The media is speaking more and more about the dangers of toxic household chemicals. It is no longer a surprise that the solutions many use to clean their homes can cause lifelong irreparable damage both inside and out.
Many people try and dismiss the findings with a shrugged shoulder, “It hasn’t killed me yet,” mindset. I think that is THE most foolish way to live. If you knew anything about asthma, allergies, eczema and just life in general, you would care about what you’re inhaling while you sleep.
Sometimes Saying Nothing Is Saying A Whole Lot
Let’s talk about sensory adaptation first. According to Wikipedia, “Sensory adaptation is a change over time in the responsiveness of the sensory system to a constant stimulus. For example, if one rests one’s hand on a table, one immediately feels the table’s surface on one’s skin. Within a few seconds, however, one ceases to feel the table’s surface.” So…if you are constantly using toxic household chemicals like bleach (which causes cancer and is banned in many parts of Europe), you may no longer smell the fumes in your home because your sensory neurons will grow accustomed to the harshness of the odors and cause health challenges that may or may not be easily detected.
Now…not to get all biological on you, but I really want you to understand the potential of harm toxic household chemicals. First off, your skin is the largest organ that you have. Anything you put on it goes directly into the blood stream. Anything! We’re like sponges. So, if you’re using products to clean, bathe or nurture that contain synthetic ingredients like formaldehyde (embalming fluid), lead or UREA (urine), your skin absorbs all of this and your blood then becomes contaminated. In addition, the brain is where all sense of communication takes place. If sensory adaptation causes the brain to adjust to whatever stimuli there is (pain, smell, etc…), the erosion overtime can have long lasting affects.
Reality:
When I got rid of the toxic household chemicals from my home in 2004, I had no idea that my son was going to have neurological (brain) challenges in the form of autism – nor did I know he would have eczema. One of the characteristics of autism is the extreme sensitivity to the sensory system (smell, touch, sound, etc…). Noah, having never been exposed to the smell of harsh chemicals completely freaked out when he came in contact with them – I mean freaked out. We had to evacuate the premises we were in and wait hours before returning. He began to gag as if to vomit and complained that his head hurt. It was pretty traumatic. But again, it was clear that when the brain is exposed to the chemicals, it has a reaction. It’s supposed to. Those are poisons. The brain was trying to tell him that something hazardous was in his midst. How awesome is that?
Funny…now that I have removed toxic household chemicals from my home, I too have a similar reaction as Noah when exposed – not quite as violent, but my sensory system is no longer accustomed to the harshness of the fumes. Many people think making the switch to safer products will break your bank, and I’m here to tell you it won’t. Either way, you have to weight the options…your safety against the cost. What’s worth more?
I encourage you to investigate a safer alternative than the traditional toxic household chemicals we are all familiar. If you or anyone you know has asthma, eczema, mental disabilities, allergies or breath in their bodies (how about that), what I know needs to be shared.
To read, “Life After the Down Low,” click here AND follow her on Twitter and Facebook
