RE: A few questions from Iceland ....Mygla

[Guest guest]

Hi Mygla:

I'm so delighted you brought up this topic. I've been practicing non-toxic

living in my home for over a decade and teaching others to do the same.

>>>I would really like to know if you have a database for what works for

you and what to avoid - I know that everything doesnt fit all - but

can give you a good idea though.Do you have this database or can we make it

here? >>

Sickbuilding does not have a database. However there are many websites that

do give suggestions on non-toxic alternatives. We have to be careful of the

products they recommend; often they are sponsored by a company and will be

partial to those products.

>>How do you handle aspartame and saccharin - do you use it instead of

suger or skip it at all?>>

Aspartame by many professionals is recommended to be avoided. Please go to:

http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/index.htm to read many articles on

this subject. Sugar is full of pesticides (unless organic) and has been

shown to contribute to tooth decay, suppresses the immune system, affects

insulin levels, cholesterol, feeds candida, and so forth. I choose to skip

sugar.

>>>What do you use to wash laundry or in the dishwasher? Do you make

something yourseld - we have no products here in Iceland that I can use>>

We have some good non-toxic, fragrant free laundry manufacturers in the U.S.

My favorite is All Free & Clear. There are others such as 7th Generation

which are a little more costly. I like washing soda, 20 mule team borax,

sodium percarbonate (peroxide based whitener), baking soda, vinegar (rinse

cycle with some essential oils such as lavender for sheets and pillow

cases).

To soften and fluff my clothes I love a product called " dryer balls " . Do a

google search. Gives me the fluffiest towels without the fabric sheets

which are not safe for chemical sensitive people. To eliminate static clean

I first do not combine synthetic fabrics with natural fabrics and roll up

aluminum foil into balls and place those into my dryer. Works well.

Dishwasher detergent (I really don't use my dishwasher other than for

storage, same for microwave until Dr. Schaller taught me in his E-Book I can

decontaminate moldy books in the microwave so now I have two uses for the

microwave--storage and to detox my books). I have heard and tried though

for the dishwasher to use a combination of 20 Mule Team Borax and washing

soda. It works well followed by a vinegar rinse. We also have some good

non-toxic, fragrant and chlorine free dishwashing detergents in the U.S.

Do many of you use tea tree oil? - I use it often for washing and

cleaning?

>>>What about shampoos and conditioner - can you make a good conditioner

yourself?>>>

Depending upon the condition of your hair I have found many like just a

little dab of organic extra virgin coconut oil rubbed into their hair as a

leave in conditioner. It works very well but takes just a little.

We have a number of non-toxic fragrant free shampoos in the U.S. which I use

and have also used castile soap (if you can find that). However castile

soap is very alkaline and you will need to balance your hair's pH by using a

vinegar or lemon juice rinse. These are just the very basic.

>>>Have some of you tried Emu oil - that is the only body lotion i can

use - and their facial cream is so great>>>

Emu oil is wonderful. I purchase 100% organic Emu Oil by the gallon and use

in all the toiletries and medicinal topical preparations I make at a 20-30%

ratio. There are many suppliers of Emu oil in the U.S. and we must be

careful to know how the Emu is processed. If cut with water it will soon go

rancid so it must be 100% Emu Oil if we plan to make our own toiletries or

have a shelf-life of more than 3-6 months. Emu for those who are not

familiar with it is the fat from the Emu bird. You speak of " their facial

cream " . Being a cream it would contain more ingredients than the emu and

possibly a preservative. I like for a body lotion a combination of emu oil,

shea butter (some people with MCS are reactive to nut butters and must avoid

them), rice bran oil, mink oil, black cumin seed, almond, avocado, extra

virgin coconut oil whipped in a blender. It can easily be tweaked into a

lotion or salve depending on what we want; if lotion then preservatives must

be added since it would contain water; if we use oils only they do not need

preservatives.

Infused medicinal herbs into the oils (olive, coconut) make wonderful

healing and restorative salves and lotions which are very beneficial to our

skin and we can choose what action we desire and match with the herbs plus

pure essential oils if we tolerate them.

Ask us whatever questions you wish and we'll try to answer them.

Welcome to our group,

Rosie

[Guest guest]

aspertame makes me very sick

Janet