Is Your Head Stuffy?

I do my best not to use medications for my stuffy sinuses. There are times that I'm okay, but many times my sinus cavities are just stuffy, and if I don't take care of them, I am very prone to sinus infections, even after surgery to decrease that problem. For a number of years I used over the counter medications such as Sudafed (before the clamp down because of use to make Methamphetamine), Muscinex (which works well, but affects my whole body), and Flonase (Fluticasone, generic prescription) which is a steroid nose spray. It was just easier to take a pill or inhale a mist than to try something different.

We had a great ENT (Ear, nose and throat doctor) in Alaska that introduced us to a sinus wash. The air in Alaska is very, very dry and that made us even more prone to sinus infections, since it tended to really dry out our nasal passages. Once we started using the sinus wash, it helped a lot. 

There are several different types of sinus wash techniques. The Neti Pot has been around for a long time. It's not something we have tried, even though for a while, Frank just used a bowl of saline in the shower. Once I got used to the really weird feeling of squirting water up my nose, I prefer a sinus wash bottle. It is simple, quick and effective.

The first sinus wash bottle we bought had individual packets to mix in each application. When we realized the contents were salt and baking soda, we started mixing our own. Before we used the last packet, we measured the contents. A slightly heaping 1/4 teaspoon works just fine. So now we fill a little bowl with salt and add a pinch of baking soda.

The directions for use are printed on the bottle. This is our backup, just in case the original one finally bites the dust. We have been using it for nine years. After each use, we rinse it with hot water. One thing we learned was to leave the bottle sitting upright with the lid off between uses, just for air circulation. Periodically, it can be cleaned with a vinegar solution. When cleaning, a narrow tube cleaning brush works on the straw portion and a regular bottle brush works well on the bottle.

A friend asked me if we used sterile water when we mixed up the solution. Our ENT indicated tap water is fine for this procedure, even following sinus surgery. I use warm water as close to body temperature as possible. Cold water just doesn't seem to work as well.

After we started using the sinus wash we found out that a young lady we knew swore by them. She was a very active, athletic young woman that had serious allergies and asthma. Once she discovered and started using a sinus wash, she had fewer asthma attacks and was able to decrease the medication she was taking for these two issues. She found that washing out the irritants that kicked up her allergies not only helped alleviate some of those symptoms, but in turn, decreased her asthma reactions as well. I don't know if this would be the case for others since I do not have any serious allergies, or suffer from asthma, but I did think it was very interesting.

Using a sinus wash instead of pills or nose spray, is a little more work and not always convenient. It is definitely easier to swallow a pill or squirt a mist in my nose. But in our efforts to decrease our chemical intake, this is a low-tech, no medication option. And along those lines, when the time comes when we don't have easy access to the plethora of over the counter medications, this may be a very important option. If we have access to water and salt, we can treat allergies, sinus congestion, colds and any other ailment that comes along to decrease the air flow in our nasal passages. Is it a cure all? No. Is it a sustainable way to help increase our health without bombarding our bodies with yet more chemicals? Yes. Happy breathing.

Until next time - Fern

No Shampoo, Three Months Later

I wanted to give you another update on my No Shampoo experience. I have made a few slight changes, and continue to be very happy with the results.

After about six weeks of using my baking soda and vinegar combinations, I realized my hair was getting pretty dry and so was my scalp. So, I went back and re-read some of the information I originally used to make this change.

Before

In this article, "However, baking soda can leave your hair very dry and give your scalp a scaly look, and so you may consider applying a moisturizer on your hair. Baking soda is good for people who have an oily scalp. People who have a dry scalp may need to consider using extra ingredients, and this is where cider vinegar comes in." And then it goes on to say, "Apple cider vinegar is a natural moisturizer. It is ideal for dry hair and scalp. After long periods of using baking soda to clean hair, your hair is likely to become dry. After washing and rinsing with the baking soda solution, pour a mix of apple cider vinegar and water through your hair and then rinse with water again. This cleanses your hair and also leaves it moisturized. Baking soda and cider vinegar is good for people with a normal, dry or even combined scalp."

