Homemade Deodorant

Every year, over 225,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 25% of these women will die of the disease. The USA has one of the highest breast cancer rates in the world. 50 yrs ago, only 1 on 20 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, now it’s 1 in 7.

Does that catch your attention? It does mine. And one of the leading causes is the use of antiperspirants. I know a lot of woman have become aware of the dangers of aluminum that is found in most deodorants and antiperspirants.

But did you ever think of the fact that there are places on our bodies used to purge toxins? And one is the underarm. The toxins are purged by the sweating. And as the antiperspirant states-it keeps us from sweating (perspiration), from purging the toxins from our underarm area.

Sound good? Not really. The toxins don’t magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms, since it can’t sweat them out. This causes a high concentration of toxins, and yep, you guessed, eventually cancer!!

Many studies, dating back decades, have shown the cancer to be in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. And that is precisely where the lymph nodes are located. Interesting, eh??

Dr. Kris McGrath, studied 400 breast cancer survivors and found a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving and cancer. Substances in antiperspirants such as aluminum, was found in the lymph system. And it was theorized to have entered through nicks in the skin from shaving.

We need to be careful of the parabens in the deodorant as well. ‘Research has found traces of parabens in every sample taken from 20 different breast tumors.’  So obviously they are being absorbed into the skin as well. This concerns researchers because parabens have been shown to mimic the action of the hormone estrogen in women, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.

Men are less likely to get breast cancer, because the antiperspirant is more likely to get caught on their underarm hairs.

An easy solution is to make your own! Yes, you can find aluminum free deodorant, but it’s hard. And often they will contain parabens in one form or another.

Here is a recipe that I have been using and is fairly common online and in the blogosphere. If you don’t have an ingredient, google it, you might be able to come up with something different you can do. And this is very simple to make!

Homemade Deodorant

1/4 C. Baking Soda

1/4 C. Cornstarch

4-6 TBS. Coconut Oil

Mix the baking soda and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Then add the coconut oil a tablespoon at a time, until all the dry ingredients have been mixed in. You may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil at this time too, if you want it scented. Be sure your coconut oil is in its solid form when you do this.

You can store it in an old deodorant container, but be aware coconut oil has a melting point at 76*. So in the summer you may find a mess on your dresser. (Just ask my Mom.) I put mine in a container and use my fingers to dip it out. You may store it in the fridge too, especially if you use an old deodorant container.

Here are four links to recipes Passionate Homemaking and one with shea butter and cocoa butter, (which I’ve never tried btw.) And from Tammy’s Recipes. She has more on what she thinks of the deodorant and her experience with it. The last one is at Kitchen Stewardship, she has some good thoughts on it too.

I’ve found that since I’ve quit using antiperspirants, I don’t sweat or smell like I used to. As you cleanse your body and eat healthier, etc, your body begins functioning better. And you can see the difference!! 

Italics are from the book Cancer -Step Outside the Box by Ty Bollinger. He has a website at Cancer Truth. I highly recommend his book!!