live more safely

July 16, 2006

Is There Triclosan in Your Toothpaste?

Watch out for this chemical. It's included in 'germ killing' tooth-pastes,

mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, on and on. But is it safe?

The EPA sees it as a pesticide and a high risk factor to human health. Triclosan

is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Stored in body

fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys, and lungs,

and can suppress your immune function.

A popular 'holistic' toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate, another toxic

chemical. Look at the 'ingredients' list of your tooth-paste to be sure you

don't expose yourself to it.

A word to the wise: Prevention!

- - - Reply with your name and street or po box

address for your free copy of

The Holistic Dental Digest PLUS, now in

its 27th year and helping people on

5 continents. jmittelman

July 17, 2006

What other toothpastes would you suggest? I've been a user of Tom's of

Maine for years and after reading your post realize there is sodium lauryl

sulfate in it.

Ilene

-

" Jerry Mittelman " <jmittelman.

> Is There Triclosan in Your Toothpaste?

>

> Watch out for this chemical. It's included in 'germ killing' tooth-pastes,

> mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, on and on. But is it safe?

>

> The EPA sees it as a pesticide and a high risk factor to human health.

> Triclosan is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in

> humans. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging

> the liver, kidneys, and lungs, and can suppress your immune function.

>

> A popular 'holistic' toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate, another

> toxic chemical. Look at the 'ingredients' list of your tooth-paste to be

> sure you don't expose yourself to it.

>

> A word to the wise: Prevention!

>

July 17, 2006

I use either homeopathic or herbal toothpastes.

Regards,

Jagannath.

, " I. Crawford "

<willow.myst wrote:

>

> What other toothpastes would you suggest? I've been a user of Tom's

of

> Maine for years and after reading your post realize there is sodium

lauryl

> sulfate in it.

>

> Ilene

July 17, 2006

you could make your own...

The first article is about sodium lauryl sulfate and the second is

natural oral care...(includes an easy to make tooth power)

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/192

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/235

Cynthia

, " I. Crawford "

<willow.myst wrote:

>

> What other toothpastes would you suggest? I've been a user of

Tom's of

> Maine for years and after reading your post realize there is sodium

lauryl

> sulfate in it.

>

> Ilene

> -

> " Jerry Mittelman " <jmittelman

>

> > Is There Triclosan in Your Toothpaste?

> >

> > Watch out for this chemical. It's included in 'germ killing'

tooth-pastes,

> > mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, on and on. But is it safe?

> >

> > The EPA sees it as a pesticide and a high risk factor to human

health.

> > Triclosan is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer

in

> > humans. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels,

damaging

> > the liver, kidneys, and lungs, and can suppress your immune

function.

> >

> > A popular 'holistic' toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate,

another

> > toxic chemical. Look at the 'ingredients' list of your tooth-

paste to be

> > sure you don't expose yourself to it.

> >

> > A word to the wise: Prevention!

> >

>

July 18, 2006

I know someone whose family uses plain old baking soda.

, " I. Crawford "

<willow.myst wrote:

>

> What other toothpastes would you suggest? I've been a user of

Tom's of

> Maine for years and after reading your post realize there is sodium

lauryl

> sulfate in it.

>

> Ilene

> -

> " Jerry Mittelman " <jmittelman

>

> > Is There Triclosan in Your Toothpaste?

> >

> > Watch out for this chemical. It's included in 'germ killing'

tooth-pastes,

> > mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, on and on. But is it safe?

> >

> > The EPA sees it as a pesticide and a high risk factor to human

health.

> > Triclosan is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer

in

> > humans. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels,

damaging

> > the liver, kidneys, and lungs, and can suppress your immune

function.

> >

> > A popular 'holistic' toothpaste contains sodium lauryl sulfate,

another

> > toxic chemical. Look at the 'ingredients' list of your tooth-

paste to be

> > sure you don't expose yourself to it.

> >

> > A word to the wise: Prevention!

