The Mommypotamus » Natural Beauty

Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar Recipe {Video Tutorial}

Heather — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:38:23 +0000

Lotions. Potions. Elixirs. Oh my!

Do you love the idea of homemade spa goodies but think they are “too much trouble” to make? Or maybe it worries you that the exact form of sodium laurel sulphate in your bottle of suds is used to degrease car engines. (Don’t see it listed? It has about 150 aliases and is often used in “natural” and “herbal” shampoos! ) Well then, I have just the thing for you!

This video/photo tutorial – adapted from and inspired by Andrea at Frugally Sustainable – is your guide to hassle-free soapmaking. Chocked full of natural humectants and softening butters, this recipe takes just 30 minutes of active time.* Oh yes! Half an hour and you’ll have a revitalizing, moisturizing rosemary mint bar – or eight – curing on your countertop. I am by no means an expert at soapmaking (this was my first time!), but this was really simple and fun to do. I am LOVING the results and want to share it with you!

New To Shampoo Bars? Here’s What You Need To Know

Before you get started it’s important to “detox” your hair. For a great explanation of why and how to do it check out this article.

The easiest way to use your shampoo bar is to lather in your hands and then work from root to tip. Like any shampoo it will leave a residue if you use too much, so go easy. For a conditioning rinse spritz with a solution of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water in a spray bottle. Leave it on or rinse – either way the vinegary smell will fade away as your hair dries. Here are some more tips for making the transition from Dress Green.

“There is a big difference between natural and commercial shampoos: natural bars don’t contain the preservatives, or the sulfates that cleanse by stripping everything – not just the daily dirt buildup but also the good natural oils on your hair. This means that natural shampoos leave hair generally more moisturized and with much more texture (as opposed to the sleek and squeaky feel).
You may also find that your hair will need to adapt to the shampoo bars over time (don’t give up if after 2 or 3 days your hair is acting ‘differently’!). Many people’s hair tends to take a while to get accustomed to a natural shampoo when switching away from commercial shampoos – it is part of a ‘detoxifying’ process as the synthetics that have built up on your hair are slowly removed. To help your hair through this detox process, you may find that doing a daily or every-other-day vinegar rinse will help to remove excess buildup (or as I mentioned earlier you can use the instructions in this article).
Once your hair has adjusted to your new shampoo bar, you may want to continue with weekly vinegar rinses to keep your hair’s pH balanced, help prevent tangles, and remove soap and product buildup.
Shampoo bars can be a little challenging if you live in an area that has hard water. Hard water means that you will need to use more soap to get a good lather, and that soap is more difficult to rinse away. The minerals in hard water can react with soap, causing excess residue and tangling of the hair. If you have hard water, you may want to try using a vinegar rinse more frequently or using a water softener in your home.”

Giveaway TODAY!

Aside from sharing this tutorial, I am also giving away a couple bars from the batch I just whipped up. If you’d like to be entered to win one just share this post on FB or Twitter and leave a comment below letting me know! Contest ends tonight (1/25/12) at midnight. Winners will be selected via www.random.org and prizes will be mailed tomorrow!

And the winners are . . . Amber Stetler & Jenni Schuessler! Please email me your mailing address and get these shampoo bars in the mail!

*Note: The process takes about 1 1/2 hours total (including non-active time), but you’ll need to wait 24 hours before using!

Video Tutorial

Ingredients

All amounts are per weight. You will need to use a scale for these measurements.

10 ounces coconut oil
10 ounces olive oil
3 ounces castor oil (cold-pressed)
3 ounces jojoba oil
2 ounces shea butter
2 ounces cocoa butter
1 ounce beeswax (available at craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Joann’s or Michaels)

4 ounces water
6 ounces coconut milk
4 ounces lye (Usually available at your local hardware store. Make sure to get 100% lye!)

1/2 ounce rosemary essential oil
1/2 ounce peppermint oil

- OR-

1 ounce essential oil of your choice

Equipment:

crock pot
stick blender
digital scale
glass measuring cups
small glass bowls
plastic spoon with long handle
rubber spatula
sink or bowl filled with vinegar and soap mixture (for cleaning anything that comes in contact with lye)
protective equipment: long-sleeved shirt, plastic/rubber gloves, safety glasses or protective eye gear
soap mold – I used a cardboard box lined with parchment paper. A lined bread pan is the perfect size for this batch, though. I’ll be using that next time!

