'Poo Free for Me

I've debated what to post about next.  I finally decided that you should know a deep, dark secret of mine: I don't use shampoo.  Ever. Well, not really; I do when I am traveling because it's easier, but I notice the difference every...single...time.

Our skin is our biggest organ.  It is the gateway to our insides and the back door out.  What we put ON it is just as important as what we put in it.  I have really sensitive skin.  I have a hard time using any kind of deodorant, shampoo, lotion, or conditioner.  In fact, the day I decided to give the poo free lifestyle a try, I had a nasty spot of eczema on my thigh that wouldn't go away.  Why do I mention a patch on my thigh when I'm clearly talking about shampoo? Just wait my friends! I mention it because after the first time using the baking soda mixture (See recipe below) the eczema was so better!  BETTER.  Nothing before was working, not the steroidal creams from the doc, not lotion, nothing. Could my suffering really be from things like shampoo? With in a few days, the patch was completely gone and I haven't gotten another one like it since: that was two years ago.

I've been 'poo free ever since.  So.  I know you have questions.  I'll try to answer them.  I get a lot of the same questions from people.

1. But doesn't your hair smell bad? Nope. Not at all.  I even use apple cider vinegar (ACV) as a rinse/conditioner a few times a week and it doesn't even smell then. I think it's funny when people ask me this because I'm like, "Has my hair ever smelled bad?"

2. But my hair is really greasy, it wouldn't work for me. Oh yes it will!  Most likely your hair is greasy BECAUSE you use shampoo.  See, what modern day chemical shampoos do is strip every last bit of oil from your hair AND scalp. Your scalp freaks out and produces more than you had before to protect itself.  Plants do the same thing.  They have essential oils that protect it from the elements, disease, and predators.  Imagine if you stripped a plant of those things.  Oil is ok people.  It might take a week or so for your body to figure out what's happening, but then you shouldn't have any problems.  Although, I didn't have any adjustment period.  Again, I ask my friends, "Has my hair looked any different?"

3. How often do you use the 'poo free stuff?  Everyday.  It's not going to do much good if you don't do it everyday.  However, I have found that my scalp doesn't like the vinegar treatment everyday.  I do it a few times a week, sometimes less.  Others may only use it on the tips of their hair.  Experiment.  See what works for you.

4. Don't you miss the lather and the bubbles? Uh...no.  I don't know why we, as a society, get so excited about lather.  The bubbles aren't doing the cleaning.  And I'm pretty sure our ancestor's soap wasn't all that bubbly.  Get over the bubbles people!! You're not three.  ;)

5. Won't my hair be really oily if I do that? Nope. I can literally feel the baking soda dissolving the grease on my hair now.  It's crazy.  But, it won't rob you of all it.  It will leave enough to keep your scalp and skin calm.

6. Did it really help your eczema? YES! Sometimes I even use the baking soda mixture as a body wash...I don't have flare ups hardly ever anymore, and, if I do, it's because of overwhelming stress.

Those are most of the questions that I get.  If you think of others, please post them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them.

So here's the recipe:

'Poo
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup of water

Conditioner
1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 cup of water

I usually mix up a double batch at a time because that's what my containers will hold. But you can triple, fourple, or fiveple the mix as you so desire. (Yes, I know fourple and fiveple aren't really words).

The best part of being 'poo free?  It is sooo cheap!

Let's get personal right off the bat, shall we?

I should probably ease into this new blog and my new audience by talking about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar or something equally tame, but it's best you get to know me right away.  I typically don't hold back and am not shy, especially when it comes to health.  Ask anyone that knows me and you will find that, more than once, they've said "TMI!"

Here's how I see it: sometimes we need to compare and share the all the gory details to make sure that we are healthy.  I once had a doctor tell me that you should look at everything that comes out of your body.  I have taken that to heart and plan on sharing some of those things with you.  Aren't you excited!?

So, with that said, let's talk about the biggest thing on my mind right now: Hemorrhoids.  Hopefully you don't have any.  A lot of us do.  I have suffered with one (I call it Mike) for years now.  Actually, I suffered long before I even knew what it was.  I tried all the creams and cooling pads and nothing seemed to work very well.  I learned to breathe and relax more allowing nature to take its course.  That helped a little, but there were times that Mike got cranky and nothing helped....until the other day.  I use Essential Oils on a daily basis.  Mike and I were in a fight.  I went to my oil remedy book and looked up the solution.  The first recommendation on the list was Cyprus oil.  I didn't have that one, but I had the second oil listed: Geranium.

I don't like geraniums and the oil is awful smelling, IMO, but I was ready for a solution.  I applied one drop, ONE DROP PEOPLE, to the affected...area, and seriously, the results were instantaneous.  I ended up applying one drop the next day, just to be sure, and I haven't had a problem since! I was so excited, I told my bestie, who also applied one drop with the same miraculous results.  She mentioned that it was as if the hemorrhoid was retreating back to where it belonged.  I felt the same thing happening.  (With how bad Geranium stinks, I would too!).

So there you have it.  If you are tired of suffering from Hemorrhoids, give geranium a try.  I can't imagine what cyprus would do!