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The ingredient called “fragrance,” or “parfum” or “scent,” is found in many perfumes, face creams, common hand sanitizer, and hair products (and even many household cleaners). These “fragrances” contain many harsh chemicals. In some perfumes, up to 95% of ingredients are synthetic. Toxic ingredients include acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, methylene chloride as well as phthalates, stearates, and parabens. Sodium Lauryl Sulfates or Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLS’s):  This is used as surfactants found in hair products, toothpastes, skin products, dishwashing soap, many lathering soaps, car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers. It causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate contaminated foods. Petroleum by-products:  This potentially carcinogenic substance is also known as mineral oil, petrolatum, liquid paraffin, toluene, xylene, found in shampoos and soaps. Mineral Oil:  Baby oil contains mineral oil, a petroleum ingredient that coats the skin like plastic wrap.  The skin’s natural immune barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb natural moisture and nutrition.  The skin’s ability to release toxins is impeded, which can promote acne and other skin disorders. This decreases the normal cell development of the skin, causing the skin to age prematurely. Other chemicals found in personal care products: Isopropyl alcohol and Parabens: DEA(diethanolamine)  MEA(monoethanolamine) TEA(triethanolamine):  These ingredients are usually listed with names such as Coco Amide DEA or MEA, Lauramide DEA, etc. PEG:  This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol Propylene Glycol (PG), Ethylene Glycol: This is a surfactant or wetting agent, and solvent used in industrial antifreeze, brake fluid and hydraulic fluid. Listerine Breath Strips. FD&C Color Pigments Fluoride: A neurotoxin in high doses or chronic use. Chlorine:The fumes from chlorine contains chloroform. Fragrance:  Chemicals that contain toxic, volatile organic compounds Nanoparticles:  Extremely small particles that penetrates cell walls, found in lotions, moisturizers, make-up, sunscreen. Formaldehyde:  This chemical is a carcinogen, found in nail polish, bath products, and some over the counter products.  It is a strong disinfectant and preservative. Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin:  These are preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde donors). Benzene, Xylene,Toluene: These are poisonous hydrocarbons obtained from coal tar or petroleum.  They are used in making dyes, detergents, nail polish and polish remover, and solvent-based adhesives used in homes. They are also used in the formica industry, home pesticides, solvents, antiseptics. Phthalates:  Found in plastics and some fragrances and is linked to sperm damage and poor reproductive outcomes in humans. Phthalate exposure is has been linked to lower IQ in children whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. Styrene: This organic compound has a sweet scent at lower concentrations, so it’s very commonly used in fragrances. However, it increases the risk of cancer in humans. Triclosan: It is found in anti-bacterial soaps and similar products. Lead:  This is found in several brands of lipstick and hair coloring kits. Mercury:  This is sometimes listed as thimerosol, and can be found in some cosmetics such as mascara. Methylene chloride: This chemical was used for many years as industrial paint thinner. It is still used in food processing and can be found in fragrances. References: Committee of Science and Technology. Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients American College of Toxicology Natural Moisture Factor Material Safety Data Sheets “Dangerous Beauty” by Mark Fearer – on SLS’s “Is This Your Child’s World?” by Doris J Rapp, MD - on chlorine Dr Samuel Epstein, Professor of the Environmental health at the University of Illinois – on DEA, MEA, TEA “Home Safe Home” by Debra Lynn Dudd – on FD&C color pigments Mayo Clinic – on Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin cosmeticdatabase.org – product safety ratings toxipedia.org – research on individual ingredients nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/.

The lymphatic system is a primary detoxification system for cleansing and eliminating toxins out of the body.  The liver, the bowels, and the kidneys are other primary detoxification systems. The lymphatic system is an entire network of tiny vessels throughout the body for the transport of fluid, toxins, excess waste and proteins. Just as the circulatory system circulates blood throughout the body, the lymphatic system circulates fluid throughout the entire body.  We have 600-800 lymph nodes in the entire system, and 1/3 of those nodes in the head and neck region. Another 1/3 are in the abdominal region.  And the rest are scattered throughout the rest of the body with a cluster of them under our arms, the groins, and behind the knees. Just like the heart pumps, the lymphatic system has its own pump called lymphangions but these lymphangions pump at a rate of 6-9 bpm which is a lot slower than the rate that our heart pumps. The chief functions of the lymph system are restoration of excess interstitial fluid and proteins to the blood, absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and transport of these elements to the venous circulation, and defense against invading organisms. So when we start shaking a bunch of toxins loose and/or killing off harmful pathogens, it’s like throwing a bunch of trash down an in-sinkerator.  Our system of pipes can get clogged up if there is not enough fluid and pressure to flush it through our lymphatic system and excrete it. Another point to be remembered is that since our lymph pumps at such a slow rate of 6-9bpm to be effective, if it pumps too fast the fluid will not have time to pass through.  This would be like a heart that is in tachycardia or fibrillating and it does not pump enough volume of blood through the system. A chronic state of sympathetic overdrive – being in a fear and flight mode- can trigger the lymphangions to pump too quickly and pump shallow.  This state of stress and fear causes the lymph system to be irritable and fibrillate like a heart when it is in tachycardia or having palpitations. Likewise, being in a state of rest, breathing slowly and deeply will relax the sympathetic nervous system and stimulate the lymphatic system to flow more effectively, and also calm the digestive system.  You can also stimulate lymphatic flow with exercise, a manual lymphatic drainage therapy, and lymphatic tools such as a lymph machine or a chi machine. Get rid of the soft cushy fungi in the system that also contributes to the congestion of the lymph.  Stop eating the foods that can be congesting to the lymphatics.