Craigslist Ad Reads: Free 1/2 used bottle of Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner – warning: may cause birth defects and Alzheimer’s Disease
My husband warned me not to switch, but I didn’t listen. He warned me of the dangers of using dime store shampoos, conditioner, cosmetics, etc., and I listened for a long time, using an organic shampoo from Trader Joe’s. But when my daughter’s hair looked and smelled so lovely after using a different shampoo, I couldn’t resist giving it a try myself. Unfortunately, it did not make my hair quite as shiny and soft as hers, but I continued to use it anyway – and am now about half way through the bottle.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am going through the Biblical Health Coach program at BHI (Biblical Health Institute). It is a great program that I highly recommend – and no, they are not paying me anything to tell you that. Today, I was reading about toxins (a major problem in the United States), and when I got to the shampoo section, I was very alarmed. This is what I read:
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found a correlation between an ingredient found in shampoos and nervous system damage. The experiments were conducted with the brain cells of rats and they show that contact with this ingredient called methylisothiazoline, or MIT, causes neurological damage.
Many popular shampoo products contain MIT. Researchers are concerned that exposure to this chemical by pregnant women could put their fetus at risk for abnormal brain development. In other people, exposure could also be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other nervous system disorders.
MIT causes these effects by preventing communication between neurons. Essentially, it slows the networking of neurons, and since the nervous system and brain function on a system of neural networks, the slowing of this network will suppress and impair the normal function of the brain and nervous system.
These finding were presented at an American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting: “I have frequently warned readers about the dangers of using brand-name personal care products. The vast majority of these products contain toxic chemical compounds like MIT that contribute to cancer, liver disorders and neurological diseases. In fact, this chemical, MIT, is just one of dozens of such chemicals that are found in personal care products.”
Naturally, I ran to my shower to check the label on my new shampoo – it was there (and in the conditioner): methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothianzolinone (sounds related). I should have listened to my husband.
Sorry guys, but I will not be having any more “organic experiences” with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. It is back to good ole Trader Joe’s Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner.
I realize there are more toxins in shampoo’s that should be avoided such as propylene glycol and parabens, but methylisothiazolinone is a new one for me. If you are concerned for your health, go check your shampoo, and take the appropriate measures. First, get informed. Second, act!
Emily dear – this includes you. What would you rather sacrifice, shiny hair, or neurological health?
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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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