My Top 3 Magic Fix-All, Cure-All, Clean-All Products!

Yesterday, while rubbing coconut oil over my face (yes, I rubbed oil on my face, and in fact I have naturally oily skin. More on that in a minute), I realized that over the last few years in my effort to do things more "naturally", I keep coming back to a few choice products that seem to have as many uses as duct tape. So I thought I would share my "secrets" with you all. First, a few of my reasons for ditching traditional cleaners, cosmetics, and over the counter meds.

1) They're expensive. Even with coupons and shopping at Walmart, seriously, the cost of Pantene, Tide, Mr Clean...it gets a bit ridiculous. And I'm cheap. And with the economy the way it is, who wouldn't want to save a few (or a LOT) of bucks?

2) They're toxic. This is where the tree-hugger part of me comes out. We have an epidemic of chronic illnesses in America today. The whole tired line of "I used this and I turned out fine" doesn't hold water anymore. Because we're not fine. According to the President's Cancer Panel's report that was published in 2010, 41% of Americans will get cancer at sometime in their life. And then there's the epidemic of autoimmune diseases including eczema, allergies, rosacea, Hashimoto's (thyroid) disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, celiac disease... I suppose this issue hits a little closer to home for me, since I watched my father fight an autoimmune disease for ten years that ultimately took his life. Is using my floor cleaner going to kill me? Is using traditional cosmetics automatically going to give me cancer? No. But our bodies are so bombarded on a daily basis with toxic carcinogenic chemicals in what we breathe, what we put in and on our bodies, and the radiation in all the technology we use, that at some point, the body says enough is enough. The human body is extremely resilient, but we're not invincible. I'm not OCD about it, but if I can change a few simple things in the way I do my day to day chores to cut down on the chemicals i expose myself and my kids to, why not?

3) Often times, they work better than traditional methods. Yes, you read that right. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it isn't extremely potent.

And now, for my top three must-have's for the natural mom's household:
baking soda, vinegar, and coconut oil.

To be honest, there are so many uses for these three items that they cannot be contained in a blog post. I will not reinvent the wheel, but will rather link you to some awesome lists. Take some time and look them over. Then I'll share personally how I use them on a regular basis.

Baking Soda Uses

White Vinegar Uses

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses

Coconut Oil Uses

Ok, so now I'm assuming you've at least looked at the links so I don't have to spend the time explaining why these cheap, easily accessible grocery products are so miraculous and versatile. Instead, I will spend the rest of this blog post sharing my personal experiences.

A little box just won't do, with all the uses it has!

First, baking soda. Obviously like most Americans, we keep an open box in the fridge. And why? Baking soda does a great job of neutralizing the stinkies. (Remember that when i get to the bit on deodorant). I also use baking soda occasionally for brushing my teeth, though since oil pulling I don't feel the need to brush as often...more on that in a minute too. But the two most common uses I have for baking soda, besides baking, is using it as a facial scrub, and using it to go shampoo free. What I love best about baking soda is that it cleanses my face mildly, but also is just the right consistency to make a great facial scrub. Gritty enough to get off the dead skin, and fine enough to get down into the pores and get rid of blackheads.Just don't get it in your eyes. It hurts.

On going shampoo free, or " 'poo free" as it is called among those who know about it, I could really spend an entire blog post just on this. So I will link you to someone else who has. Ok, i'm lazy. Going Shampoo Free. I haven't used shampoo or conditioner on my hair in months, and my hair has never been healthier. And growing up my hair was the thickest, oiliest greasepit you've ever seen if I didn't wash it every day. For me, the biggest plus of going poo free is that I never realized that my entire life, my extremely bad dandruff (I actually had SCABS on my scalp nearly all the time) was not "just the way I am"...but was my body screaming out in protest. The only time my scalp is totally clear and clean and nonscabby and nonflaky and happy and calm is when I go poo free. I have very straight thick hair, but I have also heard that going poo free is the first time for many of my curly haired friends that their hair has not been a frizz ball when they go au naturale. No more need for product! Just soft, nice, non fizzy curls. I kid you not! I use the baking soda and vinegar mix as described in the above link, about every six days. On the other days I just use water. Seriously. Before going 'poo free, my hair was a greasepit on day 2.

Next, Vinegar. I use baking soda and vinegar combined to clean a lot of things around the house: scrub counter tops, vinegar for the mirrors, etc. And before you freak about the smell, vinegar smell goes away about ten seconds after you spray it on something (basically, once it evaporates). And, as described above, I also use apple cider vinegar in conjunction with baking soda to keep my hair clean and shiny. (The baking soda is the cleanser part, the ACV is the conditioner part). Apple Cider Vinegar is also good at killing all sorts of bugs, from bacteria to yeast to fungal infections. You can dilute it in warm water and drink it to kill various pathogens, especially in cold and flu season. Many people add in some lemon and honey as well to the mix. I also use vinegar in the laundry as a fabric softener occasionally. When I finally get around to my several posts on cloth diapering, I'll explain why we don't use traditional fabric softener. 