Photo Tutorial:

Step 1: Place solid oils (coconut, shea butter, cocoa butter) and Beeswax in a saucepan and gently warm over low heat

Step 2: Place melted oils and liquid oils (olive, castor, jojoba) in a crockpot and set to low

Step 3: In a well-ventilated area and while wearing protective gear slowly add lye to water/coconut milk and stir. Do not touch the bowl – it will be hot! Let lye cool for 5-10 minutes before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Add lye to crockpot (being careful not to splash) and stir a few times.

Step 5: Using the stick blender begin mixing toward “trace.” You’ll know trace is achieved when the mixture has the texture and thickness of pudding. Mine took about 3 minutes.

Step 6: Cover and let cook on low for 1 hour. During this process the oils should rise up the sides like a wave and then fold back into the mixture.

Step 7: At the end of one hour the mixture should look a little like semi-translucent vaseline. According to this post, “once the whole mix has this look, you can test it to see if it is done. Take a small sample of the soap and rub it between your fingers. It should have a waxy feel. Test the soap by touching it to your tongue. Keep cooking….if it ‘zaps’ like a nine volt battery, it’s not done.”

Step 8: Once the mixture is ready, add the essential oils and stir.

Step 9: Then spoon it into your mold and let firm up for 24 hours.

Step 10: Once the soap has had 24 hours to harden, remove from the mold and cut into bars.

Step 11: In an area with good air flow, place bars on a rack/tray to dry out and harden for another week or so. But by all means, go ahead and enjoy your first bar now!!!Similar Posts:

Handmade Christmas Ideas For Everyone On Your List – Part 2 {Easy & Frugal}

Heather — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:45:50 +0000

Do you love the idea of a handmade Christmas but dread the thought of a bunch of unfinished projects? This week I’m sharing easy, simple gift ideas that EVERYONE will love and ANYONE can do! Yesterday I covered edible gifts . . . now we’re going to talk about luxurious salts, soaks, balms, lotions, potions and, um, something for dad!!!

The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea

~Isak Dinesen

Salt Baths

Do you know a mom that suffers from fatigue, muscle tension, or has trouble unwinding after a busy day? Make her bath salts! A half hour soak will do wonders for her soul, but even more than that it will replenish her body with magnesium, which helps relax muscles and improves sleep quality.

Why is this important? Due to soil degradation from industrial farming practices, many (okay most) of us are actually deficient in this vital mineral. Soaking regularly in epsom salts is better than taking an oral supplement because the skin only absorbs what it needs (with supplements, your body has to use precious minerals and other resources to get rid of the excess if you take too much).

Oh, and epsoms salts are really inexpensive! Just add 20-40 drops of pure essential oil to two cups epsom salt and hand mix until thoroughly blended (or for a really luxurious blend add some coarse unrefined sea salt). Pour into a decorative container and seal.

Tada! You’re done in under five minutes. Or for a variation on the classic soaking recipe, check out this winter sunflower and oat soak/scrub.

Homemade Moisturizer

Light, air-whipped lotion with only 3-4 ingredients? Oh yes, and it’s easy to make!

If you use coconut oil as a body moisturizer but want something that absorbs more quickly when you’re in a hurry to dress, don’t miss this simple recipe!

Click here for the video tutorial.

Flavored Lip Balm

Crunchy Betty has some fabulous looking recipes I want to try: Luscious Lavendar, Coco-Rosey and Minty Chocolate. Then again, the orange-clove blend Jolee mentioned in the comments on yesterday’s post is intriguing.

Looking for a recipe that calls for ingredients you already have? This one, with the exception of beeswax (which you can get at a craft store), should do the trick. Wondering how you’ll store the balm? I found these containers on Amazon. If you find something cuter you let me know, okay?

Bay Rum Aftershave/Cologne

Hey, didn’t I promise some ideas for guys? This aftershave/cologne recipe from Learning Herbs is uber-manly, but get started today! It needs to steep for several weeks before it’s ready.