One week later

So, with this in mind, I changed up my routine a little. I am using two teaspoons of baking soda with two cups of water for shampoo,  and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in two cups of water for conditioner. I have also changed how I use the vinegar conditioner. Instead of only putting a little on the ends of my hair, which was leaving it pretty dry, I put a liberal amount on all of my hair, from scalp to ends. It does make a difference. Now when I rinse my hair, it feels smooth and silky like it used to with the commercial products. I know that isn't the end goal, but it does feel like it did back then. Originally, I only used the vinegar rinse on the ends of my hair because some of the articles I read led me to believe the hair next to my scalp would look greasy and dirty. Since my hair was getting pretty dry, I figured I was past the stage of adjusting to the change, and tried using the rinse on all of my hair.

One month later

I am also very happy to report that I still do not require any medicated products for the psoriasis on my scalp. I continue to itch a little, but there is no comparison to before when I was using prescription and other medicated products on a regular basis. I usually have an outbreak of psoriasis each spring on my arms and stomach when I get a patch of poison ivy, which makes me blister. This year has been no exception. I wondered if my No Poo routine would be able to withstand this outbreak, and it has. Another plus.

Three months later

My hair actually looks better. Frank says he can't tell the difference, I look like I always have. My hair still feels thicker and fuller. It combs out differently. It doesn't get near as tangled as it use to, and I have a lot of hair. I have been able to change to using only a comb and not using a brush at all. I think my hair breaks off less, because there is much less hair in my comb each day than there ever was before I quit using shampoo and a brush.

I am consistently amazed at all of the things out there to learn that can make us healthier, happier people. I am just grateful that I ran across this one thing. It has really opened my eyes to how dousing our bodies with chemicals everyday affects our health.

Until next time - Fern

No Shampoo, One Month Later

Well, it's been a month since I quit using shampoo. And you know what? I don't ever plan on using it again. It seems the more I learn about all of the chemicals around us, more doors open that give me an alternative to using them. For that, I am truly grateful. Here are pictures of my progress.
 

Before

Grace, a friend that hadn't seen me in a while, was surprised at how my hair looked. She expected it to be flatter and sort of greasy looking, but it's not. She described it as fuller and a little 'fly away', but said it looks good. I do think my hair is a darker color, which is okay, even though I liked the lighter blond look. Before long, the gray will take over anyway. I am still using the same formulas: 1 tablespoon of baking soda per 2 cups of water for shampoo, and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water for conditioner/detangler. I did try the vinegar rinse on my scalp once, but it made me itch more. The only place I use the vinegar rinse is from the neck down to correct the pH of my hair.
 

One week later

Frank, the one that matters most, thinks my hair looks just fine, and so do I. Not only did I quit exposing my head to a menagerie of chemicals from the shampoo and conditioner, I have not had to use the medicine for psoriasis on my head one time in this last month. That has not been possible for about 20 years. 20 years. That is a long time. My scalp does still itch a little, but nothing like it did when I was still using shampoo and conditioner four days a week, and selenium sulfide shampoo and a prescription medication twice a week. For me, this is just amazing, and I will never go back. Another benefit from this new regimen is the savings. The baking soda and vinegar I use cost pennies compared to the other four products I was using.

One month later

I can't wait to see what I will get to learn next. Life is good, even in the midst of the calamitous ruin of our country. Do all you can to simplify your needs and wants. Find ways to perform the necessary daily tasks that will keep you and yours living healthy, happy lives. Even when all about us is the uneasy wind of mighty change blowing our way, we can learn and thrive. Buckle up. We're in for quite a ride.

Until next time - Fern

No More Shampoo

Did you know there are a lot of people that don't use shampoo or conditioner on their hair? Until very recently, I didn't know that. Not long ago we posted an article about Trying to Escape Chemicals that talks about toothpaste, deodorant, fluoride, sugar, BPA, aluminum, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. As I was clicking around reading different articles and blogs I ran across The Homesteading Hippy which had an article titled How To Make Homemade Shampoo. This reminded me of our journey to escape chemicals, so I read it. What I read there lead me to do a search about leading a no shampoo life. I was amazed at what I found.

