BabiesPre-PubesecntsPubescents and AdolescentsOlder Youth


      Child Healing Institute



Be wary of what you use in your household... You and your children are precious.
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Make Your Own Organic Soap



















































Make Your Own Castile Soap


Castile Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

   * 2 lbs. 100% Pure Olive Oil
   * 2 oz. Beeswax Pearls
   * 4-5 oz. Lye Crystals
   * 10-12 oz. Distilled Water
   * 2 oz. Aromatic Oil
   * Food Color

Tools:

   * Glass Mixing Bowls
   * Wooden Spoons
   * Pots
   * Molds
   * Safety Glasses

Instructions:

   * In a pot, take beeswax pearls and olive oil together and heat it to 100-120oC until the wax melts into the oil. Take care to retain the heat as any inconsistency in temperature will only turn your soap into a goopy glob.
   * In a separate pan, take some distilled water and add lye crystals to it. However before you begin working with lye, don’t forget to don on your safety glasses to protect yourself from its toxic effects. Stir the mixture gently and keep it aside. The lye in water will cause it to heat up and bubble. Wait till the lye mixture cools down and reaches the same temperature level as that of the oil.
   * Now add the lye mixture to the oil, taking care to pour lye into the mixture and not the other way round. Make sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area. Also keep your distance from the lye mixture as any accidental contact with lye can burn your skin. 
   * Add your favorite aromatic essential oil or other pigments to your soap mixture and stir gently. Once the soap begins to trace, pour it into the greased molds and allow it to set.
   * Cover the mouth of the mold with freezer paper and then place a lid on top of it. Enfold the soap molds in a blanket and leave it undisturbed for 20-24 hours. Remove the blankets and allow it to set for another 12 hours.
   * Now unmold the soap and shift it on a drying rack. Allow the soap to get cured for two weeks before it is ready for use. Take the soap and slice it into thick bars before indulging into its luxury. This low-on-lather soap is likely to feel like heaven against your skin!
Taken from: http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/castile-soap-10272.html

What  does your baby sleep on? Make sure it's organic!
  • one cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be from exposure to toxic chemicals that are being emitted from crib mattresses. (article)



Info Source: http://www.thenaturalsleepstore.com/whybuyorganicfaq.html#whyforbaby1

Crib mattresses off-gas many toxic chemicals similar to adult mattresses (they are made from polyvinyl chloride [pvc], polyurethane, etc.).  They also contain phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony compounds as preservatives and fire retardants. Toxic nerve gasses (phosphine, arsine, and stibine) can be emitted because of interactions with these chemicals and cause anticholinesterase poisoning and cardiac failure in infants. These chemicals are linked to SIDS; in fact, Richardson (1994) and Taylor (1996) found high levels of antimony in the blood and livers of babies who died from SIDS. An article in Midwifery Today goes into detail as well as explaining how these chemicals in crib mattress may be related to other SIDS risk factors (Quinn, 2002). To read this article, go to: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/bedding.asp?a=1&r=1&e=1&q=sids+crib+mattress. However, there has been some revolt against the conclusion that baby mattresses can cause SIDS (see, for example, Mitchell, Fitzpatrick, & Waters, 1998).  As with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle; toxic chemicals in crib mattresses may be one of the many causes of SIDS.  Either way, most parents are not willing to risk it.
See also http://www.jeffreywarber.com/hc%20pages/sids.html for more information on SIDS.
Avoid exposing your baby to toxic chemicals by choosing an organic crib mattress and organic sheets for baby’s crib.

References:
•  Mitchell, E.A., Fitzpatrick, M.G., & Waters, J. (1998).  SIDS and the toxic gas theory revisited.  The New Zealand Medical Journal, 111, 219-221.
•  Quinn, J.B. (2002).  Baby's bedding: is it creating toxic nerve gasses? Midwifery Today, 61, 21-22.
•  Richardson, B.A. (1994). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause.  Journal-Forensic Science Society, 34, 199-204.
•  Taylor, A. (1996). Antimony, cot mattresses, and SIDS.  The Lancet, 347, 616.

Also,
Dickson, P. R. (1984).   Effect of a fleecy woolen underlay on sleep.  The Medical Journal of Australia, 140, 87-89.
Article Info
Article
By law, infant sleepwear has to be fire- or flame-retardant; cotton is not naturally flame-retardant. Consequently,  it is treated with flame retardants such as Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which may cause cancer. Companies are not mandated to place this information on the label of the clothes.  Generally, polyester sleepwear is not treated with flame retardants because polyester is naturally flame-retardant; however, cotton sleepwear is treated with flame retardants.  The key issue with polyester as a material is that it does not breathe well, which makes it difficult for babies to regulate their body temperatures. 

Check out the Agency for Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts68-pbde.html
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

Flame Retardant People ( an About Article Short by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.)
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/medical/a/aa102603a.htm

Did you know?
"It's always the old who lead us to the war,
It's always the young who fall,
Now look at all we've won
With the sabre and the gun,
Tell me is it worth it at all."
- Phil Ochs
Captive Daughters
Association of Albanian Girls & Women