Oh, you can’t run to the store right now? Okay then, I’ll think of something you can get closer to home. How about a . . . rock.

Yes, my next gift idea for men is a rock. Don’t click away, this is gonna be good!

Rock, Paper, Scissors {Plus Felt & Wire}

This stone photo holder from Garden Mama is the perfect project to involve your little ones in. It is SO EASY, SO QUICK, and what says manly strength like solid rock?? And of course dad’s love it because they get to show off adorable photos of their kids at work.

Oh! And –

I added a recipe to yesterday’s post that would be great for dads. Go check it out!

What’s your favorite homemade beauty recipe?

Photo credit: iMakeGuernsey, LilyBaySoap, iMakeGuernsey

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How To Make Homemade Lotion With 3 Simple Ingredients {Video Tutorial}

Heather — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:29:22 +0000

Lesson #1 from my first job, Bath & Body Works: Do not climb the stockroom shelves like catwoman. Ever.

Lesson #2 Those luscious looking photos are meant to distract you from cancer causing dioxane and formaldehyde in shower gels and lotions with unpronounceable ingredients.

But is the solution homemade lotion??? That’s waaaay too complicated, right? Believe me, every other recipe I’ve seen is complicated, so when I found this simple recipe it seemed too good to be true. Folks, it WORKS! And it absorbs much more quickly than straight coconut oil, which is great if you’re dressing in a hurry. Louisa’s post is really good and worth the read if you want to give this a go, but since I like to SEE how things like this work Katie and I made this video tutorial for you.

UPDATE: Though I say in the video that this lotion can be stored at room temp for 3 months (based on the tutorial I linked to), my experience is that is not the case. Store at room temp for up to two weeks or keep in the fridge for 3-6 months. To keep at room temp for a longer period of time use a natural preservative.

You will need:

3/4 cup oil (olive, avocado or coconut are great choices. If you use coconut keep it at room temp because it will become solid in the fridge)
3 tablespoons beeswax (we found ours at a local craft store in the candle making section)
1 cup water, rose water, or herbal tea – room temp or slightly warmer
essential oil for fragrance (optional)

Method:

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Homemade Toothsoap & Toothpaste Recipes

Heather — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:16:30 +0000

I Switched Toothpaste Over . . . . Avocados

At $3 a pop, it’s time to get creative with my budget if I’m going to keep my kids reveling in their creamy green goodness. Our homemade deodorant recipe works better than the “natural” stuff and costs pennies on the dollar, so I recently decided to tackle toothpaste (actually, tooth SOAP) and tooth brightener, too!

Why tooth soap, you ask? Good question!!!

By now you probably already know that prior to 1938 fluoride was exclusively sold as rat poison and has since been linked to lowered IQ, weakened bones, thyroid suppression, lowered metabolic function, Alzheimers AND Down’s Syndrome (source). All experts agree that this stuff is not for babies – most of us would go further and say it’s not for anyone! Unfortunately, most commercial toothpaste manufacturers – even many of the “natural” ones – contain fluoride AND sodium lauryl sulfate (a foaming agent).

The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

Natural Health Information Centre: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (emphasis mine)

I’m sure there are some toothpastes out there that don’t contain toxic ingredients, but actually – toothpaste itself can be a problem!

[T]he use of certain toothpastes (especially those with flouride) could create harmful effects and even promote cavities. Glycerin is added to toothpaste to give it its “pasty” consistency. Supposedly, glycerin requires 27 rinses to remove from the teeth. And this could create a barrier on the teeth that would prevent teeth from getting harder and stronger.

Ramiel Nagel, Cure Tooth Decay

Toothsoap.com has pretty much got the market cornered because it’s a great product. And hey, their bottles last quite a long time in our house. But considering how many breakfasts of fried cinnamon apples and scrambled eggs that little vial will cost, I’m perfectly happy with these little recipes. Enjoy!