You see, Frank has not used shampoo or conditioner for as long as I can remember. He only uses Dove bar soap. I, on the other hand have always used a shampoo and conditioner. About 20 years ago I started having an itching problem and tried many different brands and types of shampoos and conditioners. After a few years I was diagnosed with psoriasis and have since used a liquid medication on my scalp along with selenium sulfide shampoo twice a week, in between using a very mild shampoo and conditioner. I have kept up this regimen for years and years.

When I read about the no shampoo information and all of the chemicals found in shampoo and conditioner I wondered what impact it might have on my itching problem if I could eliminate them altogether. My only reservation was the possibility of having very greasy hair. You see, I have long hair. But I was excited about the possibility of clearing up some of my psoriasis problem as well as not having to use the chemicals found in the medications I have been using for years.

Before

Then I read about the chemicals found in many hair care products and realized this was another source of toxins my body was being exposed to everyday. Here is a list of just a few of the sites I read while researching the 'no poo' movement that is out there. I think a lot of this activity has been sparked by the desire to live more naturally. Some of these activities can be taken to the extreme, but some are just good common sense.

How To Go No Poo

No Poo Method

Cancer-Causing Chemicals Found In 98 Shampoos and Soaps

Finding a Safe Shampoo, and What Ingredients To Avoid

Toxic Ingredients in Personal Care Products

Hair Care Products, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

What Chemicals Should You Look Out For in Your Personal Care Products?

It's quite a list, isn't it? The more I read and researched, the more I realize that we have been using many chemicals for years and years. Even just a few years ago, I really didn't give it much thought. I knew there were chemicals in the food, water and everything under the sun, but I was not serious about eliminating as many as possible. It appears that now is my time of awakening and action, so I want to share what I am learning along the way. If it is of use to you, that's great. If your time has not come yet, I perfectly understand, mine was years in the making.

After reading a lot of information, this is the regimen I chose. I had bought some condiment containers from the warehouse market, the kind you use for mustard and ketchup. These worked great for my 'shampoo and conditioner' bottles. I mixed up one tablespoon of baking soda with two cups of water for my shampoo. For the conditioner, I mixed up two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with two cups of water. To wash my hair, I wet it down first, liberally put the 'shampoo' all over my scalp and hair, then rub it in all over. I let it sit for about two minutes, then rinse it out. I only put the conditioner on the lower two thirds of my hair and not on my scalp. This is to, hopefully, prevent the hair on my scalp from looking greasy. I rub this in my hair, then rinse. That's it. I thought my hair would be really hard to comb out since it's so long and I wasn't using a traditional conditioner, which I had to have just to comb it out without major tangles. But, you know what? I think it is easier to comb out now than with the commercial conditioner. I was very surprised.

After one week

So, am I happy with my hair? Yes, I really am. One, my head isn't itching hardly at all and that is a real blessing. And two, my hair is thicker. Is that because it is dirty? I really don't think so. Is it because of the baking soda? I don't think so, but I really don't know. My hair feels very different, not bad, just different. In the shower, my hair feels more like my skin, and in some ways it feels more natural. It's kind of like when I started using baking soda instead of toothpaste. I thought my mouth wouldn't feel as clean, but it was just the opposite. I don't feel like my mouth has a coating of 'stuff' on it from the ingredients in the toothpaste. I think it is the same way with my hair. It doesn't feel as if it has a coating of the stuff in the shampoo and conditioner. The last time Frank trimmed my hair, yes he has been cutting my hair for years, he thought my hair was much thinner. I had been noticing the same thing for a while. Now it feels much thicker and I don't think there is near as much left in my comb or brush when I comb or brush it out. I'm not sure why. My only theory is that it is stronger or healthier, but I really don't know if that is the case. I only know that there is not near as much coming out or breaking off in my comb and brush.

It has only been a week since I began this new routine. So far I am very happy with the results. If any adverse affects come about sometime in the future, I will let you know. This is one more experiment I wanted to share. We all have times in life where different learning opportunities come along. Enjoy yours. Don't be afraid or wonder what others will think. Do what is best for you and your family. Always.

Until next time - Fern