The Scent of Health: Natural Deodorant Alternatives
When faced with a shelf full of deodorants, we often choose based on scent preference or price. But what about health? Discover how baking soda and crystal stone can serve as safe alternatives for maintaining pleasant body odor.
In the summer, when we stand in front of the deodorant shelf, our decision-making process usually focuses on the scent or the price. In this article, I want to address another consideration that should be taken into account - the health aspect of deodorant.
Why does an unpleasant odor arise? Our body secretes sweat through sweat glands. Usually, the sweat itself is not the source of the odor. The odor is created due to the activity of bacteria and fungi spread on the skin, which break down certain substances in the sweat. Deodorant works in several ways: a. It contains antibacterial and anti-pollution substances to prevent the formation of unpleasant odors. b. Some contain various perfumes, including alcohol and other ingredients, which can cause skin allergies manifested by itching, redness, and sometimes swelling in the irritated area. c. Deodorants containing antiperspirant ingredients. These substances contain aluminum salts, among others, which constrict the sweat glands, thereby preventing sweat secretion. Researchers have different opinions on whether it is safe to use these substances or if they may be harmful over the years because they inhibit the natural process of sweating. In any case, they contain chemicals that are not desirable to absorb into the blood through the skin. In fact, I have found people who have developed sensitivities to various deodorants available on the market, so I want to propose several alternatives.
a. Baking Soda: Baking soda contains basic (as opposed to acidic) substances. The bacteria we mentioned require an acidic environment to survive; therefore, if you change their environment from acidic to basic, they cannot survive, thus solving the odor problem without affecting the sweating process using a simple and cheap means (although lacking a pleasant aroma). What you need to do is take the powder, dissolve it in a little water to make a paste, and apply it. b. Crystal Stone: This is a colorless and odorless mineral stone containing potassium alum, water, salts, and minerals. The natural components in this natural stone also create a basic environment that kills the odor-causing bacteria. It is a very inexpensive stone and lasts for many years without allergies and without different side effects. It should be applied to a slightly wet area, such as after a shower, and its effect lasts for about 24 hours.
Eliyahu Shechter is an iridologist and natural healer
