Hidden Dangers to your Child's Health

Many of you are living a holistic life if you are reading this blog. You eat well, you buy organic when you can, you exercise, you work on stress reduction, etc. But for all your well deserved pats on the back, there is a hidden danger which seemingly is seldom mentioned in the popular press. The hidden danger to our children (and ourselves) from everyday cosmetics, shampoos and lotions.

There are many, many chemicals to be worried about, but I want to draw your attention to the ones that related to synthetic fragrances, as this is a blog that has to do with essential oils and medical aromatherapy after all.

Phthalates are a type of chemical that is used to soften plastics, as well as in paints. It is also used as a "fragrance extender." It's what makes synthetic fragrances last so long and seem so strong compared to essential oils. Unfortunately, phthalates are an endocrine disruptor. They bock testosterone activity. Many animal studies have shown that it can impair the development of normal male genitalia when a pregnant mother is exposed to phthalates. In humans, there has been a doubling of malformations of "boy parts" in the last two decades.

Phthalates do not stick to whatever they are used in, so, they leach out very readily. You can inhale them (like in the fragrances), you can swallow them when the plastic is chewed, and it can go through your skin. For example, a study published in the prestigious journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, demonstrated for the first time that even using a baby shampoo for a few minutes a child's head lead to absorption of phthalates. The smaller the child, the faster they absorbed the phthalates relative to their body weight.

The best way to avoid exposing your children to these types of toxins is to use fragrance free bath and beauty products. A nice thing that I like to do is to start with a simple base, say, of shampoo or lotion and add my own medical grade essential oils. These essential oils not only smell nice but have many important physical and physiological effects on the body. I've raise my children with aromatherapy and it is become an integral part of their life and their identity. For example once, when my daughter was five years old, she stubbed her toe in preschool. Her teacher came running to reassure her that her toe would be all right. Turning to her teacher to reassure her, my daughter said "don't worry, my father will put lavender essential oil on it and it will be all right".

Now as my children grow up, I'm teaching them how to choose the right essential oils to shield their wounds, help fight infections, and even to cook with. This is what I refer to as the "fragrant childhood." Check out my recent article in mothering magazine, entitled "the fragrant pregnancy". It talks about how medical aromatherapy can be used throughout conception pregnancy and delivery, and forms the basis for how essential oils can be incorporated into your families life.