FREED-UP Practice: SAY 'NO' to Antibacterial Soap

Earlier in the month (July, 2011) The Canary Report posted an article about Antibacterial Soap. The month has moved along, and I pasted the article here until I had time to frame the 'evidence' and 'experience' described by guest blogger Rob Dunn.  Dunn's article "Scientists Discover That Antimicrobial Wipes and Soap May Make You (and society) Sicker" appears in Scientific America.

Susie Collins' The Canary Report is one of the Internet's go-to sites for the global community living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.  She posted the article on antibacterial soap with this lead sentence:

"Just about nothing gets most people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sick faster than exposure to antibacterial soaps."

I'm one of those people who would get sicker if I am exposed to antibacterial soap.  Sitting at the key this morning, considering what to say, I'm reminded about the conversation I had with my friend and neighbor.  She's writing a book (she's an anthropologist and a nurse).  I asked her how her book was coming, and she said, "Good."  She's writing every morning.  The hard part of it is putting in what other people have to say about the topic.  "Can't just pretend you made every thing up yourself."  There you go, I said to myself.  So, what's to say about this antibacterial soap that combines what others say, and what I have to say.

THE RESEARCH.  When I started getting sick, I had suspicions about what was happening and used the best part of my intuition and researching skill to ferret out 'causes.'  I know more, but know I know not everything.  The Internet allows access to information:  if I have Internet I can search.  But, with time and experience I search more discerningly, and direct my energy differently.

The case for NOT USING antibacterial soap is laid out well in Dunn's article, and if you've come this far, maybe you are ready to read what's in antibacterial soap, and what those ingredients actually do to your body and the 'germs' aimed at annihilation.

THE EXPERIENCE.  Pete and I are on alert for the hand wipes, sanitizers and squirt bottles of antibacterial soap.  I mask up in public spaces:  the library, food market, restrooms, bank knowing the exposure is typical. 

Our one public success regarding the use of soap and hand-washing OTHER THAN antibacterial is the 'Good News' process we began on Mothers' Day at South Whidbey Tilthe.  Pete and I have been cleaning the two restrooms for three months now, and people who have read the article I wrote in our South Whidbey Tilth Newsletter  "The Good News Koan:  Clean the Restrooms" come up to me and say, "Are you these guys?"  "Thanks for the article."  "Thank you.  That is such a good attitude."  These are the things that make choosing and doing things differently the good news. 

OUR NEWEST EXPERIENCE:  The septic guys from SEPTIC ALERT! were here last week to check out the septic tank.  I was off the land when I heard the truck pull in, unsure of what an inspection involved, best to find out later.  I was thinking I would have time and energy to render a detailed account of the inspection, but at this point it's enough to say this:

Pete found the septic guy very "knowledgable and articulate."  The guy 'really knows his stuff.'  The tank is in good shape, doing what it needs to do to maintain and break down the waste from the main house, including toilet, baths, dish washer, hand washing, and one clothes washer.  The inspection involved checking the activity of microbial breakdown ... the organic composting of all our sh*t and chemicals, supplements, prescription drugs, soaps, and product end up in the septic tank.

Here's the part that got to Pete:

• Prescription drugs like antibiotics (and others I can't remember) really create havoc in the septic tanks.  Nothing breaks down and everything in the tank sits there, clogging it up
• "What about baking soda and vinegar," Pete asked.  "Oh, that's some of the best stuff!"  The septic guy said.  I think Pete could've kissed the dude, but he only kisses me!
• Wow, don't you love it when unexpected gifts show up ... in unexpected places.

THE CHOICE:  I launched and maintain this blog because it's something I can do.  Influence?  Who can really know.  If you are reading this maybe something here will give you a nudge to move in the direction of fragrance and chemical freed-upness.  The research and the experiences are there to make informed choice. Got a septic tank?  It could have surprising tales to tell you.

Go do it.  Try Freed-up Practices and see for yourself.







TO READ The Canary Report article on antibacterial soaps link here:
 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2011/07/07/antibacterial-soaps-toxic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCanaryReport+%28The+Canary+Report%29

Masked

A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer's body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.^[1]-

-From Wikipedia

Summer in our town is either slow, or tentative.  Seated on a wooden bench under an umbrella, the sun and the breeze were great company.  The thermos of de-caf coffee had warmed my belly and my complimentary breakfast of herb-spinkled eggs sat in there as well.  Slowly, I am able to be in conversation with new folks.  My I Can Breathe Mask dangles off my ear like an appendage I slip quickly in to place if a scent triggers the put-in-place motion.  Today Pete and I had finished breakfast and a newly-made friend was quickly approaching.  She came to the bench across the table and sat.  We bantered with the don't remember your name thing for a few seconds, giggled at the social gamesmanship of it, and then had a good and neighborly chat about summer, sun, 'home', and then eventually the mask.

It's important, I think, to get a feel for how conversations from behind masks or conversations that start with the mask dangling to the mask in-place invite.  Rewound a few years, thick fear and defensiveness made masked conversations not only difficult but triggering experiences.  With illness bred from being safe only when avoiding, staying put to converse for any reason let alone about the illness or with a trigger (scented source) is risky business.  More often then not, I left the scene before conversation could sprout:  flee, not fight; flight then write.  Even when this masked one was able to converse, the brain chemistry and the memory needed to be calmed and refreshed before a place of ease returned.  This post is not about the science of masked conversation, though I weave in and out of the effects on a being's chemistry.  What is helpful to me, and perhaps to those who read, is the slow flowing comfort with social intercourse from behind a mask.

Picture this:  the mask I currently wear is 'decorative', black and green lace over a tan mask with carbon filter.  With my practice of living with PLAN BE, I have come to know the illness and the conditions for being in the public eye with a mask.  It has been seven years.

• Some of my hesitancy has passed:  I know I must wear it to remain comfortable.  I know what happens when I am without the mask, and know it's not necessary to tell the story of it all.  Trust must grow before a story is exchanged. 
•  The choice to buy and wear that lace mask was the Venus-in-me the love of pretty things that said, "Here's something pretty you can wear."  And, the thing that has happened for me behind that lacey mask is ... people approach the mask and say weird and wonderful new-to-me things:

'that's the coolest protective mask I've ever seen!'

'cool mask!'

'very decorative.'

I say, "Thanks, I think so too."

"I've heard about [chemical sensitities] but never knew ..."

With my mask dangling, I say, "Yes, what you say is sometimes true.  But it is unique for each of us ..."

I am more known to people at this Sunday morning setting.  There is some understanding and comfort with my ways of being, and I more comfortable with the limits I set.  People tell me about their experience with inciting episodes; an event triggers a change in a loved one and ripples out; because I clean the restroom I hear of others who might be like me, but not cleaning a public restroom.  Masks have been a source of protection, decoration, entertainment and ritual shape-shifting and in the everyday life of someone who heals from the affects of others' choices all those reasons for the mask play a part. 

Seasons of change are true for us all, tentative or late I suppose it only matters if you are counting on the change to plant your nature.  Otherwise, grow anyway.