> >

>

July 30, 2006

--- There are a number of effective toothpastes featured in vitamin

outlet and family health food stores, however my absolute favorite

is a homeopathic toothpaste identified as lemon " Homeodent " . I

wouldn't rely on any other product. Bioforce mouth wash contains

another good herbal combination for health teeth and gums. You are

doing yourself a favor if you rely on homeopathic formulas rather

than an untested product such as Tom's of Maine. Although on

literally every pharmacy shelf, they contain not one of the herbal

ingredients that contributes to healthy gums and teeth.

Tea tree oil and Neem are some other herbs which are beneficial for

fighting oral bacteria and tooth decay. Fluoride is not the answer

and the public is being deceived on this issue as on so many others.

Jagannath, I believe that India has the answers to healthy gums,

actually. I would like to have a Neem tree in my backyard (sigh) but

I guess I'll have to rely on Homeodent. :-) solution. Neem is the

most effective remedy for avoiding dental problems, and this is

according to the writings of James A. Dukes, Ph.D., former head of

the USDA Botanical Department.

Blessings,

JoAnn

In , " patram81 "

<patram81 wrote:

>

> I know someone whose family uses plain old baking soda.

>

> , " I. Crawford "

> <willow.myst@> wrote:

> >

> > What other toothpastes would you suggest? I've been a user of

> Tom's of

> > Maine for years and after reading your post realize there is

sodium

> lauryl

> > sulfate in it.

> >

> > Ilene

> > -

> > " Jerry Mittelman " <jmittelman@

> >

> > > Is There Triclosan in Your Toothpaste?

> > >

> > > Watch out for this chemical. It's included in 'germ killing'

> tooth-pastes,

> > > mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, on and on. But is it safe?

> > >

> > > The EPA sees it as a pesticide and a high risk factor to human

> health.

> > > Triclosan is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing

cancer

> in

> > > humans. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels,

> damaging

> > > the liver, kidneys, and lungs, and can suppress your immune

> function.

> > >

> > > A popular 'holistic' toothpaste contains sodium lauryl

sulfate,

> another

> > > toxic chemical. Look at the 'ingredients' list of your tooth-

> paste to be

> > > sure you don't expose yourself to it.

> > >

> > > A word to the wise: Prevention!

> > >

> >

>

July 31, 2006

The following are the ingredients in Homeodent. There are several

ingredients that are not safe including the parabens, titanium dioxide,

sodium lauryl sulfate. There are much, much better products out there that

use better ingredients. Too bad that they are using some great homeopathics

and then add ingredients that can be harmful to the body.

Some of the tooth soaps are good, although many of them have questionable

ingredients. There are also several tooth powders that are good.

HomeodentR Toothpaste

Active Ingredients

Lemon Flavor:

Calendula officinalis, Plantago major, Cochlearia armoracia, Hamamelis

virginiana, purified water, calcium carbonate, xylitol, glycerin, titanium

dioxide, sodium alginate, lemon oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium silicate

solution, silicon dioxide, anise oil, methyl paraben, propyl paraben

Anise Flavor:

Calendula officinalis, Plantago major, Cochlearia armoracia, Hamamelis

virginiana, purified water, calcium carbonate, glycerin, titanium dioxide,

sodium alginate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium silicate solution, anise oil,

silicon dioxide, marigold, plantain, horse radish, witch hazel, methyl

paraben, propyl paraben

Loretta Lanphier

July 31, 2006

, " Dr. Loretta

Lanphier " <LorettaLanphier wrote:

>

> The following are the ingredients in Homeodent. There are several

> ingredients that are not safe including the parabens,

titanium dioxide,

> sodium lauryl sulfate.

Loretta,

Thanks for the info, however it's already listed on my toothpaste.:-)

I am aware there are other products on the market,however this is

the one which was recommended to me and it is the one that I have

come to rely on.Here again it is drawn to my attention, the

difference between

naturally occuring substances in nature and the ones manufactured in

labs. This is my understanding.... Most all pharmaceuticals (drugs

and additives) have their basis in nature. Because it is not

possible to patent a natural substance (although it is important to

understand that propriatory blends and extraction methods can be

patented in the natural field) there is no incentive for a drug

company to market natural substances. However, they DO understand

the power of many natural modalities.

