CATHY'S CORNER
The Skin& Put On A Healthy FaceDo you know which is your body's largest organ? ? It weighs 8 to 10 pounds. ? If laid out flat, it would cover an area of about 22 square feet. ? It covers your entire body. In case you don't know, it's your skin. A piece of skin the size of a quarter contains one yard of blood vessels; four yards of nerves; 25 nerve cells; 100 sweat glands; and more than 3,000,000 cells. Your skin is constantly sloughing off dead cells and replacing with new. Here's an easy test to prove it. Take a piece of clear tape and stick it on the back of your hand for a few seconds then remove it. What do you see? Probably lots of little specks. Those are dead cells. The pores of our skin require four essential things to live and function properly: >Oxygen: cells die within 3 minutes without oxygen >Water: cells die in a few days >Nutrition: cells die in a few weeks >Cleansing: cells begin to die in a matter of minutes (or at the most, a matter of hours) if cell wastes are not removed promptly. The Spirit of Prophecy calls our pores "...the little mouths through which the body breathes..." (2T 524), and gives counsel to the importance of bathing and cleanliness. "The skin needs to be carefully and thoroughly cleansed, that the pores may do their work in freeing the body from impurities;..." HL227 "Upon rising in the morning, most persons would be benefited by taking a sponge bath, or, if more agreeable, a hand bath, with merely a wash-bowl of water; this will remove impurities from the skin." HL 192 "Bathing frees the skin from accumulation of impurities which are constantly collecting..." HR June 1, 1872 Like a marvelous machine, all of the body systems must work together. When they do not function properly, putrification is the result. Whenever wastes do not pass from the system within 24 hours, the blood then absorbs this pollutant. The liver, lungs, kidneys and skin must try to eliminate this waste. "Scrupulous cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health. Impurities are constantly thrown off from the body through the skin. Its millions of pores are quickly clogged unless kept clean by frequently bathing, and the impurities which should pass off through the skin become an additional burden to the other eliminating organs." MH 276 We're still receiving requests for a tract we published several years ago entitled "Beauty's Only Skin Deep." It contained several interesting sections: · Cosmetic Safety - excerpts from Congressman Ron Wyden's appeal for account-ability: "no statutory require-ments that cosmetic ingredients be tested for safety before they are used" · "Natural" ingredients: there are no legal guidelines or boundaries. "Natural" can mean anything. For example, decomposed bird droppings are "natural" and have been used as a "natural" source of certain ingredients in cosmetics. · Products & by-products: animal, vegetable or human! Human placenta can be found in products found even in health food stores! · Beauty, Pride & Pig Grease: how rendering plants process dead carcasses, and where those by-products end up! · Mineral oil: petroleum-based ingredients block pores; the skin can't breathe, and toxins get trapped inside. Petroleum Products Many folks do not realize the detrimental effect that the use of petroleum products (Vaseline, etc.) and mineral oil has on their skin. Here's another test: the next time your hands feel dry and you're about to apply hand lotion, instead put some Vaseline, mineral oil or baby oil, etc., in the palm of your hand, then spread it all over your hands as you would hand lotion. Next, pour water over your hands and see what happens. It runs right off. Oil and water do not mix. The water cannot penetrate the barrier. Oxygen cannot get in, and toxins can't get out. The same thing hap-pens to a degree each time you use products which contain petroleum products. Mineral oil comes from crude oil (petroleum) used in industry as metal cutting fluid. It may suffo-cate the skin by forming an oil film. Healthy skin needs oxygen, and to release carbon dioxide and toxins, it should not be inhibited. Holding to large amounts of moisture in the skin can "flood" the biology and may result in immature unhealthy, sensitive skin that dries out easily. Antiperspirants & Deodorants Psalms 139 says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. If our bodies were not designed exactly the way they are, we could overheat or explode within the normal course of our day. But God created each one of us to deal with adverse conditions in very unique ways. When we get hot, certain parts of our body produces sweat to throw off wastes and help cool us down. Think about this for a moment: Q: What is a de - odor - ant? A: Something we use to take away or cover odor. Q: What is an anti - perspir - ant? A: Something we put under our arms to keep us from perspiring. Antiperspirants actually block the pores so the sweat can't get out. What happens? It gets recycled. Once again, the Spirit of Prophecy tells us the toxins get reabsorbed into the system and it throws the burden on the other organs to rid the body of them. "Impurities are constantly and imperceptibly passing from the body through the pores, and if the skin is not kept in a healthy condition, the system is burdened with impure