Homemade Tooth Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild
4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon water
20-40 drops essential oil (cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, anise, fennel – or whatever you like. Number of drops varies based on the strength of the essential oil)
1 -1½ tablespoons raw honey or a few drops stevia extract – for more info on what type of stevia to use check out this article

Note: If you us honey some will settle at the bottom. Just stir a bit with the dropper before using.

Instructions:

In a bowl, mix water, 1 tablespoon honey and olive oil until well blended.
Add remaining ingredients and whisk thoroughly. Add remaining ½ tablespoon (½ teaspoon) honey if needed.
Pour mixture into a vial with dropper or soap dispenser (be sure to label it!) and use!

Brightening Tooth Scrub:

This toothpaste recipe was sent in by a reader (thanks Nicole!). I use it about once a week to keep stains from building up.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon unrefined sea salt, medium or finely ground (salt helps remove stains and also contains minerals your teeth need for strong enamel)
½ teaspoon purified water
1 drop spearmint/peppermint/cinnamon/anise/fennel/other essential oil

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly until a smooth, thick paste forms.
Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular toothpaste.

What are YOUR favorite frugal beauty/personal care recipes?

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Coconut Oil For Radiant Skin, A Supercharged Metabolism And – um- A Stretchier You!

Heather — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:05:48 +0000

Miranda Kerr Has A Secret

And it’s not Victoria’s. If you’re not familiar with her, the – ahem – runway “angel” is also the natural birthing wife of Orlando Bloom. Earlier this year she raised a ruckus by releasing a nursing photo with her newborn son that is more discreet than anything I’ve seen in a VS catalog – **sigh** - and controversy is knocking at her door again.

Cosmopolitan magazine recently quoted the Australian supermodel as saying that coconut oil was the key to her clear skin, lustrous hair and svelte figure.

“I’ve been drinking it since I was 14 and it’s the one thing I can’t live without,” quotes Cosmo. “I will not go a day without coconut oil. I personally take four tablespoons per day, either on my salads, in my cooking or in my cups of green tea.”

“Experts” emerged from all corners of the earth to denounce her endorsement of “unhealthy” saturated fats (oh please, does no one bother to actually pay attention to what the research shows??), and in the end Miranda released a statement saying she was misquoted. Her blog currently states that her intake is 4 tsp, not tablespoons.

Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if she released that “correction” simply to silence the angry mob- no one knows except her. Either way, she’s right. Coconut oil is my favorite beauty product because it’s so versatile!

Glowing Skin

Extra virgin coconut oil happens to be very rich in antioxidants that prevent free radical formation (free radicals cause skin to lose elasticity). It’s antibacterial and antifungal, too, which is beneficial for maintaining clear skin. And because it’s molecular structure is relatively small, these benefits penetrate deep into underlying tissues that most moisturizers can’t reach. Of course, it smells really good too!

All healthy fats aid in hormone function, but coconut oil is special. Bob the liver reaaaaally likes coconut oil because – well, because Bob gets to sit back and do NOTHING! You see, coconut oil contains rare medium chain fatty acids (MCFT’s) that break down almost immediately when they come in contact with saliva and gastric juices. So rather than convert to lipoproteins (fat & protein), coconut oil converts directly into energy. So we have a fat that isn’t stored as fat in our bodies, moisturizes from within, and gives Bob a break so he can focus on clear, healthy skin. Win win WIN!

Psst! Did you know that WHERE acne erupts can tell you a lot about what’s going on in your body? Certain areas of your face are linked to specific organs in your body. If you have acne, matching the areas you most often break out with the corresponding organ can tell you how to focus your efforts nutritionally. For more on this (including a facial reflexology chart), check out this article from Mail Online.

About That “Fat Not Stored As Fat” Thing . . .

Coconut oil has been proven to increase metabolism AND slow down digestion – which means you burn food faster while feeling full on less! As a bonus it also kills the one-eyed green monster behind those raging carb/sugar cravings (which, if you were wondering, is candida).

Lots of people like to add a spoonful to their morning tea. If you’d like to give this a try, start small! Begin with 1-2 teaspoons and work up to 3-6 tablespoons per day.

Don’t want to lose weight? I take a few tablespoons to increase the lauric acid levels in my breastmilk even though I need to keep a little fluff on. The body is a wise – it’ll figure things out!