So they " synthisize " ...tear

apart the natural, down to its molecular components, and then

manipulate those components to have a slightly altered molecular

structure and there...they have a patentable product. Now understand

this is a very simplified explanation...

BUT....our bodies don't quite know what to do with these altered

molecules and therefore there are side affects, sometimes fatal for

the user, and in the case of the women on trial now who were on

Prosac because of post partum (sp) depression and killed their

children, it can also be fatal for others surrounding those taking

these pharmaceuticals.

The following information applies to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and

Lauryth Sulfate

as well. It is not a carcinagen. I have read the MSDS sheet on it

and it is only a " skin irritent " . But it also provides for

the " sudsing " affect that we have been programmed to believe is

necessary for a true cleaning process.

Were you aware that there are naturally occurring fluorides in our

foods? So, my belief is then, that there is not a danger in floride

that may

be in foods naturally. The thing is that when a substance

is " singled out " and removed from its environment it may be toxic

also. The reason for that is because in nature there are many

other " ingredients " or substances that we don't have a clue about yet

that counteract the action of one particular component that is known,

by itself to be toxic. This applies to sodium lauryl sulfate as

well, and I'm assuming that homeopathics make use of the coconut oil

derivative which goes by the same name. Boiron uses this form as

well. I realize that some companies wish to confuse the issue,, but

it all depends on where you are placing your trust. Personally I

trust their discretion in eliminating any of the more harmful

chemicals from my toothpaste formula. Furthermore, the kinesiologist

who recommended it to me, would not have an inferior product in her

store, she is very discriminating in these areas and since I do not

absorb it into my system by ingesting it, I am not going to be

overly concerned.

What interests me is the " warning " on all toothpastes I've ever

seen on the open market and that includes health food stores, that

if it is ingested, to call poison control. I was told once that

although health food stores may offer a a better choice, the

companies manufacturing the products are still in business to make

money....there are few other reasons to be in business after all,

and many of those companies are not as interested in limiting their

use manufactued chemicals that, by themselves, are not considered by

the FDA to be dangerous. But then, I don't trust the FDA anyway...

Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is used as a white food dye. In that use, its E

number is E17. I guarantee that anyone whose ever eaten

any " processed foods " has ingested titanium doxide, so how dangerous

could it be?

Methyl paraben

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=12387298 & dopt=Abstract

>Evaluation of the health aspects of methyl paraben: a review of the

published literature.

Soni MG, Taylor SL, Greenberg NA, Burdock GA.

Burdock Group, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA. msoni

Methyl paraben (CAS No. 99-76-3) is a methyl ester of p-

hydroxybenzoic acid. It is a stable, non-volatile compound used as

an antimicrobial preservative in foods, drugs and cosmetics for over

50 years. Methyl paraben is readily and completely absorbed through

the skin and from the gastrointestinal tract. It is hydrolyzed to p-

hydroxybenzoic acid, conjugated, and the conjugates are rapidly

excreted in the urine. There is no evidence of accumulation.

Acute toxicity studies in animals indicate that methyl paraben is

practically non-toxic by both oral and parenteral routes. In a

population with normal skin, methyl paraben is practically non-

irritating and non-sensitizing. In chronic administration studies,

no-observed-effect levels (NOEL) as high as 1050 mg/kg have been

reported and a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) in the rat

of 5700 mg/kg is posited.

Methyl paraben is not carcinogenic or mutagenic. It is not

teratogenic or embryotoxic and is negative in the uterotrophic assay.

Allergic reactions to ingested parabens have been reported, although

rigorous evidence of the allergenicity of ingested paraben is

lacking.

I would rather place my trust in Boiron than Tom's of Maine. Just my

personal preference, I guess.

JoAnn Guest

July 31, 2006

Hi JoAnn

I was just sending the ingredient list in for education purposes only as

most probably don't know the ingredients. )

Many companies will market their ingredients as " safe " and " natural "

because?....they realize that " natural " and " organic " are the new buzz

words. The line between what is organic, all-natural, etc. and what is not

is smudged, at best. But don't be fooled as the big cosmetic and food

corporations hope this is what will happen. Many of the large food

companies are trying to get the FDA to allow them to include a few specific

chemicals and still be able to label the food as organic. Again, they

realize how huge the organic and all-natural market truly is, but as usual,

they would like for everyone to play by their rules while they pocket all

the profits.