And finally, the almighty coconut oil. I'll be honest. I'm developing a love affair with the stuff. If you've not discovered coconut oil yet, seriously, go get some. Now. Ok, um...where to start? Well, first, coconut oil is a great oil for cooking with. If you want the "coconut" flavor you can get unrefined, or for a neutral flavor, get the refined kind. Both work well. It is a *healthy* saturated fat, and unlike olive oil, it can be cooked at much higher heat.  Coconut oil gives an awesome consistency to baked goods too because at room temperature (below 75 degrees) it is a solid, without all the health bother of being hydrogenated.

Next, coconut oil is full of lauric acid and caprylic acid, both of which are great at killing just about any kind of bug you need to be rid of. Antiviral, antibacterial, and very strongly antifungal. And this is where the awesome cosmetic and medicinal properties come in.

Coconut oil is the only thing I use for diaper rash. It is very easily absorbed into the skin and is very moisturizing, but it also will get rid of a yeast rash faster than prescription strength Nystatin. If you have any sort of yeast problem on the skin, please do not waste your time and hassle with gentian violet, tea tree oil, or Nystatin. Gentian violet stains, tea tree oil is extremely harsh on the skin and stinks to high heaven, and Nystatin, despite being prescription strength just doesn't work all that quickly compared with coconut oil. The reason I have so much experience with this is because when my daughter was 4 months old, she had to go on a very strong medicine that lowers the immune system. She got horribly red yeast rashes in the fat folds of her neck. We were given Rx strength Nystatin, but in order for it to work i had to put it on like, five times a day. With coconut oil, I put it on once a day, and the yeast never returned. And this was with a highly diminished immune system. In a healthy child, one days' worth would be all that was needed. For thrush, just apply it to the mom, let baby nurse it off, and you both are treated...without staining your bras purple in the process.

Second, I use coconut oil combined with baking soda for deoderant. Now, this is not an antipersperant...antipersperants are not healthy for numerous reasons. Here's my take on antipersperants. Here in Las Vegas, the sweat evaporates before it is a problem anyway, especially if you're not wearing 100% polyester. In places with humidity like Houston, where I went to college, your whole body will be sweating by 8 am anyway, so what good does it do to have dry pits? So ditch the antiperspirant and just focus on smelling nice. And let me tell you. I have struggled with finding a good deoderant all my life. Even clinical strength degree doesn't do the job for me all the time. But coconut oil, besides being moisturizing and soothing to freshly shaven armpits, kills odor causing bacteria, so you don't stink in the first place, but if you do, the baking soda neutralizes the odor. I can apply it after a shower on Monday, and NOT shower on Tuesday and NOT reapply, and still not stink on Tuesday night. Amazing.There are numerous "recipes" online, but i've found that rubbing the two combined over my arm pits causes rashes (because of the abrasiveness of the baking soda) so instead i rub in the coconut oil and pat on the baking soda.

Third, oil pulling. Weird name, but pretty simple, and even more powerful. Oil pulling is basically the act of swishing oil around in your mouth long enough for your body to release enough enzymes and saliva that it metabolizes/breaks down the oil, and in the process draws impurities out of the body through the gums, since the blood vessels are so close to the surface in the gums. You can google oil pulling and the many things they've claimed to cure. I don't know whether or not all those things are true, but what I can say is that I was having tooth pain, and it is now gone, and my gingivitis is 90% better in just a week or two of practicing oil pulling once a day. Also, my mouth feels so clean afterwards that I don't even feel the need to brush my teeth (I do, just not twice a day anymore, and my teeth have never felt cleaner). Further, doing oil pulling with coconut oil adds the antibacterial benefits of the oil itself while you are swishing. And without the burn of Listerine! Dreading the dentist or don't have the money to get that tooth filled? Try oil pulling. 1 Tbs of coconut oil in the mouth for ten minutes a day (I do it while i take a shower), and just see if you don't notice a difference.

And last, I have struggled with acne most of my life. I've tried all sorts of products, and everything either dries my skin out or clogs my pores or I'm oily again 2 hours later. But since rubbing coconut oil on my face (a TEENSY amount) after washing it with baking soda each morning, my skin has never felt better. Baking soda cleanses and sloughs off dead skin/cleans pores. Coconut oil moisturizes and kills acne-causing bacteria. Also, because of the chemical make up of coconut oil, it is readily absorbed into the skin and does not clog pores. I've just started this regimen this week admittedly, so i can't speak to the long term results, but so far so good. Give it a few weeks and I"ll probably show before and after pics.

As for buying these items, I recommend buying in bulk. You'll only continue to find more and more ways to use it as time goes on, thus cutting down on your grocery and cosmetics bill, and cutting down on the toxins in your body and the environment, etc so the few extra bucks for the large jug or big bag are well worth it. Currently I use Spectrum Refined Coconut Oil but i'm considering trying other brands just so i can get it in a bigger jar. I'm running out of the Spectrum pretty darn quick these days.

And if you try any of these "recipes"...or have your own...please share in the comments!