Coconut Oil & Essential Fatty Acids To Prevent Stretch Marks

So, um, when my mom discovered that I was going through “the change” in a Dillard’s dressing room we had the talk.

Right then, with everyone listening.

But aside from the normal embarrassment, puberty had other complications for me. My new body came with scars. Stretch marks, to be exact, all across my hips like I’d been attacked by a bengal tiger.

Fast forward through two pregnancies. Despite the fact that I neared planetary proportions both times (see exhibit A →) I didn’t get a single stretch mark. They say genetics plays a role, and that may be. But unless someone did some very tricky stuff with my DNA while I was sleeping the only thing that changed was my diet.

I’m not saying coconut oil was the only factor – in my opinion it was the inclusion of all healthy fats. I took at least four tablespoons on most days (That’s no typo, Miranda! I’m with you girl!) in addition to lots of butter and tallow. Not only did this nearly double my body’s ability to utilize that expensive fish oil I was taking while also delivering a powerful dose of antioxidants, it moisturized from the inside out. I rubbed it on my belly, too.

How To Select Coconut Oil

In a nutshell, here’s what you need to know: centrifuged virgin oil retains the most antioxidants, cold-pressed virgin is next best, then there’s expeller-pressed and refined oils. The last category isn’t very useful for beauty purposes, but you can still cook with it and get lots of good MCFT’s! And then there is coconut oil extracted using neurotoxic solvent like hexane. Avoid.

Here are some brands that I Wholeheartedly Endorse ♥

Thanks Alexandra, Abbey, Morgan and Carrie for suggesting a beauty post. This was fun!

P. S. Did you know you can reverse wrinkles and cellulite, too? I’m not kidding you. Check it out here.

Photo credit: Hugo971, Chiot’s Run

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Natural Hair Care & Body Wash: Recipes & Recommendations

Heather — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:31:37 +0000

When I found out I was pregnant with Katie one of the first things I did was read the labels on every product in my bathroom. I’m not sure what prompted me to do it, but I think it was this study linking hidden chemicals in perfumes to “abnormal development of reproductive organs in baby boys.” The perfume I was currently wearing (Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue) was on the list.

Seriously, could just spraying something on your skin have that much of an effect on a developing baby? Apparently so. Until then I had been mostly concerned with what I put in my body . . . now I was just as concerned with what I put on it. After all, everything that entered my bloodstream entered my baby’s, too. Did you know that . . .

On average, we each use nine personal care products a day containing 126 different ingredients. Such “safety” testing as exists looks for reactions, such as skin redness, rashes or stinging, but does not investigate potential long-term problems for either humans or the environment. Yet the chemicals that go into products such as shampoos and hand creams are not trace contaminants. They are the basic ingredients.

Absorbed into the body, they can be stored in fatty tissue or organs such as the liver, kidney, reproductive organs and brain. Cosmetics companies complain of unfounded hysteria, but scientists are finding industrial plasticisers such as phthalates in urine, preservatives known as parabens in breast-tumour tissue, and antibacterials such as Triclosan and fragrance chemicals like the hormone-disrupting musk xylene in human breast milk. Medical research is proving that fragrances can trigger asthma; that the detergents in shampoos can damage eye tissue; and that hair-dye chemicals can cause bladder cancer and lymphoma.

Environmental Working Group: How Toxic Is Your Bathroom?

For me, the best option I knew about was to buy all my personal care products at Whole Foods. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I realized that “organic” personal care products often contain chemicals, toxins and known carcinogens. With a few exceptions (like castille soap), I realized that the cheaper “natural” products at Whole Foods often contained unhealthy, synthetic fillers. In this case, you do get what you pay for.

So what is there to do? Buy a teeny-tiny bottle of shampoo for $15 and ration it like it’s gold? For me, the solution evolved like this: Pay out the nose for some really important stuff and then cheaply make what you can to balance out the cost.

For example, I make my own shampoo but buy the pricey California Baby for Katie because the homemade stuff isn’t tear-free (UPDATE: California Baby reformulated their shampoo and I no longer recommend it.). You know what I love about my shampoo? It’s made with ingredients so pure I can literally eat them (except for the tea tree oil). Food grade personal care products are the gold standard.

