Cleaning up your Personal Care Routine

An interview with Sally Shultis, naturopathic practitioner and owner of Deserts Rose Healing Ranch

We watch what we eat, exercise several times a week, and set aside time for meditation, but how much thought do we give to the impact of our personal care routines on our overall health? While we diligently care for our muscles, bones, and minds, we start every day by slathering shampoos, soaps, gels, makeups, and an infinite
number of other chemical-filled products on our skin, the largest absorbative organ in our bodies… it’s no wonder we continue to be plagued by health problems! The new year is the perfect time to resolve to make changes, and this month Sally Shultis, owner of Deserts Rose Healing Ranch, spoke with us about how to start:

If you could recommend one easy change that everyone can make to “clean up” their personal care routine, what would you recommend?

I recommend that you start with something everyone does—putting on deodorant. What most people don’t know, though, is that their deodorant probably contains harmful chemicals that get absorbed by the body and create toxicity. A lot of your lymph glands are in the armpits, so putting chemicals directly onto this sensitive area has great impact. I use, and recommend for both men and women, a deodorant called Aroma Guard. It contains therapeutic-grade essential oils.

Why is this deodorant better than any other you have researched?
Young Living is the only company in the United States that guarantees their products are 100% organic and free of propylene glycol and sodium laurel sulfates. Because government regulations no mandate full disclosure, lots of times when you read the labels on “organic” products, they do have these chemicals. Also, YLEO adds essential oils to the deodorant - these oils prevent odors, kill harmful bacteria, and detoxify the lymphatic glands. I use it under my arms, but also apply to other areas where the lymph glands are concentrated, such as near the pelvis, to give those glands detoxification support, too.

How can deodorants off the shelves be labeled “organic” if they are not?
Rules for the term “organic” in the cosmetic industry are very different from those for the term “organic” in the food industry. The only rule for personal care products is that something in the product has to be organic in order to claim that on the label.

What organic oils are in the deodorant?
The 2 kinds of deodorant offered contain oils like lemon, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, geranium, rosewood, lavender, tea tree, and clove. All are therapeutic-grade. Oils like rosewood, lavender, tea tree, and geranium can be regenerative skin healers. Peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus can promote nerve energy and positive activity. Clove is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants and cleansers available, and when compounded with the anti-bacterial affects of lemon, ensures that harmful bacteria are not sitting on the skin, where they can be reabsorbed into the blood stream and body.

Why are antiperspirants a bad choice?
Antiperspirants are bad because they actually stop perspiration, causing bacterial build up to occur. If you stop the sweating process, then toxins are held in the lymph glands, causing the glands and pores to clog. One of the recommendations from conventional doctors, in fact, is to stop using antiperspirants if an individual shows any sign of lymphatic cancer.

How do you know if your pores are clogged?
If you don’t sweat, that’s one of the first signs of clogged glands. Another common sign is small, pea-sized lumps in the armpits. Like anything, preventative care is the most important thing you can do to keep your body healthy. Oftentimes, someone will not know they have a problem until they are faced with lymphatic cancer. Why wouldn’t you make such an easy change now, while you can? It is easier to prevent
something from happening than to fix something once it has occurred.

Is an odor natural?
Any strong odor is a sign that there is a need to detox. The essential oils in the deodorant I recommend kill bacteria, so if you notice a smell soon after applying, you may need to look at some sort of detoxification process. If odor is a recurring problem, please talk to a knowledgeable expert before you begin any kind of detox if you suspect that your lymph glands are clogged, because you can’t detox your lymphatic system effectively before you cleanse your colon, and will need guidance to
be safe and effective.

If I do have a problem with odor, how can I keep odor at bay?
If you feel like the deoderant isn’t strong enough or doesn’t last long enough, simply apply 1-2 drops of frankincense or grapefruit under your arms after you have applied the deodorant for added protection and odor control. Frankincense is an effective immune builder, among many other uses, while Grapefruit is a powerful lymphatic detoxifier. I also recommend that you use the Mountain Mist deodorant, which is a
bit stronger, and intended for people who sweat a lot. It also smells a bit differently due to the different use of essential oils.