I am a formulator of a few products so I am not new to this type of

discussion and am quite familiar about what can be patented, etc. I work

with this all the time. Is titanium dioxide, methyparaben, sodium lauryl

sulfate dangerous in small quantities? No---not for most people---however

yes for people that suffer health challenges which is probably a huge amount

of the population. The last thing that they need is more toxic overload.

And what concerns me most is that these ingredients are in just about all

personal care products, even many of the so-called natural products. The

average American uses between 5-13 personal skincare/hair products every

single day! Over a period of time, this is certainly enough to have an

affect on the body. I was in Ulta today which is a cosmetic, perfume, etc.

store---they carry all different manufacturers. I looked at one particular

brand of shampoo and the ingredient list was 4 inches across by 2 inches

long and in type that even a person with 20/20 vision would need a

magnifying glass! Why would we want to put all that on our hair and skin?

For as many articles that can be found that support these ingredients, I can

find as many or more that do not support them and many skincare lists do

list them as toxic to the body. Titanium Dioxide is one that most will

swear is extremely safe and just as always we are beginning to realize that,

once again, we have been lied to. There is information coming out that says

different, but it is very difficult for people to change their belief

system. The parabens are a very, very cheap way to add ingredients that are

antimicrobial (keeps bacteria, etc. from growing) Why not add some essential

oils that will do the very same thing but will not be toxic to the body?

Because it would cost a little bit more and these manufacturers want their

products to have shelf lives of 3-5 years. I don't know about everyone

else, but I don't want a product on my skin or in my mouth that has been

sitting around for 3-5 years and in packaging that may be as dangerous as

the product itself. Another FYI to consider---if a product contains

essential oils and is not in glass packaging then there is a huge

possibility that there will be a reaction between the product and the

packaging---even with the so-called safe plastics. Personally, I don't

believe in " safe " plastics and I do hope that one day all supplements,

personal skincare products, etc. will go back to glass packaging. Some of

the companies that produce more hi-tech products are beginning to realize

how important this really is.

Parabens, which have been found in breast tissue from underarm deodorants

that contain parabens, may also disrupt normal enzyme activity. Does it

mean that it causes cancer---some say possibly and some say absolutely not.

By the way the ones that say " not " are in the cosmetic industry that has it

in their products. Again, personally, I am not going to participate and be

the guinea pig when in the next 10-20 years they say, " Oh, sorry, but we

were wrong. " Also, while in Ulta today, I saw a few popular cosmetic

manufacturers that are touting " paraben-free " . Do they know something that

is not public knowledge and are therefore making sure they dodge future

lawsuits? Who knows. I always will err on the side of caution when it

comes to believing anything that the government/FDA puts out about

chemicals. DOW, Monsanto and the rest of the chemical companies have a huge

" presence " with our government. I know the politics of chemical companies

as I have worked for them and my husband currently works for one. Believe

me when I say that they do not care one bit about the safety of the consumer

or their workers. Getting fined $500,000 or even 1 million dollars, which

most people think is a huge amount, is like them fining me $50. No big

deal, just a slap on the wrist.

We have been " taught " to believe that plant chemicals are safe. But the

truth is that they may not be safe when they are synthetic---chemical

processed---as this processing often adds chemicals that really are not safe

in any shape or form. There are several ways to extract an oil or a wax from

a plant, (eg. jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, shea butter, cocoa butter).

It can be extracted with a solvent, which leaves toxic residues in the

products, or by extremely high heat, which destroys the botanical properties

associated with the plant, or by the cold-pressed method. If you are a

consumer or a manufacturer, ask questions. How was the shea butter

extracted? Are the oils cold-pressed? Is the vitamin E or glycerin

synthetic or natural? Find out if the ingredients are organic. This is an

extremely important issue, due to the very high toxicity level of pesticides

that become concentrated in liquids extracted from plants. Look for the

words 'cold-pressed' and 'organic' on labels, and if you don't see them, put

the product down and keep looking. Ask questions to store owners, who in

turn can call suppliers and manufacturers. Be aware of long words that you

cannot pronounce that have the phrase " from coconut oil " in parentheses.

