Is Antibacterial Soap Unsafe? Some Natural Alternatives to Ease Your Mind

09. April 2010 · Comments Off · Categories: Health, Herbalism, News, Remedies · Tags: , , ,

Yes, it’s all over the news – again.  The question resurges “Is antibacterial soap unsafe?”  You may recall it was a pretty big news flash several years ago in regards to how the use of antibacterial soaps could make our bodies more resistant to antibiotics.  This time around, they’re talking about the actual ingredients, namely triclosan.  An article in Reuters this morning states, “The FDA noted that there was no evidence that triclosan could be harmful to people but noted that an animal study showed the chemical may alter hormone regulation and several other lab studies showed that bacteria may be able to evolve resistance to triclosan in a way that can help them also resist antibiotics.”  Perhaps there’s no evidence of the harmfulness on people because no people were tested?  This is not mentioned, but it makes me wonder.  But whether it’s safe or it’s not, I always find some peace of mind by taking the natural road first.  That’s why I thought I’d share a few natural alternatives to antibacterial soaps.  Start out with the natural course, and it very rarely leads you to scary questions and breaking news later.

So what herbs are antibacterial?  There are too many to list here, but some of the most common are:  lavender, rosemary, garlic, and peppermint.  Apple cider vinegar is another natural item that provides antibacterial protection.  Many of our herb friends are not only antibacterial but antifungal and antiviral as well.  (Makes for a pretty good argument of natural versus manmade when you consider there’s no hard evidence that the antibacterial soaps in question actually work!)  And according to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley, all essential oils are antibacterial.  Leaves you with quite a selection!

With the addition of a few drops, or a combination of any, of these and other essential oils into a spray bottle of water, you have a pretty fragrant antibacterial spray.  I’d recommend using about a cup of water to 20 drops of oil.  Experiment with blends that you like, and place in a spray bottle.  (Of course don’t spray it in your eyes, eat it, or let your kids play with it.  But you knew that!)

Another favorite of mine is Vinegar of the Four Thieves.  This historical blend was said to protect four thieves from the Black Plague when they used it after robbing the dead bodies of plague victims.  Gruesome story no doubt, and we’re not certain of the truth there, but we do know the components of most Four Thieves recipes are pretty effective.  I blogged one last year, and you can read the recipe for Vinegar of the Four Thieves here.  If you’re not keen on making your own, For My Kids sells a great version I’d recommend.

Then there’s the old standby:  Wash your hands thoroughly with regular soap.  To get the benefits of herbs in there again, get soaps that contain essential oils.  As it turns out, there is a running debate on whether or not the antibacterial soap versions actually work any better than standard soap.  And we’ve learned since childhood that thoroughly washing our hands with soap and water does in fact kill germs and bacteria.  

If you’re still worried about whether or not antibacterial soap is unsafe, natural alternatives are good to keep in mind.  My philosophy has been that if you start out with the natural solution, it doesn’t really matter what the news says.  What is called safe today might be called unsafe tomorrow, but that rarely happens in the herb world.  Yes, there are herbs we need to be careful with, but as in all of life, moderation is key.  The good news is, plants seem to have a much better – and longer – track record for safe and effective use.  I’m more than happy to stick with my botanical friends!

Pandemic Preparedness, Vinegar of the Four Thieves Recipe, etc…

28. April 2009 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

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If you’ve had your eyes glued on the news at all lately, perhaps you’re getting a set of the swine flu nerves. I admit it’s hard not to watch that and panic.  But I think the most important thing we can do as families interested in green living is to just take a few steps towards pandemic preparedness.  What’s interesting to me is that while you may be preparing your family for something as scary as a super virus, you’ll find that you’re actually prepared for emergencies in general which should be a reassuring thing.  

We always keep large bags of things like rice and beans in the house, and with tornado season looming, we stock up a little extra on things like batteries etc.  But what about stocking up for super viruses?  Well, my first suggestion is not to panic.  My second suggestion would be to make sure everyone in the family is eating a healthy diet that will help boost the immune system.  Try growing your own sprouts (remember my “How to Grow Your Own Sprouts” article?)  Instead of throwing 17 bottles of chemically germ killers and anti-bacterial washes in the shopping cart, try making your own Four Thieves Vinegar.  Fun for getting the kids involved, and you’ll feel very self sufficient and kind of pioneerish if I do say so myself.  

What’s Four Thieves Vinegar?  There are a few variations to the old story, and we don’t know how true it actually is, but apparently there were four successful thieves who managed to rob the dead bodies of the Black Plague.  How?  They had their own herbal vinegar that they used to keep the plague at bay. While I wouldn’t tell you Four Thieves Vinegar is the way to protect your family from swine flu, it certainly is a great alternative to buying antibacterial products loaded with chemicals.  There are literally dozens of variations to this recipe, but here’s what I whipped up last night:

4 Tbs. dried lavender

4 Tbs. dried rosemary

4 Tbs. dried wormwood 

4 Tbs. dried mint (I used peppermint)

4 Tbs. dried sage

4 Tbs. dried rue (I didn’t use this – couldn’t locate any, but if you’ve got some, throw it in)

2 quarts apple cider vinegar

If you can crush up the herbs, all the better.  Place the herbs in a glass jar, pour the vinegar over it, and give it a vigorous shake.  Place the jar in the sun for two or more weeks (I’ve read up to six weeks; this info varies).  After two weeks, if you are so inclined, you can add a few cloves of garlic and let it sit for another week.  I’ve seen recipes with and without garlic, but I can see the benefits in adding it.  I can also imagine the smell, so I’ll leave this part up to you.  Strain the vinegar well and pour into spray bottles.  You can carry it with you in a small bottle in your purse for when your kids have touched something icky or questionable.  

If you’d rather not go through the work and wait period, dkMommy Spot sponsor For My Kids sells a great version of Vinegar of the Four Thieves spray.  I believe in their products and they’re always chemical free and natural.

 Chances are, the vast majority of us will never experience or know someone who will experience the swine flu.  But through a few general emergency preparations, we can feel a little safer and more self reliant. Pandemic preparedness is half the battle!