Respectfully, I Must Disagree

Many of you probably saw Dr. Oz yesterday. I usually try to watch his show because I always learn something. However, I don't always agree with what I see or what his guests may have to say. Yesterday was one of those times. His show was about cosmetics and how dangerous some of them are for us. While I agreed with most of what he was saying, he had a guest, Paula Begoun, who said that fragrances were harmful. Paula made a comment that fragrances were harmful to our health and it didn't matter if they were artificial or natural fragrances. 

I'm not sure what she meant by "natural" but she used the example of lavender. She claimed that lavender was harmful to our skin.  I don't know what kind of lavender she was talking about, but I feel like I need to make a clarification here. She said lavender causes cell death. If she was talking about lavender essential oils, she couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, lavender does not cause cell death, time causes cell death, along with chemicals and other environmental/health factors. But lavender essential oil does not cause cell death. She mentioned a few other fragrances such as cinnamon, eucalyptus, peppermint and menthol, claiming they cause irritation, break down collagen, impair our immune defense and cause inflammation. While I agree that some of the stronger oils can cause irritation and inflammation, I have never seen any studies or literature from the top essential oil experts that claim these oils impair our immune system or break down collagen. In fact, quite the opposite is true. 

If she was talking about synthetic fragrances, I concur with what she is saying. Because of our current labeling laws, a synthetic fragrance can be called "natural". For example, if some company fragrances their lotion with synthetic lilac, it can still be called a natural lilac fragrance because lilacs are a natural fragrance. That doesn't necessarily mean lilac essential oil was used to fragrance the product (most likely it wasn't), it only means it smells like something natural. Again, I'm not sure what she meant by "natural". 

While Ms. Begoun is an expert on cosmetics and the cosmetic industry, she clearly is not an expert on essential oils. Essential oils have been around almost as long as man. The Egyptians and Chinese have been using essential oils for thousands of years. Well preserved alabaster jars of essential oils have been found in King Tut's tomb. There are 188 references to essential oils in the Bible. So I think we can rest assured that essential oils have their place.  

Lavender oil has, among other uses, been listed specifically for its benefit to the skin. Not only does it not cause cell death, but it actually regenerates cells. Specifically it is listed as useful for acne, burns (cell renewal) dandruff, diaper rash, scarring (minimizes), stretch marks, boils, bruises, cold sores, hives, insect bites and bee stings, infections of the skin, abscesses, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and sunburns, to mention  few.

While I would never put cinnamon oil directly on my skin it too is a valuable oil. It is one of the most ancient of oils and was used in just about every prescription in ancient China. It is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for internal consumption by the FDA. However, cinnamon oil should always be well diluted because it is a very strong oil. A little common sense would be in order here. Repeated use can cause contact sensitization, it should be avoided during pregnancy and can cause skin irritation. I have a friend who is allergic to cinnamon oil, so she never buys any of my soaps with cinnamon in it. It is very useful in killing germs as it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-viral and a purifier.

Eucalyptus is another very useful oil also containing anti-bacterial, anti-infectious, anti-viral and antiseptic properties. In regards to skin it is wonderful for acne, skin infections and wounds. It is approved by the FDA as a food additive or flavoring agent.

Peppermint and menthol also got a bad wrap from Ms. Begoun. The truth is it is also listed as beneficial to the skin. I use it for sunburns (wonderfully cooling and soothing) and hives. I rub it on my temples, down the back of my neck and over my forhead to relieve headaches. My daughter, who often has migraines, uses it in conjunction with rosemary and grapefruit essential oils for almost instant relief. Where does she put it - on her forehead, temples, down the back of her neck and across her shoulders (in other words, her skin). Remember, peppermint and menthols are very strong oils and should be diluted well with a carrier oil or water. Because it is antiseptic, it is also very good in treating certain types of acne. Put a few drops in a bottle of witch hazel and you have a perfect astringent for acne or a soothing tonic for sunburn.

Dr. Oz also talked about using more natural products and mentioned that we should be careful in our choices. I couldn't agree more. Not all companies are producing products that are safe for our use, even though they make many claims that they are. I want to assure you that Itty Bitty Soaps are made using the best products available, produced in clean facilities and are completely safe for use. I take a great deal of pride in the product that goes out the door and what has my name on it. I stand behind each and every bar of soap I make and guarantee its purity.