matter... The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood, and forced upon the internal organs. Nature, to relieve herself of poisonous impurities, makes an effort to free the system, which effort produces fevers and what is termed disease." HL 206 Every day, millions of people raise their arms and apply deodorants and antiperspirants. I think about all those folks who go to health clubs to work out. It's not "cool" to sweat or stink -- so they dam up the body's natural course by using deodorants and anti-perspirants! All those toxins are reabsorbed by the body. If deodorants and antiper-spirants were something as pure and simple as a flower petal or a feather, it wouldn't be so bad. Unfortunately, deodorants and anti-perspirants contain combinations of strong chemicals. These chemicals are absorbed though your skin, remember "the little mouths through which body breathes..." (2T 524). Here are just three of the chemicals. · Calcium Hypochlorite: an algicide and bactericide for swimming pools; a deodorant, water purifier, fungicide and bleaching agent. Can cause severe irritation of nose, throat and skin. A human mutagen. Dangerous fire risk. · Formaldehyde: a confirmed carcinogen and human mutagen. Poisonous if swallowed. Effects on the body are watering eyes, changes in the ability to smell, aggression, and lung damage. A skin and eye irritant. (By the way, if you check the label and don't find the word formaldehyde there are 26 other names manufacturers can use to disguise it.) · Lineleytrimethylammonium bromide: used in germicides, deodorants, algicides and slime control products. A severe skin and eye irritant. Highly toxic by swallowing. These chemicals, and many others, help prevent sweating, and sweating is one of the ways the body cleanses itself of toxic substances. Every time you apply an antiperspirant, it's like damming up a river. Sweat backs up in and around your armpit. The result? The toxins in your sweat become trapped there. And worst of all, fatty breast tissue is especially efficient at storing these poisons. If you want to be at your healthiest, you need to sweat more, not less! Exercise, which promotes sweating, has been proven to lower breast-cancer risk. An important part of our health message is the use of water, especially the use of hot and cold water treatments and sweat baths specifically to promote sweating to help rid the body of toxins. What are we doing obstructing the very process designed to help us maintain health? A report in a women's health newsletter made this alarming statement: "You are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer next to where you apply your deodorant. Did you realize that, if you do develop breast cancer, there's a 50% chance the tumor will appear in the area closest to your underarm?" There was displayed this disturbing breast cancer map. Breast Cancer Risks The1994 statistics according to the National Cancer Institute show: Up to age Your odds are 25 1 in 19,608 30 1 in 2,525 35 1 in 622 40 1 in 217 45 1 in 93 50 1 in 50 55 1 in 33 60 1 in 24 65 1 in 17 70 1 in 14 75 1 in 11 80 1 in 10 85 1 in 9 95 1
in 8 Is it a wonder that numbers of breast cancer continues to increase among both men and women!? The latest figures indicate that 1 out of every 2 men, and 1 out of every 3 women, will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Aluminum There has been much debate about the presence of aluminum in anti-perspirants, deodorants and other items many of us use on a daily basis. Aluminum is a metal, the third most common element in the environment and a toxin in the body. You'll find it in processed foods, antiperspirants, antacids, cosmetics, paper products, beverage cans, foil and cookware. The World Health Organization conducted studies on chemical pollution and the elderly. "There is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of aluminum...autopsies have found high concentrations of the metal in the brain of people who had suffered from the disease." (Public Health Reports, Nov-Dec 1993) "Studies linking aluminum to Alzheimer's disease... 'The evidence is strong enough that the prudent person will eliminate all food and cosmetic sources of aluminum and will use aluminum cooking utensils only if they are coated,' suggests Gary Price Todd, M.D., author of Nutrition, Health and Disease." (Natural Health, May-June 1993) Dr. Daniel Perl, Director of Neuropathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, suggests, "...avoid aerosol anti-perspirants. Aluminum in aerosol form may be more readily absorbed into the brain through nasal passages." (The University of Cali-fornia, Berkeley Wellness Letter, April 1993) "Aluminum-containing anti-perspirants are designed to be absorbed, and studies show that regular use of these products can raise the risk of Alzheimer's by as much as three-fold. [Also in] municipal water supplies treated with alum (aluminum sulfate)... at least 7 studies show that people drinking water high in alum are more likely to develop Alzheimer's." (Natural Health, May-June 1993) Literally thousands of chemical compounds are formulated into the personal care products and pro-cessed foods we use and consume daily. What do they do? What happens inside our bodies when these chemicals build up over decades of use? What happens