http://www.ei-resource.org/ http://www.ei-resource.org/images/stories/articles.jpg http://www.ei-resource.org/ http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/children/electronic-lice-comb/ As yet I am not lucky enough to have any children but I do have a cat....who loves to be outside and is forever picking up fleas. For a while despite suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) I just used to use regular pesticide-based flea control products. I'd wear my carbon filter mask to apply the liquid then just kick the cat out for the day. Obviously not ideal (for me or the cat!). I then started using a flea comb which worked but of course you have to do it outside so as not to infest your home with the fleas and eggs. Very difficult when you live in England where the weather can never be replied upon. I noticed Androv Medical had started selling this product so thought it might be worth a go on my cat, although it is strictly a lice comb for kids' head lice. I have to say it works very well for pets too and it not only gets the fleas out of the coat but does kill them too, as well as the eggs. Yes, it's more work than applying a pesticide, but it is completely chemical-free and much more economical - a one-off price of £19.56 instead of £10 every month for the "good" brands of regular flea control products. ]]> Children Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:04:05 -0700 378 2009-08-06 17:04:05 9 editorial http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/children/electronic-lice-comb/ http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/toothpaste/forever-bright-aloe-vera-toothgel/ After trying a number of other "natural" brands of toothpaste I found this one in the local health store chain (Holland & Barrett - UK). I initially hesitated in buying it because it cost considerably more than some other toothpastes. I am now very glad I went ahead and took that first tube home! This aloe vera toothgel feels very gentle on the mouth and I have to agree with the manufacturer that it is very soothing. I have often spat out blood while brushing my teeth due to bleeding gums but the occurence of this has been much reduced over the 6 months I've been using this product. It also leaves my teeth feeling fresh and shiny. Other natural brands have left a strange feeling on my teeth when running my tongue over them that put me off them completely. Again as the manufacturer states their toothgel does indeed leave teeth looking white - very impressive considering the product contains none of the usual whitening additives. Those with acute sensitivities may find sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium benzoate in the formulation to be a problem but if not this is a great toothgel. ]]> Toothpaste Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:32:23 -0700 375 2009-08-05 11:32:23 9 editorial http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/toothpaste/forever-bright-aloe-vera-toothgel/ http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/sun-care/kiss-my-face-face-factor,-face-&-neck-spf-30/ WARNING: CONTAINS AVOBENZONE. DO NOT USE!!! AVOID EXPOSURE!! I have marked all ratings at the lowest available, because the site would not allow me to post a comment without specifying a rating. I have not used this product, but if the ingredient listing given on this site is correct, then the product contains avobenzone (also known as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane or Parsol 1789). This is the toxic synthetic chemical UV absorber which CAUSED my MCS. Environmental exposure to this chemical (in the air when other people use it, and on handled objects) is the identifiable reason my MCS is worsening. The chemical is volatile, absorbed across the skin and, indoors, leaves a residue which can persist for years. Although almost insoluble in water, the small amount that dissolves is harmful to the fish species tested (rainbow trout) and the crustacean species tested (daphnia sp.). My experience of this chemical is that it is a sensitizer of extraordinary power. For the susceptible individual, from hard experience, there is no level of exposure to this chemical that can be considered to be safe. I consider this chemical to be one of the most dangerous chemicals on earth. No product with this ingredient should appear on a list of suggested products for people with environmental illness. ]]> Sun Care Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:25:54 -0700 339 2009-04-13 07:25:54 1 user http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/sun-care/kiss-my-face-face-factor,-face-&-neck-spf-30/ http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/toothpaste/toms-of-maine-natural-anticavity-flouride-toothpaste,-spearmint/ I really wanted to like this toothpaste as I do admire Tom's of Maine as a company. They have done a lot to bring products based on natural ingredients into the mainstream. I can't really fault this toothpaste for it's cleaning ability. It wasn't particularly great at making my teeth really shiny and white but there is a baking soda version available which no doubt produces better results in this area. The main problem I had with this product is the strange feeling it left after use. Rather than leaving my teeth feeling smooth and polished they felt rather rough and the sensation I got when running my tongue over them was very odd. I don't know if other people would notice this but it really put me off using it. This is not something I have experienced with other toothpastes. Another concern I have is that Tom's of Maine seem intent on adding fluoride to almost all of their toothpastes. Far from being a "wonder additive" that protects teeth it has been implicated in causing excessive calcification of various body tissues, inhibiting important enzymes, and contributing to a number of cancers (Detoxify or Die, Rogers). I'd advise people to do a little research into fluoride before using fluoridated toothpaste or drinking fluoridated water. Prices are also a little higher than other brands but not excessively so. I was left feeling disappointed with this toothpaste when I tried it and have since found much better alternatives that also use natural ingredients...and no fluoride. ]]> Toothpaste Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:06:25 -0700 54 2007-10-03 15:06:25 6 editorial http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/toothpaste/toms-of-maine-natural-anticavity-flouride-toothpaste,-spearmint/ http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/deodorant/crystal-body-deodorant-spray/ When I first became chemically sensitive it was easy to drop some of those products that aren't essentials but you really can't do without deodorant can you? At first I simply had to go without as all of the deodorants in the supermarket were the usual chemical-laden aerosol sprays. Luckily I soon discovered mineral salt deoderants and have used this Crystal Spray Body Deodorant on and off for 2 years now. It really is perfect for the chemically sensitive as it contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at all. Instead of using powerful chemical fragrances to mask body odour, this product simply uses natural mineral salts dissolved in water.The mineral salts absorb an odours very effectively even when doing physical activity or on very hot days. The only downside is that this product, because it is basically a solution of mineral salts, tends to drip if you put too much on. The fact is you don't actually need to apply that much anyway, just a couple of sprays under each arm is enough. It also lasts much longer than regular deodorants as a result. For anyone suffering from chemical sensitivities or otherwise seeking a more natural, chemical-free deodorant, you can't go wrong with this! ]]> Deodorant Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:09:27 -0700 53 2007-10-02 18:09:27 9 editorial http://www.ei-resource.org/personal-care-products/deodorant/crystal-body-deodorant-spray/