I've always been concerned about harmful germs, and when I worked in the corporate world I frequently wiped down my desk and phone--and just about everything in my hotel room when traveling--with the most powerful antibacterial products that I could find. Before I gave birth to my first child, I began to research some of the products that I was using personally and around our home, and I was horrified to learn of the long-term damage I could be doing to myself, my child, and the planet with these chemicals. Consider the following examples:
"'There are over one million poisonings a year in North America, and 60 percent are children under six, most of whom have eaten household cleaners,' says Rob Grand, the owner of the green retail store Grassroots. Cleaning products and services are the leading source of toxic air pollution in our homes, according to the Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, published by the U.S.-based non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists." -- "A Green Home Is Good Enough To Eat", Toronto Star, Catherine Porter (Published August 10, 2007).
"Household cleaners . . . persist in the blood and make their way into women's breast milk. Scientists and advocacy groups admit we don't know for sure how bad these are for you. Human tests have never been conducted on most of the 18,000 chemicals produced each year. But evidence is mounting. Some of the worst chemicals have already been banned, and states are looking at stricter regulations for others. Many of these toxins are lurking just behind your front door." -- "Home toxic home", Chicago Daily Herald, Susan Stevens (Published June 5, 2005).
"The main reason why cancer is becoming a menace is the amount of toxins that accumulate in us throughout our lives. Although genes, hormones and infections contribute to certain cancers, the most important factor is the cumulative toxic damage to the cells."-- "The Toxic Body", Art of Healing by Dr. Amir Farid Isahak (Published Feburary 17, 2008).
"We will not be able to reduce the risk of breast cancer without addressing preventable causes, particularly exposure to chemicals."-- Report by Professor Andreas Kortenkamp, the head of toxicology at the University of London's School of Pharmacy (Published April 2, 2008).
"'Our kids are the canaries in a coal mine,' says Dr. Kenneth Bock, author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies. 'American children are growing up in a toxic environment, a chemical soup sensitizing them to even the common foods they need to grow and thrive.' The chemical culprits that bombard our children's immune systems are ubiquitous in American life. Yet these same toxins are responsible for spurring many children's immune systems into overdrive, provoking maladies from asthma, eczema and allergies to autism and ADHD. The links are pouring in. Diabetes was even tied to environmental pollution in a report published early this year in the respected British medical journal The Lancet. What's more, research published during 2006 in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests a potential association between autism and air pollution around a baby's home." -- "Toxic Tots: Altered Lives", Dallas Child, Lisa Poisso (Posted March 31, 2008).
In earnest I began to search for the strongest all-natural, non-toxic cleaner available, and I soon found information about Vinegar of the Four Thieves. I found none for sale anywhere so I finally decided to make my own. For My Kids All-Natural Alternative to Antibacterial Disinfectants is based on the well-known Vinegar of the Four Thieves formula that has been used for centuries to prevent contagious disease. Although For My Kids All-Natural Alternative to Antibacterial Disinfectants makes no claim to be antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, or antifungal, the ingredients used in its version of the well-known Vinegar of the Four Thieves formula are commonly known to have these properties. It is a healthy alternative because it contains none of the harmful toxic chemicals found in disinfectants. Our proprietary blend simply uses high-quality, certified-organic herbs and spices (lavender, rosemary, rue, wormwood, sage, peppermint, elecampane, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, calamus, and garlic), camphor essential oil, and white distilled vinegar. Suggested uses include kitchen countertops, door knobs, telephones, shopping cart handles, bathroom surfaces, diaper changing areas, hotel room surfaces, toilets, and anywhere else you would normally use disinfectants.
As soon as my babies became toddlers, I quickly realized that I needed something that would be easy to carry and would safely clean our hands well enough until we could get to some soap and water. I used my knowledge of essential oils to create an effective solution. For My Kids All-Natural Hand Wash is a lavender-scented spray that is ideal for times when you can't get to soap and water. Just spray on your hands and rub together until dry. Our formula uses double-distilled Witch Hazel extract (86% Witch Hazel and only 14% grain alcohol which makes this Witch Hazel extract extremely soothing), distilled water, and a proprietary blend of organic essential oils (including lavender, eucalyptus, and sweet orange). Although For My Kids All-Natural Hand Wash makes no claim to be antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, or antifungal, the ingredients used are commonly known to have these properties and they work to cleanse, soothe, soften, heal, and stimulate your skin. For My Kids All-Natural Hand Wash was just featured in an article entitled "Our Favorite Greener Cleaners" in the July 2008 issue of The Herb Companion magazine (page 62). Yay us!
We are proud to offer All-Natural Vegan Lip Balm. Soft smooth lips are an asset to every face. The weather, our environment, and the food we eat all take a toll on our lips. Since lips don't have their own oil glands, it's up to us to keep them soft. Unfortunately, a lot of lip products on the market today contain products that you don't want to put anywhere near your mouth (some of those ingredients are down-right scary!). That's where For My Kids All-Natural Vegan Lip Balm comes in. This naturally-protective formula contains organic sweet almond oil, organic coconut oil, carnauba wax, organic tamanu oil, and organic vanilla extract (or organic peppermint extract for those of you who are more adventurous!).
Now also available is All-Natural Comfrey Salve. Sometimes what we put on our boo-boos can be scarier than the actual boo-boo itself. Our All-Natural Comfrey Salve contains organic extra-virgin olive oil, candelilla wax, organic tamanu oil, organic comfrey, organic calendula, and organic lavender. For My Kids Comfrey Salve is great for minor cuts and burns, scrapes, and bug bites.
Our newest offering is an herbal insect repellent. Made with organic, food-grade ingredients, this handy salve fights the good fight against biting varmints of all sorts. For My Kids Herbal Insect Repellent contains organic coconut oil, organic extra-virgin olive oil, candelilla wax, organic tamanu oil, organic lemon balm, organic rosemary, organic catnip essential oil, and organic lemongrass essential oil.
-Christine
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You can find more information on all of the products mentioned above at www.ForMyKidsOnline.com.