when they interact with one another? Aluminum is a great example of this question. To reach the brain, aluminum must pass the blood-brain barrier, an elaborate structure that filters the blood. Elemental aluminum doesn't easily pass this barrier, but aluminum compounds found in many consumable products do. Aspirin is commonly buffered with aluminum hydroxide or glycinate. If you drink some orange juice, the citric acid transforms these compounds into aluminum citrate -- 5 times better able to find its way to the brain. If the aluminum in food combines with malto, a sugar-like additive used in many baked goods, its capacity to pass the blood-brain barrier increases by as much as 90 times!" (from Natural Health, May-June 1993) Buyer Beware! Many products on the grocer's shelves contain ingredients which do not promote health. I believe it is time we take an active role as our own personal health care provider -- it might be the best insurance you could ever buy. Many of the products we wash our hair with, brush our teeth with, and put on our skin, may contain harmful chemicals. For label-readers, here are some other ingredients to watch out for: Propylene Glycol Called a humectant in cosmetics it is actually "industrial antifreeze" and the major ingredient in brake and hydraulic fluid. Tests show it can be a strong skin irritant. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) warn users to avoid skin contact as it is systemic and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney disease. Propylene Glycol: the primary ingredient in industrial antifreeze, brake fluid, varnishes and resins; a strong irritant. Product content can be 10% or 20% or more! Causes liver and kidney damage. Propylene glycol is used to keep products from freezing, and also as an emulsifier and thickening agent. It can be found in floor wax, pet food, laundry detergents, and processed foods such as baked goods, beet sugar, beer, cheese, citrus fruit (raw fruit to keep from freezing), packaged coconut, condiments, confections, dairy desserts (frozen), fats, flavorings, frostings, gelatins, gravies, jams, jellies, margarine, oil, puddings, relishes, salad dressings, sweet sauces, seasonings, syrups, soaps and perfumes. Check the label next time you reach for the Cool Whip or packaged coconut. I was especially disgusted to see it listed as the first or second ingredient in the butter and coconut flavorings I had for cooking. Mothers, next time you change your baby's diaper and reach for the baby wipes, check the label -- most contain propylene glycol. Your baby's bottom was made to function with water not antifreeze! SLS & SLES Potentially, SLS is perhaps the most harmful ingredient in personal-care products. SLS is used in testing labs as the standard ingredient to irritate skin. Indus-trial uses of SLS include garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and car wash soaps just to name a few. Studies show its danger potential to be great when used in personal-care products. A study from the Medical College of Georgia indicates that SLS is systemic, can penetrate and be retained in the eye, brain, heart, liver, etc., with potentially harmful long-term effects. It could retard healing, cause cataracts in adults, and can keep children's eyes from developing properly. (Summary report to Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Conference.) Other research has shown that SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. SLES is the alcohol form (etho-xylated) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating but may cause more drying. Both SLS and SLES can enter the blood stream. They are used in personal-care products because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added it thickens to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): a detergent and foam-building agent. A human mutagen and potential carcinogen. Can cause hair loss and eye, skin and scalp irritation. SLS can be found in beverages, eggs, fruit juice drinks, marsh-mallows, vegetable oils, detergents, shampoos, toothpastes, hand lotions, bubble baths, and shaving cream. (There are 29 other names by which SLS can be disguised by manufacturers.) If
someone chooses to use products containing these ingredients, it may be
wise to clean up as if they were adding antifreeze to their car or using
an industrial strength detergent, because that's exactly what these
chemicals are! Something to Think About · Glycerine (and some alcohols): a humectant, draws moisture out of skin leaving it dry on the inside but gives a moist feeling on the outside. · Collagen or Elastin: derived from animal skins and ground up chicken feet. Used to moisturize; clogs pores, suffo-cates skin with too large of molecules (it's like trying to play golf with a bowling ball). · Talc: chemically similar to asbestos, is a known cancer causing substance. Used in baby powder, it clogs the pores, and is a skin irritant. Linked to ovarian cancer. As early as the 1930's, talc has been linked to post-operative granulomatous peritonitis and fibrous adhesions. Doctors no longer use it as a glove donning powder (because of its dry lubricating properties) for surgical gloves. · Bar Soaps: made from animal fat and lye allows bacteria to feed and grow in it. May corrode the skin and dry it out.
