Okay, this is not something to eat, but it is something that you put onto your body and a friend suggested that I should put this on the blog. So here it is.
This simple home-made deodorant is quite extraordinary. When it was first suggested to me to try this instead of my health shop bought deodorant, I laughed. I have had to use strong deodorants over the years and did not believe that one made of sodium bicarbonate could work.
But it does.
And I tested it on a recent holiday to Sri Lanka. And it worked there too, in all that heat! However, it does sometimes wear off, so if it does, simply spray some more.
BUT this is NOT an antiperspirant, we all need to perspire. One of the reasons that pork is forbidden on the Budwig Protocol is because pigs do not sweat. We need to sweat out toxins from our body which is why when we are stressed our sweat can smell sharp and pungent. Stress sweat, which contains cortisol and adrenaline, comes from the apocrine glands, which produces a thicker richer sweat containing proteins and lipids. The nutrients in stress sweat are broken down by bacteria on the skin, producing a sharper body odour than from heat-related sweat. Sodium bicarbonate alters the pH balance on the skin, making it more alkaline and thus eliminating odour.
A few months ago, as I was spritzing my skin with rose water, I had the idea to make a batch of my deodorant with organic rose water instead of filtered water. Rose water gives a lovely scent that is not overpowering. It is extremely simple to make using sodium bicarbonate but you must ensure that the sodium bicarbonate you use is aluminium free, as some surprisingly do contain it. Health food shops will stock aluminium free sodium bicarbonate in their bakery section. Doves Farm is a good brand.
I also add a few drops of essential oil of rose because I love the scent, but this is optional. Be careful as some rose oils come already diluted with oil which is not so nice in the deodorant. If you wish to buy essential rose oil on the internet, you will find that it costs around £30 for 2 ml for the pure undiluted oil, so it is expensive, but a little goes a long way. (If it is much cheaper than this, it is most likely diluted). Rose oil balances hormones and is an antidepressant, so it is useful if you have had breast CanSur. Besides, I find the scent incredibly calming. Rose Geranium essential oil is a good substitute if Rose is out of your budget. Rose Geranium regenerates female energies and has a calming effect. But for me, rose essential oil is a little indulgence and I think it important to indulge yourself when you have or are getting over this disease. It is all about self love. You really are worth it.
And you are saving the planet with this deodorant. No empty plastic containers, no manufacture of chemicals with its residual waste. Everything is recyclable.
This deodorant is free from these toxic deodorant/antiperspirant ingredients :-
Parabens - linked to breast and prostrate CanSur and decreased sperm levels. Parabens imitate oestrogen. High oestrogen levels play a role in some breast CanSurs.
Aluminium - linked to Alzheimer's and interferes with oestrogen, linking it to breast CanSur and increased tumour growth. (BTW the Budwig Protocol is quite clear that aluminium should not be used in cooking for this reason.)
Triclosan - an antibacterial pesticide and also a carcinogen.
Phthalates - linked to breast CanSur and hormone disruption.
Propylene Glycol - found in antifreeze and a probable carcinogen.
Steareth-N - a known human carcinogen.
You just don't need these ingredients to make an effective deodorant. You just need sodium bicarbonate and organic rose water. Oh, and a little rose essential oil, if you prefer.
So here it is, a simple deodorant to make and use - especially important if you have had breast CanSur.
Ingredients
a small glass bottle with a spray nozzle (or use an old Rose Water bottle)
1 part sodium bicarbonate - aluminium free
2 parts organic rose water
2 - 3 drops of pure essential oil of Rose Otto (optional)
** 1 cup of Healing Intent
1. Mix the rose water and the sodium bicarbonate together and give it a really good shake until the liquid is completely white.
2. Leave for 24 hours. The salt and water will separate. Decant the clear liquid into the glass bottle. Add the essential oil and thoroughly shake. I tend to give the deodorant a good shake every time I use it to incorporate the oil. Discard the rest of the bicarb.
3. A small glass bottle full of the deodorant will usually last around 6 weeks. I use three - four sprays under each arm.
** Healing Intent: when using such products to heal the body it is important to set your intent. The best way to do this is imagine that you are doing this for yourself or for someone you love who is very ill and that this is the only thing that will help in their healing. You will find that the way you handle the ingredients will change, and will not only result in a better product, but you will feel the product actually nourishing body and spirit.