Today, most people spray anti-perspirants onto their bodies without giving it a second thought.
Of course, body odour is not pleasant, so it’s fair enough that one would want to give themselves their daily dose of underarm protection.
The problem is that most folks have no idea that what they’re using to block the sweat glands and keep them smelling like roses, is laced with aluminium and other harmful chemicals.
If you’ve never thought to look, I recommend that you google the ingredients of any big brand anti-perspirant product available from your local supermarket or pharmacy. What you find might shock you!
Most contain some kind of derivative of Aluminium which is a heavy metal that has been linked to nerve damage, kidney disease, breast cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Although it’s an effective compound in closing your skin’s pores and stopping you from sweating, its long-term health effects can be disastrous because these chemicals eventually seep into the blood stream and shut down the lymphatic cleansing system of the body, which can lead to the formation of breast lumps (which of course, scare the hell out of women and can lead to unnecessary treatments and surgeries).
First thing first…
Despite popular belief, B.O. is not necessarily caused by poor external body hygiene.
In most cases, it’s actually a symptom of uncleanliness and chaos INSIDE the body.
So, what causes body odour?
Metabolic Processes
Perspiration by itself is basically odourless.
It’s one of your body’s natural ways of cooling and ridding itself of metabolic waste.
But when your body doesn’t have enough oxygen, or has to manage imbalances caused by a heavy diet, your metabolism goes into overdrive to ‘vent’ (or expel) the waste, giving off odours.
This is especially true for people who eat large quantities of processed, refined foods and meat which impacts the body’s chemistry over time.
Environmental Toxins
Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are bombarded on a daily basis by toxins in the air, our workplace and homes.
Over time these create overwhelm as your body’s organs struggle to dispose of them.
It’s essential to ensure that you’re getting plenty of good, clean, electrified air the liver and intestines will eventually get clogged up, which will cause odours to emanate from the body.
Bacteria
Sweat glands or apocrine glands under the arms and in the groin secrete a substance that is the major cause of body odour not related to what we eat, drink and environmental factors.
This substance, made of carbohydrates, lipids and protein, is often secreted by a surge in sex hormones caused by tense moments or emotional stress. This substance is quickly joined by bacteria that can lead to B.O.
Other sources of body odour include:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Fungal infections
- Refined sugar and synthetic sweeteners that feed bacteria and fungus on the skin.
Natural remedies for body odour
To address the root cause of B.O. I would first recommend doing the following in order to resolve any imbalances or toxicity in your body:
- Stop eating dead animals;
- Drink more clean fresh water;
- Undertake a detoxification program such as my 4 day fibre colon cleanse protocol;
- Drink the juice of a fresh squeezed lemon with cold water every morning when you rise to cleanse the liver;
- Eat more raw green salads, fruits, vegetables and drink fresh juices to assist the cleansing of the digestive tract.
With a clean diet and regular cleansing, you’ll eventually find that body odour will become a thing of the past and there’ll actually come a time where you’ll actually no longer smell when you perspire.
Until then, whilst your body is detoxifying and rebalancing, here are a few non-toxic suggested remedies to address the odours and to help minimise excessive perspiration.
Try and see which works best for you:
- Alcohol or Witch Hazel: Wipe your armpits with a ‘grain’ derived alcohol (like triple distilled Vodka) or witch hazel instead of deodorant;
- Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV eliminates under arm body odour when used in place of deodorant because it reduces the pH of the skin. Bacteria can’t live in areas with low pH;
- Baking Soda (Aluminium-Free): This is one of mother earth’s most powerful, natural deodorisers. Apply the powder directly to your dry armpits to help kill bacteria and help absorb perspiration. For extra fragrance, add a few drops of plant essential oil e.g. Lavender to the powder first;
- Alfalfa, Parsley and Greens: Chewing alfalfa, parsley, other leafy greens and cucumbers will help neutralise body odour. This is probably due to the deodorising effect of the chlorophyll;
- Radishes: Juice about two dozen radishes, add 1/4 teaspoon of witch hazel and put in a squirt or spray-top bottle. Use as an underarm deodorant or to reduce foot odour;
- Rosemary Oil: Put eight to ten drops of the essential oil in one ounce of water and apply it where needed;
- Sage: Drinking a cup of sage tea daily to reduce sweat gland activity can work wonders. This is especially true for those who perspire excessively due to tension. Use one and a half teaspoons of dried sage or two tea bags in one cup of water and steep for ten minutes. Drink in small doses throughout the day;
- Tea Tree Oil: Make a deodorant by putting two drops of the essential oil into one ounce of water and apply where needed;
- Turnip Juice: Grate a turnip and squeeze the juice through cheesecloth until you have two teaspoons. Wash your armpits first and vigorously rub one teaspoon of the mixture on each one.
- Wheat Grass: Drinking two ounces of fresh wheat grass does the trick. The chlorophyll will dramatically reduce body odour.
Finally, if a daily deodorant gives you confidence and you’d prefer to keep using one, just make sure that it contains no toxic chemicals that you can’t recognise or pronounce.
You can make your own or go with good, trusted, safe brands, like those in my store.
‘Cowboy Don’.