·
Kaolin
or bentonite: a fine, natural clay that dehydrates and
suffocates the skin. Used to put out forest fires by cutting off oxygen. How Much is Too Much? While GRAS "generally regarded as safe" by the FDA if used "within limits," many of these chemicals are in many of the everyday items people use and eat. A little bit here and there soon adds up. In 1938, the FDA grand-fathered the use of several of these ingredients as safe for personal care items, within limitations. Since that time there has been no testing for long range side effects from the constant use of these specific products. It has been proven that these can be absorbed into the blood stream. And technically, by using these chemicals in their products, manufacturers are not doing anything "illegal" according to government standards. Potentially, the public is as much at risk naively using these chemicals as we were 40 or 50 years ago with cigarette smoking. Today, tobacco companies are required to have warning labels on their products. Unfortunately, manufacturers who use chemicals that have been proven to cause cancer, mutations in humans, and other debilitating health problems and diseases, are not required to carry similar warnings. Surprisingly, on the side label of a popular child's bubblebath, beneath the directions and list of ingredients (which included SLS and SLES), appeared this warning: "Caution: Use as directed. Excessive or prolonged exposure may cause irritation to skin and urinary tract. Discontinue use if rash, redness, or itching occurs. Consult physician if irritation persists. Avoid eye contact: if contact occurs, rinse with water. Keep out of reach of children" Now What? For us to be able to make good decisions and discern right from wrong, our bodies must be able to produce good blood. We need to know what goes into our bodies. We need to ensure that our skin can breathe and eliminate toxins. There are a few companies offering personal care items such as cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, cosmetics, toothpastes, mouthwashes, etc., which are made with safer ingredients. Also, there are books available which offer recipes for making your own hair and skin care products. Pure castile or coconut soap is readily available and can be used for bathing and shampoo. Fine
powdered charcoal mixed with a drop of clove oil (beware as clove oil
can be potent!) or myrrh and enough toothpaste to bring to the right
consistency, make a healthful alternative to commercial toothpastes. It
promotes healing in cases of gum problems, reduces plaque and brightens
teeth. "Disease never comes without a cause. The way is prepared, and disease invited, by disregard of the laws of health." MH 234
Put On A Healthy FaceKeep in mind these recipes contain real food ingredients right from your kitchen and will not last as long as those found on your grocers shelf with all those preservatives. These preparations should last several weeks if stored in clean, airtight containers in your refrigerator. Do not contaminate your preparations by using your fingers. Always use a clean spoon, spatula, etc. to take out only what you need. First of all, you'll need to determine what type of skin you have, normal to dry, or normal to oily. Then dress in something you don't mind getting messy! Cleansers Here's a great cleanser for any type of skin: Mix together 1 tsp honey 6 Tbs distilled water 2 Tbs ground orange peel 2 Tbs vinegar If you need a deep cleanser, try this: You'll need 2 glass measuring cups for this: In first cup dissolve: ½ tsp borax powder ¼ C distilled water In second cup mix together: ½ C olive oil 2 Tbs grated beeswax 1. Create a water bath for the second cup by placing it in a pan with 2 inches of water and heating until wax is melted, stirring often 2. Then bring the first cup mixture almost to a boil the same way. 3. Slowly add it to second cup mixture, stirring briskly to make a cream. 4. Pour into clean glass container with lid. Use by massaging a small amount onto your skin. Rinse well with warm water. (This should last virtually forever.)