Natural ingredients that are broken down chemically are no longer natural.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate that comes from coconut oil is still an unhealthy

product, despite its source.

Kinesiology is good. But even the best kinesiologist can have a bad day and

thus may have an effect on the outcome of who they practice on that day.

Sometimes they don't even realize this. I have seen people that will swear

by what their kinesiologist said and will not use a particular supplement or

vitamin which their symptoms definitely indicate that they need. Again,

certainly a person's choice, but I wouldn't bet the bank on it simply

because it relies on a human---yes, even if you put the product in " your "

hands, etc. Don't get me wrong, it can be used very effectively, but it

also has its limits.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything of Tom's of Main or Boiron simply

because they evidently think it's ok to include ingredients that are not

safe in some of their products. There are a lot of products in health food

stores that I often wonder " how " they made it into the inventory.

All I am saying is that I hope to encourage people to do their research and

their homework. While we certainly want to be teachable, don't take what I

say or anyone else says, but conduct your own research. Education empowers.

Below is a list of different names for parabens and also an article about

parabens and excessive aging.

Loretta Lanphier

The Synonyms for Parabens

Isobutylparaben:

Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, 2-methylpropyl ester

4-Hydroxybenzoate d'isobutyle

isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Isobutyl-4-hydroxybenzoat 4-hidroxibenzoato de isobutilo

2-Methylpropyl p-hydroxybenzoate

Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, isobutyl ester

iso-Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate

Isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid isobutyl ester

Butylparaben:

Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, butyl ester

4-Hydroxybenzoate de butyle butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Butyl-4-hydroxybenzoat

4-hidroxibenzoato de butilo

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid butyl ester

4-hydroxybenzoesaeure-butylester

benzoate, 4-hydroxy-, butyl

p-oxybutylbenzoate

4-(Butoxycarbonyl)phenol

Aseptoform Butyl

Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, butyl ester

Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate

n-Butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

n-Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate

n-Butylparabenp-Hydroxybenzoic acid butyl ester

n-Propylparaben:

Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, propyl ester

4-Hydroxybenzoate de propyle propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Propyl-4-hydroxybenzoat

4-hidroxibenzoato de propilo

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester

4-hydroxybenzoesaeure-propylester

4-hydroxybenzoic acid propylester

propyl p-hydroxybenzoate

propyl paraben

benzoate, 4-hydroxy-, propyl

Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, propyl ester

n-Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, propyl ester

p-Hydroxybenzoic propyl ester

Ethylparaben:

Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, ethyl ester

4-Hydroxybenzoate d'ethyle ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Ethyl-4-hydroxybenzoat

4-hidroxibenzoato de etilo

4-hydroxybenzoesaeure-aethylester

benzoate, 4-hydroxy-, ethyl

ethylparaben

ethyl parasept

4-(Ethoxycarbonyl)phenol

4-Carbethoxyphenol

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester

Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, ethyl ester

Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate

p-(Ethoxycarbonyl)phenol

p-Carbethoxyphenol

p-Hydroxybenzoate ethyl ester

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester

Methylparaben:

Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, methyl ester

4-Hydroxybenzoate de methyle

methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Methyl-4-hydroxybenzoat

4-Hidroxibenzoato de metilo

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester

4-hydroxybenzoesaeure-methylester

benzoate

, 4-hydroxy-, methyl methyl p-hydroxybenzoate

p-hydroxybenzoic acid

methyl ester

methyl paraben

methyl ester of p-hydroxy benzoic acid

4-(Carbomethoxy)phenol

4-(Methoxycarbonyl)phenol

Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-, methyl ester

Methylben

Methylparaben

p-Carbomethoxyphenol

p-Methoxycarbonylphenol

Parabens Linked to Excessive Aging of Skin

By Simon Pitman

29/08/2005 - Researchers in Japan say that methylparaben, a commonly used

antiseptic agent for a range of cosmetics products, may cause skin to age

when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays.

