Antibacterial Soaps

A little over a decade ago, antibacterial soaps and antibiotic resistance became a new and upcoming concern to hit the daily news. Earlier, when the manufacturing industry released these products first to the open market,  many believed it would be the answer to their prayers for health and wellness, especially for their children. It was hoped this could be a road which could end some of the rising rates of colds, influenza and even some food allergies. Mothers, doctor's and dentist's offices, nursery schools, elementary schools and many more organizations let this item spread through their daily life like wildfire.

Now it's a decade later. During that time, anywhere the manufacturing industry found they could add this product, it was. Not only hand soaps anymore, it is also in lotions, dish soaps, laundry products, toothpaste, hand sanitizers plus more.

The press and media reporting in general built up this product as if it could be the answer to every little ailment in our daily lives. After all, what's the purpose of an antibacterial product? It's to kill! All of these new products have the capability of killing off germs, viruses and harmful bacteria which can be problematic to our general health.

Ten Years Later And The Truth Is Known

Antibacterials are chemicals - their job is too kill. As this product washes your hands it is also absorbed into your skin. From there it flows down your drain as you brush your teeth, clean your laundry or do the dirty dishes. All of this time, the chemical compounds are still doing their job - to kill! The run-off into your drains gets into the public water system which eventually connects to local lakes and streams, finally to open water, the oceans. All along that way, the residue is now settling into the land and the environment also, right along the paths where we grow our food.

And do you still remember what is it these compounds are doing all along the way?

Contraindications Of Antibacterial Products

All antibacterial products are predominantly made from 3 major compounds. These are the chemicals additives known as triclosan, triclocarbon and alcohol (usually from 60 to 90 proof). Continuous use of any of these compounds leads to antibiotic resistance because your body has already reached overdose levels. An antibiotic prescription from your doctor now is relatively useless for any new medical condition.

Most people, with extended use also eventually will notice some of these other common symptoms:

• your flesh will burn or become very sensitive on other parts of the body
• the cleansing effect itself will only last about 5 minutes and 20 seconds on your skin until you have lost it's therapeutic effect. To retain the benefits you must constantly keep repeating the hand-washing procedure every five and a half minutes.
• a hand sanitizer solution, if accidentally ingested by a young child, can kill a child because of the strength of the compounds

Science, now a decade later has proven our society's insistence on using these products has compromised not only our health but the health of our environment whether that be the land, sea or air.

So what should you do instead?

Plain old soap and water (castile soap is the best) is still the perfect solution for good health and vitality.