Natural Deodorants and Essential Oils

The skin is the largest organ of the body. The average adult has approximately 18 square feet of skin, which weighs approximately seven pounds and the skin receives one third of the blood circulating through the body.  If one is ill or unhealthy, it can often be seen in the appearance of the skin. 

The skin is an essential method of elimination of the body’s waste.  Sweating and perspiring result in the elimination of approximately 1/3 of the body’s waste each day.  It is, therefore, an important cleansing mechanism. 

It is important not to impede this process of elimination.  If toxins are not eliminated through the process of sweating, these toxins will either be stored in tissue or the kidneys must take on this task and may become overworked.

Antiperspirants inhibit sweating generally by blocking the glands which produce sweat.  As we have seen, this is not a healthful action.  As well as stopping sweat, antiperspirants often contain chemicals that are absorbed into the skin, such as aluminum and parabens.  There have been conflicting reports on whether these chemicals are carcinogenic or contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.  Some studies, such as a 1998 study reported in Molecular Medicine Today ¹ link the use of antiperspirants containing aluminum with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s due to a systemic accumulation of aluminum.  Although there has been no study that can definitively show that aluminum in antiperspirants can lead to Alzheimer’s, there are many links that seem to make it well worth it to avoid the risk.  Aluminum is generally excreted by the kidneys.  However, individuals who have impaired kidney function may develop dialysis dementia due to the fact that their bodies cannot remove the aluminum effectively.²   Aluminum certainly seems to play a key part in dementia.  Why take the chance?

Another option is to use deodorant.  Deodorants do not inhibit sweat production.  They work to stop the smell that people often find offensive that comes with underarm sweat.  However, even deodorants may contain chemicals that have been shown to be toxic, such as parabens.  Parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen.  Estrogen can increase the growth of human breast tumors.  It must be taken into consideration that parabens are found in an extensive number of body care products and cosmetics.  While the amount in one product may be small, it increases considerably when we take into account how many products we apply to our bodies daily.  Be sure to check the label on your deodorant to be sure that it does not contain parabens.  (These chemicals all end in “paraben”.  Methylparaben, propylparaben, etc.)

Sweat does not have an offensive smell.  Some people may even like the smell.  It is the bacteria combined with the sweat that creates the smell that many people do not like.  Essential oils are perfect ingredients for natural deodorants.  There are many essential oils that have been shown to be antibacterial.  When applied as a deodorant, essential oils inhibit the growth of bacteria.  And they can even kill bacteria that exist.  As opposed to many deodorants that mask the smell with chemical fragrances, essential oils work to stop the bacteria from occurring.

1.    1.  ( Exley C (March 1998). "Does antiperspirant use increase the risk of aluminium-related disease, including Alzheimer's disease?". Molecular Medicine Today )

2.     2.  http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=99