Hey there. Recently I was reminded that just because something is organic or claims that it’s “all natural” doesn’t mean that it’s going to be okay for you to use. Arsenic is natural. Opium is natural. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it is good for you. This is why it’s important to care about what is in your food and the products you use.
Some ingredients to watch out for
Essential oils – EO are all natural, but they are super concentrated so they must be used sparingly. However, people don’t always understand that when they’re putting them in products.
Retinol/Retinoids – Also known as Vitamin A, retinol can cause skin irritation, dryness, sunlight sensitivity, redness, swelling, crusting, or blistering.
Formaldehyde – Yes, formaldehyde is a natural occuring substance. Yes, the body produces about 1.5 ounces per day, that is then metabolized. Yes…it’s the same chemical that they use to preserve science dissection animals. Most exposure happens when people inhale it. High exposure in certain industries has shown an increased risk for certain cancers. Lower exposures has been tested in lab animals and caused cancer, but nothing has been shown conclusively in humans.
There are many others: Sulfates, nitrites/nitrates, benzoates, and more.
Allergens
Recently I read a blog post where someone claimed that people weren’t allergic or sensitive to their salves because there were no essential oils, all herbs were wildcrafted or organic, certified organic oils, and certified organic beeswax.
That is straight up bull crap. This made me mad for this person to claim that no one is allergic or sensitive to their salves. If it exists, there is someone with an allergy to it. Last summer, I had no less than five people tell me they were allergic to beeswax. It wouldn’t have mattered if the beeswax was organic. They are still allergic to beeswax. Someone also came to my booth with an olive allergy. This is the first time I’ve heard about it, but there you have it. Pyrola is one of the least reactive plant, but someone I gifted my balm to turned out to be allergic. (By the way, all of the herbs in my products are wildcrafted or organic. The olive oil is not, for cost reasons, but I also don’t add essential oils to the balms.)
I repeat: If it exists, someone is allergic to it, even if it’s something we need like Sunlight and water. Yes, those allergies exist. It’s also possible to develop allergies later in life too, especially food allergies.
Herbal Products
This is why it is important to test out new herbs or herbal products with caution, especially if you’re going to ingest it. When you do try something new, try it by itself so that if you do have a reaction, you can be sure what caused it. Pay close attention to differences or changes in your body when trying a new product.
That’s it for this time! Do you have any weird allergies that have developed later in life? What are some natural things that your body can’t handle? Leave a comment below! (For me…it’s gluten and dairy