If you’re interested in transitioning to healthier personal care, here are some product recommendations and recipes:

Homemade Shampoo Bar – I use this Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar recipe. It smells amazing!

Chae Organics Baby Shampoo n’ Body Suds- This is a great first cleanser for newborns and toddlers. With just six ingredients, it’s both simple and gentle. I plan on using it with Babypotamus.

Detangler/Conditioner – Apple Cider Vinegar with optional essential oils for scent. It really does help detangle long hair and prevents the Vitamin E in my homemade shampoo from making my hair too oily.

Before you leave, consider this: Every one of these recipes and products was recommended to me by someone else. Without those people generously sharing what they’ve learned I would have nothing to share with you. So if you have a tip please leave it here so we can all benefit. Maybe your favorite natural moisturizer? Home blended massage oil? A salve for itchy ant bites?

Come on, I know many of you have awesome tips to share. SPILL!!!

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I Kissed Toothpaste Goodbye

Heather — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:30:24 +0000

The tale of how I came to shun toothpaste (even “natural toothpaste”) is a somewhat convoluted one. It started about ten months ago when I discovered my first massive blunder with numero uno, my firstborn child. On our way back from a service celebrating Papaw Dessinger’s life, Katie’s front tooth broke.

No trauma. No fall. It just broke.

What had happened to my otherwise healthy, robust child? I wrote this post which includes a story about me wetting my pants while searching for answers and promised to post updates. Here I am to do just that. In a nutshell, the extra magnesium I had taken to control Restless Leg Syndrome during pregnancy had prevented me (and therefore Katie) from absorbing enough calcium. Thanks to me, her teeth were weak and vulnerable. (I have since done a lot of research on how to properly supplement for RLS during pregnancy and posted my findings here). Then, on top of that, Katie had a lip tie (same as my son’s) that caused milk to pool near her top four teeth in the front, causing a breastmilk version of “bottle rot.”

I felt horrible, scared, guilty, foolish, and embarrassed. You name it, I felt it.

Although dental procedures could cosmetically correct the problem, they couldn’t strengthen her teeth. I wasn’t ready to accept this mistake as permanent, so I began researching ways to build up Katie’s teeth and bones. Food had been a healing force in my life and I believed it could do the same for my daughter.

My AHA! Moment

After scouring the web I ran across someone who had been through the exact same experience with his own daughter. Ramiel Nagel, author of Cure Tooth Decay: Heal & Prevent Cavities With Nutrition, had successfully helped his daughter’s cavities heal using food. I had never heard of such a thing! Apparently, the tooth structure that had decayed didn’t fully grow back it’s original structure, but the decay disappeared and new enamel formed to seal and protect what was left of the tooth. Amazing.

The days spent waiting for Amazon to deliver my precious package stretched my patience, but when it finally arrived I knew it had been worth the wait before I finished the intro:

“Decaying teeth can be a scary, painful process. When in a state of fear and panic, we disregard the most sensible decision we could make: to search for the real cause, rather than succumb to the easy and passive response of allowing a dentist to “fix” the problem for us. We have been taught, for the most part, that tooth decay is inevitable and that we have no choice in the matter. After reading this book you will see that this is far from the truth.”

The book is based on the research of Dr. Weston Price, a figure whose findings had played a prominent role on my own journey from chronic disease to vibrant health. Dr. Price was a prominent dentist that traveled the world in the 1930s to study why indigenous cultures have stronger teeth and fewer cavities than modern “civilized” cultures. Dr. Price was no quack. In fact, he was the first research director of the National Dental Association, which later became The American Dental Association (ADA).

During the 1930s, Dr. Price was able to document the sharp decline in health experienced by previously healthy people who came into contact with modern civilization. The revealing findings of Dr. Price, along with his telling photographs, bring home the fact that our modern food and lifestyle is a primary cause of disease.

Cure Tooth Decay, p. 24

Despite our zillions of toothpastes, mouthwashes, flavored flosses, etc. we are actually worse off than many “primitive” cultures when it comes to dental health. We have more cavities, more gum disease, and more need for braces.