The ingredient, which has been connected to occasional skin allergies and

skin sensitization in the past, is currently listed as appearing in 3,559

products in the Environmental Working Group's database of cosmetics products

sold in the US.

It is said to have a strong antibacterial effect, as well as providing a

mild stimulation affect that can be beneficial to skin's health.

It appears in a cross spectrum of products, including hair care, styling

products and body scrubs. But researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural

University of Medicine say that they are particularly concerned about a

range of topical facial cosmetics products that are often used on a daily

basis.

Because the product is included in daily applied powders, foundations, sun

milk, and, ironically, anti-ageing products the researchers are particularly

concerned by their findings.

" I think women should avoid strong and direct sunshine when wearing

cosmetics containing methylparaben, " professor Toshikazu Yoshikawa told The

Asahi Shimbun/

According to the newspaper report, researchers applied methylparaben to skin

in similar amounts to that found in cosmetics products. The skin was then

exposed to 30 millijoules of ultraviolet rays per square centimeter - an

amount that is deemed to be about the average daily amount of exposure

during summer weather.

The researchers results showed that around 19 per cent of the exposed skin

cells died, while the fatality rate for skin that did not contain

methylparaben was about six per cent.

Furthermore the amount of lipid peroxide - a substance that speeds up the

ageing process - was said to be about three times the total of that found in

the untreated skin cells.

The researchers believe that these results would mean a higher rate of

wrinkling, dark spots and other signs of ageing such as diminished skin

tone.

In the past the paraben chemical family has been linked to cancers -

particularly breast cancer in women. As a result manufacturers have been

progressively moving away from the chemical as ingredients providers strive

to come up with alternatives.

July 31, 2006

Dear JoAnn,

I alternate between Homeodent and a herbal toothpaste from Himalaya

Health Care. I do have a neem tree in my backyard and fried neem

leaves are a favourite with me. My mother will not allow me to use

the twigs for brushing as she feels that it is unhygenic. She does

use the leaf stems for removing food particles from the teeth however.

There is another toothpaste in India, an ayurvedic formula called

Dabur Red toothpaste that is very popular.

Here many households have neem, drumstick, jackfruit, mango, guava,

papaya, and banana plants in their house. If only they knew how to

use them. And if also they would avoid the vaccinations.

It is a real tragedy that India is a nation of sick people today. Our

heritage was so rich with herbal remedies and health hints.

Regards,

Jagannath.

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo wrote:

>

> --- There are a number of effective toothpastes featured in vitamin

> outlet and family health food stores, however my absolute favorite

> is a homeopathic toothpaste identified as lemon " Homeodent " . I

> wouldn't rely on any other product. Bioforce mouth wash contains

> another good herbal combination for health teeth and gums. You are

> doing yourself a favor if you rely on homeopathic formulas rather

> than an untested product such as Tom's of Maine. Although on

> literally every pharmacy shelf, they contain not one of the herbal

> ingredients that contributes to healthy gums and teeth.

> Tea tree oil and Neem are some other herbs which are beneficial for

> fighting oral bacteria and tooth decay. Fluoride is not the answer

> and the public is being deceived on this issue as on so many others.

> Jagannath, I believe that India has the answers to healthy gums,

> actually. I would like to have a Neem tree in my backyard (sigh)

but

> I guess I'll have to rely on Homeodent. :-) solution. Neem is the

> most effective remedy for avoiding dental problems, and this is

> according to the writings of James A. Dukes, Ph.D., former head of

> the USDA Botanical Department.

>

> Blessings,

> JoAnn

July 31, 2006

, " jagchat01 "

<jagchat01 wrote:

>

> Dear JoAnn,

>

> I alternate between Homeodent and a herbal toothpaste from

Himalaya Health Care. I do have a neem tree in my backyard and fried

neem leaves are a favourite with me. My mother will not allow me to

use the twigs for brushing as she feels that it is unhygenic. She

does use the leaf stems for removing food particles from the teeth

however.

