Since it is hand washing season (or at least it should be given that it is cold & flu and holiday gathering season) – I am bringing up household antimicrobials again. A new study has given us yet another reason to avoid synthetic household antimicrobials. 

This study has linked triclosan – the most commonly used household antibacterial agent – with liver dysfunction. The study found that exposure to triclosan disrupted liver function, leading to liver fibrosis and liver cancer.

Based on research by the USA Food and Drug Administration “there currently is no evidence that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soap products are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water”.

Why are there risky chemicals in our common household products that provide us with little to no benefit?


Things I have learned about triclosan

I have a wart – a big ugly plantar wart on my right heel. It is my stigmata. I mean that quite literally. I had plantar warts forever as a kid and it was awful – they physically hurt, the removal methods were barbaric, and I was teased.  I have a lot wrapped up in my wartiness.

The logical part of my brain is telling me that the presence a wart is a sign that my immune system is compromised and that there are obviously issues I need to address. The emotional part of my brain is saying hide it, ignore it, hide it, ignore it, hide it, ignore it…something I am tempted to actually consider were it not for the pain and that annoying logical part!…like I said, I have a lot wrapped up in my wartiness.

Things I have learned about warts:

1. Warts are caused by the virus HPV
Which means that, like all pathogens, you will only become infected by HPV (human papilloma viruses) if you are susceptible. Having a wart means your immune system is not functioning optimally. There are over 150 known types of HPV that cause warts.

2. Warts are superficial but tenacious
Warts form in the your skin/mucosa and cause rapid overgrowth in the top layers. It may take several months of slow, persistent growth beneath your skin/mucosa before you can even notice a wart.
- Plantar warts are warts that are formed on the pressure points of feet and driven inward…I am getting smacked with the symbolism here….

3. Conventional treatment methods are largely ineffective
Conventional treatment methods still rely on the physical removal of the warty growth via burning or other mechanical methods. Since the immune system weakness and susceptibility remains, warts treated conventionally often return despite the painful and invasive procedures.

I think that we maybe crazy, my husband and I went into moose country in Algonquin park this past weekend – translated for non-campers – we went into the heart of mosquito country during prime mosquito season during what may be one of the worst mosquito years across Canada!

We quickly discovered that as September campers we were unprepared for the swarms of mosquitoes. After the first of 3 portages I was sure that I would be a mess of bites for a week or more - but hours after leaving the bush I had no remaining bites!

How is that possible you ask? Well, once we were in the relative safety of our camp site I dug through my homeopathic first aid kit and did what I could to prevent more blood letting. I dosed us with ledum & staphesagria – I would have preferred frequent low doses, but I worked with what I had and it helped.   I am not saying that we didn’t get bitten – we did. We were bitten, but infrequently and the bites were only mildly itchy and resolved themselves quickly. I was amazed.

I have looked into chemical free mosquito solutions and discovered some interesting things.

I know that some people love the sun - I am not one of them! It seems that despite my best intentions there are at least a few times a year that I get too much sun and I end up looking like this.  After 40 years in this pale skin and with all of my medical knowledge you would think I would know better and not get burnt - apparently not.

Below are some TLC tips and first-aid recommendations for when you or your loved ones have gotten too much sun and you are dealing with dehydration, sun burns, rashes or sun/heat stroke: 

I am a freckled, green eyed, redhead - protecting myself from the sun is not optional.  As a child I spent most of my summer in the various stages of sunburn - red, blistered and/or peeling - sometimes all three at the same time! When I was younger it was only the pain and grossness of blistering & peeling that bothered me....now I know that sunburns are one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. 

I was in third year university (an eon ago) when I read studies that linked the use of chemical based sunscreens to an increase in skin cancer! What! The more I read the more I learned. I was shocked and angry to find out that all of the goopy, sticky lotions I diligently put on all of the time could be increasing my risk of skin cancer, disrupting my hormones &  increasing my exposure to other toxins!