  the application of a nappy-rash cream will protect against nappyrash, your baby will be absorbing propylene glycol directly into its body through the pores of the skin. This could cause problems such as anxiety, or excessive crying.  Propylene glycol upsets the digestion and ruins the beneficial bacteria in the bowel. This, alone, can cause a crying baby. This toxin also  causes, from my own experience, breathing problems, asthma-like symptoms,  sinus trouble, ear ache and poor memory.  If you are not the sensitive type which suffers these reactions,  toxic chemicals  in your body are still a potential hazard to your health, as they will lie dormant, building up over time only to take the body by storm later in life:  serious immune deficiency diseases  such as arthritis, osteoporosis,  multiple sclerosis, parkinson’s disease, or cancer could be the outcome.

Some warnings on the use of Propylene glycol state that ‘prolonged and repeated contact with the skin may cause irritation, skin rash, and dermatitis’, however, these are the least of the health concerns regarding propylene glycol, or brake fluid. It is extremely damaging to the immune system and to the nervous system.

A relative of mine who worked as a mechanic for years, changing brake fluid for people as part of his job, became very ill with ‘M.E.’  and acute depression. His immune system shut down completely, and it took several years before he was well enough to work again. His health practitioner blamed it on the brake fluid, the propylene glycol.

Of course, the amounts he was getting splashed onto his skin and onto his clothes was far more than what your baby will absorb through use of a nappy-rash cream. However, this chemical IS absorbed through the skin, and if you use the cream on a daily basis, then your baby’s health will be affected, in the long run. You just cannot tell what a ‘safe’ dose will be. It could cause early cancer in the child’s life, or the child may be prone to arthritis, or multiple sclerosis later in life, if he/she is continually exposed to this, and other, chemicals during its childhood.

It is important to avoid this chemical: avoid those commercial products which contain it, and take measures to avoid  the contamination of your home and environment by removing shoes at the door. Be careful to wash the hands  well after going downtown for petrol, or even shopping.

FORMALDEHYDE

This is another chemical to watch out for. It is probable that you will have reactions to this household chemical, not realizing where the root of the problem may lie: It is found in many products commonly used about the house. Many cosmetic products: nail varnish, lipsticks, face creams and conditioners, have formaldehyde added, because it is a very convenient and cheap preservative.  It is found in many house paints and varnishes. It is found in many cleaning products, including some soap powders. It is found in some commercial dyes, such as leather-tanning dye, and clothing dyes.

Formaldehyde, like the propylene glycol in brake fluid and other products, is easily absorbed through the pores of the skin.

Formaldehyde is a carcenogen. However, the immediate effect one notices after exposure to this chemical is loss of memory, disorientation and confusion.

I have personal experience with the effects of formaldehyde poiisoning: This chemical was fairly new to the medical profession when I was a girl. It was regarded as the latest wonderful invention, as it  immediately sterilized medical equipment upon contact.  In the 1950’s, when I had my appendix removed after peritonitis, a jar of formaldehyde was kept beside the bed to sterilize the thermometer. The thermometer sat in this fluid day by day, until the nurse came around to take temperatures, at which point the thermometer was simply flicked a few times, then put straight into your mouth. I noticed some alarming and frightening reactions after each thermometer reading: it was obvious the stuff in the jar, which had the most distinctive and sickening smell, was causing a general blanking out of the brain, then  memory loss , disorientation and confusion once my brain ‘came to’ again.

I consider myself lucky: many nurses who used formaldehyde regularly in the 1950’s suffered such  extreme memory loss that they had to give up nursing.

If you use products which contain formaldehyde on a daily basis, you might not  associate your poor memory, or lack of motivation, with the source, because the poisoning will occur gradually, over a period of time.  But there is no doubt about it – formaldehyde directly affects the brain and its memory function. It also causes cancer.

Being a painter of buildings, or boats, is probably the most hazardous of occupations where formldehyde is concerned. But glamorous women who use nail polish all the time are also at great risk of getting cancer, or suffering memory loss in the interim. Formaldehyde is absorbed through the nail tissue on your fingers and toes. This has been proven by doctors who analysed Jacqui Davison’s cancer in the 1980’s:  the source of the cancer had come from the big toe, and the big toes were the only toes which she kept continually painted with nail varnish.

PROTECT  THE  HEALTH OF YOUR CHILDREN:

The  American Red Cross did a study in 2008, at the request of the Environmental Working Group.  The blood from the umbilical cord of newborn babies was analysed. These are the facts from a leaflet entitled ‘The Scandal of this Generation’ which was recently  given to me by a promoter of  ‘New-ways’ products:

287 compounds were found which had MILTIPLE toxic effects:

134 were found to cause cancer

151 were found which are known to cause birth defects

154  were found to disrupt hormone production

186 caused infertility

130 were known to affect the immune system

158 were known to be neurotoxins

Even if you do not perceive an immediate reaction from using products with these harmful chemicals in them, it is advisable to avoid them if you want to protect your health and the health of your children in the long term. Below is a list of some of the most common  toxic ingredients  used in household products and cosmetics:

Di-ethanol-amine, used as a foaming agent, reacts with nitrates in babies’ drinking bottles. The chemical forms the compound  NDEA – nitrosodiethanolamine, which has long been recognized as a cancer causing agent. Apparently, in 1980 the FDA announced that about 42% of all cosmetic products were contaminated with this compound.  Germany banned the use  Di-ethanol-amine, which forms DEA/NDEA. Dr Samuel S. Epstein M.D. who wrote the books  ‘The Politics of Cancer’ and ‘Unreasonable Risk’ discusses this ingredient.

Dioxin, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, PEG-12 (polyethylene glycol-12), Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, and Sodium Saccharin are other very dangerous chemicals widely used in personal care products, and other household products.