> There is another toothpaste in India, an ayurvedic formula called

> Dabur Red toothpaste that is very popular.

>

> Here many households have neem, drumstick, jackfruit, mango,

guava, papaya, and banana plants in their house. If only they knew

how to use them.

>

> Regards,

> Jagannath.

Hi Jagannath!

Thanks for this. So many health articles outline the benefits of

the Neem twigs and I have read that India has literally no dental

problems because of their reliance on these naturallly occurring

componenets. This is amazing! It seems we are missing something over

here in our civilized routines... i.e. brushing, flossing, etc.

This is incredible that there are so many benefits from tree

branches. There may be a way to sterilize them. :-) Would you

consider sending one in its natural form for a fee?

It is also very interesting to know that the leaves of the Neem

plant are edible. What exactly are the health benefits involved in

eating them? Also I would be interested to know the ingredients in

the Himalaya Health Care toothpastes and Dabur Red Toothpaste. The

various combinations of herbs in natural products are intriguing to

me but I have yet to discover one with all the effective components

combined. Also, while I have your attention I'm wondering... are you

aware of an eggplant dental powder and how effective it is for

dental hygiene? Eden foods offers an eggplant powder and I'm quite

interested in this. I believe this is a Japanese or asian remedy

although they offer little or no accompanying research on the

product they offer for sale.

Regards, JoAnn

July 31, 2006

, " Dr. Loretta

Lanphier " <LorettaLanphier wrote:

>

> Hi JoAnn

> I was just sending the ingredient list in for education purposes

only as most probably don't know the ingredients. )

> Many companies will market their ingredients as " safe "

and " natural " because?....they realize that " natural " and " organic "

are the new buzz words. The line between what is organic, all-

natural, etc. and what is not is smudged, at best. But don't be

fooled as the big cosmetic and food corporations hope this is what

will happen. Many of the large food companies are trying to get the

FDA to allow them to include a few specific chemicals and still be

able to label the food as organic. Again, they realize how huge the

organic and all-natural market truly is, but as usual they would

like for everyone to play by their rules while they pocket all the

profits.

>

Hi Loretta,

Thanks for the wealth of valuable information. Apparently you have

spent hours researching. Thankfully, the chemicals in mainstream

cosmetics are not an issue with me as I discontinued their use years

previous. To my knowledge many of the mainstream cosmetics,

especially cover girl are directly linked to breast cancer!

Actually, even although you eliminate the Phalates (sp?) and some of

the more harmful chemicals just with use of the commercial face

creams one is in danger. My daughter uses the commercial skin

creams ,liberally, without regard to their dangers and I fear for

her safety. The health risks are not worth it in my mind! I am

convinced that they will only make a lovely corpse, lovelier, and

am convinced that many of these chemical ingredients are providing

fuel for the breast cancer epidemic in our younger ladies.

It concerns me that many " natural " cosmetics are so lacking and

simply not very effective. In experimenting with several shampoos

from health food stores, you would do well to work up a lather. :-)

One exception is Aubrey Organics. Their products are exceptionally

good, I know. On the other hand, my sister uses tea tree face cream

from the health food stores, in spite of my frequent warnings that

tea tree should not be used near the eyes. I certainly would never

risk it!

Blessings,

JoAnn

July 31, 2006

This is a basic misunderstanding most people have about saving their teeth.

Toothpastes are not the answer. This is a misleading approach.

We need to disorganize and remove bacterial plaque with flossing, with the

proper floss in the proper manner (The Bass Technique) and proper tooth

brushing.

Toothpastes have nice ingredients to help, but they are inadequate for the

procedure - and worse, they can lead one to believe his or her teeth are clean.

But toothpastes will NOT remove growing plaque germ colonies or have any lasting

effect upon them.

We have a short report on this that we'd be willing to send you if you reply to

jmittelman with your street of po-box address.

Jerry Mittelman, DDS, FAPM

-

JoAnn Guest

Sunday, July 30, 2006 5:14 PM

Re: live more safely