How can that be?

Dr. Price found that traditional diets were significantly higher in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E &K), calcium and phosphorous. As tooth enamel wears away these nutrients are needed to replenish it (often referred to as tooth remineralization). Unfortunately, since the modern diet is typically deficient in all of these that doesn’t happen. Keep in mind, this research was done back in the 1930s. Although refined sugar, canned vegetables and white flour had already been introduced just think how much worse it is now!

But wait! We’re Real Foodies. We don’t eat a SAD diet.

And if you don’t have tooth decay that may be why. However, I have unfortunately run into several real foodies whose children have similar issues to Katie. So what gives? Obviously, in Katie’s situation calcium deficiency and an undiagnosed lip tie played a huge role. But aside from that there are other practices that can interfere with tooth remineralization. Like toothpaste.

My personal experience has been that flossing and brushing do help limit tooth decay. The act of brushing may not be harmful, but the use of certain toothpastes (especially those with flouride) could create harmful effects and even promote cavities. Glycerin is added to toothpaste to give it its “pasty” consistency. Supposedly, glycerin requires 27 rinses to remove from the teeth. And this could create a barrier on the teeth that would prevent teeth from getting harder and stronger.

Cure Tooth Decay, p. 123

According to Nagel, remineralization occurs both through direct contact with nutrients when food is chewed and also through digestion/uptake via the bloodstream. By coating our teeth we prevent one of the two ways teeth are designed to remineralize and harden.

In addition, products like tooth whitening gels strip the teeth of their enamel and make them more vulnerable. Manufacturers say whitening products don’t harm enamel, but I have used them and experienced enamel loss firsthand. My teeth did get whiter, but they also lost their sheen, which is the outermost layer of enamel.

What Now, Brush With Tree Bark?

So, if tooth brushing is beneficial but toothpaste is bad, what do we use . . . tree bark??? Yes and No. If you’re teeth are really suffering there are some very beneficial herbal blends that contain bark (White Oak, Prickly Ash, Bayberry and Slippery Elm). But I am getting ahead of myself. There are basically three options: tooth soap, baking soda or herbal tooth powders:

Tooth Soap – Sold as a liquid or in little flakes that dissolve in your mouth, tooth soap is a gentle cleanser made with coconut, olive and/or palm oils. I use Black Cherry from toothsoap.com for Katie and she really likes it. For a less expensive option, you can brush with liquid castille soap. It’s not as tasty, but it’s what we use.
If you’re interested in trying tooth soap, Toothsoap.com is offering a huge sale this month: 45% off of all their products. Every order of toothsoap also comes with a free toothbrush. Use the coupon code JULY to redeem. (Just FYI, I got a question about strengthening toddler teeth on the same day that this coupon arrived in my inbox, so I figured it was time to write a post!)
Baking Soda with Ground Calcium/Magnesium – Toothsoap.com makes a tooth brightener I have used and really like, but I make my own at home to save money. It’s pretty simple, although I don’t know exactly what the proportions should be. I just stick some of my calcium citrate/magnesium supplements in the coffee grinder and blend with a little aluminum-free baking soda. I like to add a drop of essential oil (licorice, peppermint or fennel) to make it more palatable. Use once or twice a week to remove stains. Note: Because baking soda is very alkaline and your mouth needs a certain level of acid to kill bacteria, it is best not to use baking soda every day. If you begin to experience gum sensitivity or bleeding it may mean your mouth is too alkaline and is not killing bacteria properly.
Herbal Tooth Powders and Liquids – These are especially helpful if you are already experiencing problems with your teeth or gums. They are very healing but can cause discoloration if used long term. Nagel recommends the Tooth & Gum Restore Formula by Dr. Richard Schulze and Dr. Christopher’s Herbal Tooth & Gum Powder.

For natural tooth whitening, Nagel makes this recommendation:

Dab a small amount of organic peppermint essential oil on your finger (much less than a drop), rub your finger on your toothbrush, and then brush normally.

