The Common Natural Ingredient You Must Avoid

Promises of more volume, shine, and botanical extracts may lure you in as you browse the shampoo aisle, but you may want to turn your attention to the tiny ingredients lists on the bottles to make sure you’re not choosing a product that will have you showering yourself in a neuro-toxic and carcinogenic chemical every day.

According to a new report from the Center for Environmental Health, dozens of shampoos, soaps, and other personal care products (the nonprofit group tested) contained cocamide diethanolamine, otherwise known as cocamide DEA. The basis of the chemical—coconut oil—seems innocent enough. But scientists tinker with the ingredient, modifying it into an unnatural, toxic form, merely for the purpose  foaming agent.

University of North Carolina researchers found that when Diethanolamine (DEA), a chemical used as a thickening agent in most shampoos, is applied to the skin of pregnant mice, it interferes with their offspring’s normal brain development.

DEA blocks absorption of the nutrient choline, which is essential to brain development and peripheral nerve function.  Choline deficiencies can lead to peripheral nerve damage, metabolic syndrome, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), insulin resistance, and hypertension.  All of these disorders can result in peripheral nerve damage and nerve pain, also known as peripheral neuropathy.

California listed cocamide DEA as a known carcinogen in 2012 under its Prop 65 law, which requires warning labels on consumer products containing carcinogens or reproductive toxicants.  In fact, The Center for Environmental Health recently filed a California lawsuit against four companies (Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kohl’s) that sell shampoo and personal care products containing the toxic chemical without a warning label.

 “Most people believe that products sold in major stores are tested for safety, but consumers need to know that they could be doused with a cancer-causing chemical every time they shower or shampoo,” said Michael Green, executive director of the Center for Environmental Health. “We expect companies to take swift action to end this unnecessary risk to our children’s and families’health.”

Some other things uncovered through the center’s independent testing:

• A store brand children’s bubble bath from Kmart and a children’sshampoo and conditioner from Babies ‘R’ Us also contained cocamide DEA.
• Falsely labeled organic products from Organic by Africa’s Best also tested for high levels of the cancer-causing chemical
• One shampoo tested contained a whopping 20% cocamide DEA.

It’s important to know that cocoamide DEA can masquerade under other names, so here’s what you should look out for on all of your personal care labels:

• Cocamide DEA
• Cocamide MEA
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine*
• DEA-Cetyl Phosphate
• DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate
• Lauramide DEA
• Linoleamide MEA
• Myristamide DEA
• Oleamide DEA
• Stearamide MEA
• TEA-Lauryl Sulfate
• Triethanolamine

Cocamidopropyl betaine, or CAPB, has been replacing cocamide DEA because it is thought to cause less skin irritations in people who are sensitive; however, it does not reduce the amount of neuro-toxicity or cancer risk.

SHAMPOOS with COCAMIDE DEA

• Bed Head (TIGI)
• Biosilk
• CVS brand shampoos
• Fekkai
• Garnier Fructis
• Head & Shoulders
• JASON shampoo
• John Frieda
• Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo
• L’Anza
• Loreal
• Matrix Biolage
• Neutrogena
• Nexxus
• Nick Chavez
• Redken
• Selsun Blue Dandruff
• TIGI (all shampoos)
• Tresemme
• Walgreens brand shampoos (adult & baby)

Additionally, the most common chemical compounds in shampoos are straight-chain alkyl benzene sulfonates. Benzene is a chemical that is responsible for neurological symptoms, headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion and worst of all – oftentimes linked to leukemia and many types of cancers.

Most conventional shampoos contain 1,4-dioxane, a highly toxic carcinogen. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, 1,4-dioxane is known to cause cancer and may cause kidney, respiratory, and neurological toxicity. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has also stated that 1,4-dioxane is a groundwater contaminant.

Sources:

Flyvholm M-A. (1991) Contact allergens in registered chemical products. Confact Dermnriris 25:49- 56.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (1984) Cosmetic product formulation and frequency of use data. Washington. D.C.: FDA. FDA. (1994) Frequency of use of cosmetic ingredients. Washington, D.C.: FDA.

Hindson C. Lawlor F. (1983) Coconut diethanolamine in a hydraulic mining oil. Contacr Dermatitis 9:168.

Center for Environmental Health (CEH)

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Federal Drug Anministration (FDA) “Organic” Cosmetics

United States Food and Drug Administration(USDA) Organic Regulations

Environmental working Group (EWG):

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.prevention.com

MAKE YOUR OWN ORGANIC SHAMPOO

With hundreds of available shampoos on the shelf to buy, why on earth would you consider making your own?  I’m going to give you a few reasons which you won’t be able to refute.

First of all, the FDA  does not regulate what companies put in personal care products.

The majority of large companies like Suave, Pantene and Aussie (to name just a few) use chemicals that have been linked to cancer, nerve damage, immunotoxicity, and allegies.

Secondly, It’s cheaper and doesn’t take any time to make.  That’s correct, you can make your own shampoo in under 5 minutes (no exageration) and save a boat-load of money, too.

RECIPES: Here are some of my favorite recipes for homemade shampoo.

Dr. M’s & Dr C’s personal blend

8 oz of Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap
13 drops Lavender essential oil (EO)
7 drops Peppermint (EO)
7 drops Rosemary (EO)
3 drops Tea Tree Oil

Rosemary Shampoo (stimulates hair growth)

Ingredients:

6 oz Dr. Bronner’s liquid castille soap

15 drops Rosemary essential oil (eo)

10 drops Geranium (eo)

BPA free plastic or glass dispenser bottle

Hydrating Shampoo

1/2 cup coconut milk

2/3 cup Dr. Bronner’s liquid castille soap

15 drops of essential oil of your choice (see below)

2 teaspoons of olive oil

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

1 1/2 cups coconut milk

1/2 cup Dr. Bronners liquid castille soap

1/2 cup purified water

1/2 teaspoon virgin coconut oil

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

20 drops Rosemary (eo)

15 drops Tea Tree Oil

1 tablespoon ground fenugreek seeds

BPA free plastic or glass dispenser bottle

Your Own Formulation

6 oz Dr. Bronners Castille Soap (liquid)
Essential oils (EO) of your choice (30 drops, may use single essential oil or multiple oils totaling 30 drops)

Essential Oils for Normal Hair

Lavender
Rosemary
Lemon
Geranium
Cedarwood
Thyme
Clary Sage

Essential Oils for Dry Hair

Lavender
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Geranium

Essential Oils for Oily Hair

Lavender
Rosemary
Lemon
Peppermint
Cypress

Essential Oils for Scalp Flakiness
Rosemary
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleucca
Lemon
Lavender
Cedarwood
Thyme