I read the ingredients on my Brut's Bees lip gloss, and they include titanium dioxide and rosemary. I wrote about titanium dioxide as an ingredient to avoid in the post on vitamins. Most people don't know that rosemary is a topical xenoestrogen (foreign estrogen), as well as sage, pomegranate, lavender, and tea tree oil.
There is a great video about xenoestrogens at www.womhoo.com. Dr. Eckhart explains xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens or chemicals that mimic estrogen) very well, and he sites study after study showing their effects. I've written a lot about estrogen dominance, but this post really explains why avoiding chemicals topically is a good idea. Topical chemicals come from laundry detergents, shampoos, lotions, soaps, dryer sheets, and topical products including sage, rosemary, lavender and tea tree oil. Lavender and tea tree oil were put in test tubes with cancer cells, and they increased cell growth of breast cancer.
Absorption of topical ingredients is ten times that of those that are ingested. This is extremely important to people who have estrogen dominant related conditions such as endometriosis, major p.m.s., mood swings, or have been diagnosed as estrogen dominant or with breast cancer. According to Eckhart, people who are sensitive to xenoestrogens usually are bothered by smells (they can get headaches from perfume) and are sensitive to caffeine, which indicates that the body doesn't excrete chemicals well. Therefore, the body will not excrete foreign estrogens well, either. Those who are sensitive will be affected by chemicals in parts per billion.
Women sensitive to xenoestrogens have reported bloating from mascara and breast tenderness from shampoo. Unfortunately, I am one of these people sensitive to smell and chemicals. I use some products with chemicals (makeup and salon quality shampoo), but not regular soap, laundry detergent, perfume, lotion, and I certainly do not use lavender oil, because that was actually causing me to bloat.
Other conditions linked to estrogen dominance and xenoestrogens are fibroids, early puberty, and "man-boobs"--even in boys. Chemicals coming from pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, pharmaceuticals and detergents are inundating the waterways. All major waterways in the U.S. have hermaphrodite fish, and some waterways have no male fish at all because of the chemicals coming from the sewage system (via our homes and industrial sources.) A government organization, the U.S. Geological Survey is a study in 2009 showing that 42% of the male bass in the Potomac produce eggs.
Stress also plays a major factor in hormonal imbalance as well. Chronic stress causes a cascade of maladaptive hormonal responses that lead to estrogen imbalance, according to Eckhart.
Dr. Elizabeth Smith talks about the dangers of chemicals/xenoestrogens at www.nobreastcyst.com. Here she recommends avoiding BPAs in plastic and cans, parabens, sunscreen, baby lotions.
Smith also suggests avoiding caffeine. Eckhart explains that premenstrual chocolate cravings are indicative of magnesium deficiency, and taking magnesium supplements will eliminate chocolate cravings, since chocolate contains magnesium. He says chocolate should be avoided, because it contains a chemical that is a xenoestrogen.
Well, I don't think I can avoid chocolate, but xenoestrogens are definitely a problem for me, so I am gradually going to replace my makeup with natural cosmetics. Currently, I don't use laundry detergent with any chemicals or lavander/tea tree oil. I really had to look carefully at the labels at Whole Foods, because many of their cleaning products are not free of xenoestrogens--including natural ones like rosemary and sage.
Coconut oil was recommended to me for my face by Elizabeth Wallish (www.DaretoCareNow.com). Cured sesame oil is used in Ayruvedic health (heat the oil with several drops of oil, when the water pops, the oil is cured.) But I am attached to a certain kind of shampoo with chemicals, this brand now offers paraben-free shampoo, but I should probably go to natural shampoo.
A Votre Sante, (Here's to Your Health), Alix
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