My dentist friend and his wife are going to be horrified when they read this, but things got worse with Katie’s teeth before they got better. She got two cavities in her bottom molars. Although I am not a dentist and never had one confirm that she had cavities, I worked as a dental assistant for my friend for a brief period during college and I’m 100% sure that she had two.

When I found them I decided to hold off on an exam and order both of the herbal formulas I mentioned. Katie hates them both, but she hates Dr. Christopher’s Herbal Tooth & Gum Powder less. Since I began using it one cavity has healed completely (with new white enamel over the top) and one has gone from a scary black spot to a light brown one that looks better all the time. In addition to the tooth powder we also sprayed collodial silver on her cavities before she went to bed. Overall, the quality of the enamel on her teeth has also significantly improved. They went from looking slightly translucent at the tips to being shinier and more dense looking.

We still have a ways to go, but I think that’s mostly because I can only get her cooperation part of the time when it comes to eating certain healing foods. Overall, though, I feel very strongly that because of Nagel’s book she will suffer no long term effects due to my previous ignorance. Her baby teeth may not be as perfect as some other childrens, but her bones and adult teeth will be strong and healthy.

Personally, I have seen significant remineralization with my own teeth since switching to toothsoap, but I have more stains that I’d like. I think I’ll try the peppermint oil and see how it goes.

Click here for an amazing photo update on Katie’s teeth!

Resources:

For an insightful synopsis of Dr. Price’s research with photos of the cultures he studies, check out this post at Nourished Kitchen.

For more in-depth info visit The Weston A. Price Foundation

Photo credit: Julia Freeman-WoolpertSimilar Posts:

Easy Homemade Deodorant That Really WORKS!!!

Heather — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:56:43 +0000

The Summer of Stink

Back in college I was always warning Daddypotamus about the toxins he was putting into his body, namely cigarettes and Taco Bueno (Gasp! I know, I can’t believe he ate Taco Bueno either!! ) Well, to show me that my concerns were being taken seriously he decided to take steps to ease the toxic burden on his body.

By giving up deodorant. In the summer. In TEXAS.

Not the “sacrifice” I would have chosen, but it was pretty clever on his part. Rather than give up something that would bother him, he ditched the product whose absence would bother me. A lot. That, ahem, was the beginning of my journey to find a non-toxic deodorant that can handle the manliest of smells. Most commercially sold deodorants contain a slew of toxic chemicals you don’t want in your body and even “natural” deodorants like crystal stones and sprays contain potassium aluminum sulfate (which has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease). The ones that are truly non-toxic typically lose their effectiveness after a few hours.

But wait, why was I worrying about this in the first place? It’s not like he was eating his old deodorant?

Our skin is less of a suit of armor, and more of a fishnet. Our delicate skin cells are quite permeable, and substances seep through our very being and end up in our blood stream with ease. Think of the nicotine patch or the hormone patch. Scientists now realize just how easy it is to filter and flow substances into our core . . . many personal care products like perfume, deodorant, hair dye, and nail polish remover can also be a source of toxic, skin-leaching chemicals. Home cleaning products, too, contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous to the skin.

~ You Are What You Eat

After scouring the Web, what we arrived at was a cheap, non-toxic solution so simple you’ll laugh at yourself for ever buying into the commercial hype. But don’t let the simplicity fool you. This recipe has been tested in the badlands of husband arm pit, and has proven its worth.

Are you ready to kiss your store-bought deodorants goodbye? Alright, here’s the recipe!

Ingredients for Man-Smell Killer Deodorant

equal parts aluminum free baking soda and either arrowroot powder or GMO-free cornstarch (I use about ½ cup baking soda and 1/2 cup arrowroot)
mix with coconut oil until moist and then store in a jar
seriously. that’s it.
If you want to get fancy, though, add a little lemon, tea tree, rosemary, lavender or bergamot essential oil

Quick Tips: Rub a SMALL amount in using your fingertips until it’s invisible. It works that well! (plus if you cake it on it can leave oil stains on your clothes). Store in an a reused glass jar. OR you can spoon the mixture into an old deodorant container and rub it on that way!

Also, some people find that the baking soda is too alkaline for their skin, which can cause irritation. If this happens try cutting the amount of baking soda in half.

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