Peanut/honey cleanser: Mix 2 parts honey to 3 parts smooth peanut butter. Rub on with gentle, circular motions. Rinse well with warm water. Honey: Honey, all by itself, is a great cleanser. Apply and wait 2 to 3 minutes for it to thicken. Remove with warm, wet cloth. Almond/witch hazel: Mix almond meal and witch hazel to make a paste. Apply and leave on for 20 minutes, and rinse well. Put on a Healthy Face The first rule to good skin is to keep it clean, inside and out. A healthy intestinal tract promotes good skin and good health. Always drink plenty of pure water, get plenty of exercise and fresh air. Think about it: If "natural" elements can destroy the marble sculptures of ancient Greece, just imagine what they can do to your skin! Masks and ex-foliators Mix ingredients into a paste. Gently apply to skin, avoiding eye area. Leave on face for 20 minutes to dry. Remove with warm cloth or warm water. For normal skin: 1 Tbs ground oatmeal 2 Tbs distilled water 1 tsp Fuller's earth (optional) For normal to dry skin: ½ ripe papaya ½ C ground oatmeal For dry skin: 1 Tsp wheat germ oil (keep refrigerated) 2 Tbs avocado oil 1 Tbs almond oil 2 Tbs sesame oil (use light color oil) 2 capsules Vitamin A (50,000 IU) 2 capsules Vitamin E (400 IU) Use a sterilized pin to pierce capsules. Squeeze out vitamins, and mix well with other ingredients. For a harder mask, add clay or honey. For oily skin: Make a paste of cornmeal and water. Remember to go easy. IMPORTANT TIP: Do not over-stimulate oily skin by excessive cleansing or scrubbing. Facials Here are several recipes to choose from, depending upon your skin type. Apply to damp skin with gentle circular motions, avoiding delicate eye area, then sit back and relax for 5 to 10 minutes. Wipe off with wet cloth, and rinse well with warm water. For oily skin: Make a paste from a handful of oatmeal or ground almonds and warm water. Make a slurry paste with 1 Tbs. brewers yeast and distilled water. Mash an unpeeled, ripe pear. Add membranes from 6 grapefruit segments, and a small amount of comfrey tea. Whiz in blender. (Drink the rest of the tea!) For dry skin: Make a paste by mashing one medium banana; and adding 1 Tbs honey. Mash an avocado or a pared peach and add 1 Tbs wheat germ oil. For normal skin: Honey/apple: Combine ½ C fresh applesauce and add 1 Tbs honey. Apply; leave on for 20 minutes. Lemon/honey: Dissolve 3 Tbs honey in 2 Tbs boiling water; make a paste by mixing in 2 Tbs lemon juice. Cool to lukewarm. Apply; leave on for 20 minutes. Almond: Make paste with C almond butter and enough witch hazel to moisten. Apply; leave on for 15 minutes. Strawberry: Mash 10 large strawberries; add 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply; leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Veggie: Mash 1 cooked carrot and half an avocado. Mix with 1 Tbs minced parsley. Let mixture stand at room temperature for several minutes before applying to face. Leave on 15 minutes. Toners and Fresheners Mix and store in clean, tightly capped bottle in your refrigerator. Apply carefully with cotton ball or pad, avoiding eye and mouth areas. General: In your blender, mix Juice of one lemon ½ tsp wheat germ oil ½ C distilled water 2 ice cubes For dry skin:
¾ C distilled water For normal skin: ½ C witch hazel ½ C distilled water For oily skin: Apply undiluted witch hazel sparingly. For any skin type: "au naturel" Apply a juicy, raw tomato or cool cucumber slices to your face for a refreshing treat. A Treat for Your Feet 1 avocado, mashed 1 Tbs oil Juice from ½ lemon Mix well. Massage into feet then cover with a pair of cotton socks, overnight. In the morning, rinse your feet well and scrub rough areas with a nail brush. You'll feel like you're walking on air. Nourishing Hand/Body Treatment 4 Tbs honey 4 Tbs almond oil 2 Tbs lecithin granules Warm honey in small pan over low heat. Remove when warm and blend in oil and lecithin. Massage into skin. Remove by taking a relaxing hot bath, followed by a cool shower. Refreshing! The Eyes Have (Had) It! For those bags under your tired or puffy eyes: Save your chamomile tea bags, allow them to cool and place over eyes. Try raw potatoes or cucumbers, grated or sliced. We hope this will be helpful to you. If you have questions, you may find answers in some of our other publications: RETURN TO CATHY'S CORNER TOC |
