As you may have guessed by my throwing it in your face so very often :), I am a big proponent of all things Natural. How much so, I haven’t even begun to share on this blog. I am also quite sensible about most things including my inclination for all things natural. I do not ever assume that an item is good for me just because it is natural.
As an example, we know that it is not all plants that are fit for human consumption – even for touching – as it may lead to a severe reaction. Good examples are poison ivy and inedible mushroom. Another point is that what works for one will not necessarily work for all. With factors like
- different body chemistry
- pre-existing illnesses
- age
- sex
- levels of activity
and much more, it stands to reason that this theory is correct.
Also, I find that there sometimes appears to be no restraint in terms of quantity in consumption or use of Natural products. Even if something is good for you, a lot of it will certainly be bad for you. A book I once read said that water is good for our consumption but even drinking too much of it is bad for us.
So what am I trying to say here?
- Be Natural, try things with an open mind but always keep a log of how you react to things (especially if this reaction is adverse) so that you do not endanger your health, skin or hair.
- Start small and then scale up when using a new natural product. Don’t be shy to scale down or completely stop using the product if you feel uncomfortable.
- Read the experiences of others that have used these natural products but do not assume that your experience will be definitely be the same.
- If you have any health issue, you will still need to get advice from your doctor before you ingest or use natural products.
In case you are confused as to why I am dedicating a post to this, the answer is simple: I have heard way too many stories. I will share the highlights of a few with you.
- Folks drinking Apple Cider Vinegar neat or barely diluted because they want to get the full effect ( I won’t even comment on this one).
- A reader wanted to get the full effect of her essential oil (to guard against hair breakage) and used it barely diluted in a carrier oil and at a point, neat. Her hair has fallen off, the poor dear. Essential oils are potent – to be used sparingly.
- Reader reading/hearing that Henna was a good “conditioner” and doing a Henna treatment without following it up with a deep conditioning treatment. This led to dry hair and ultimately hair breakage.
- Using a preservative free skin care product which unfortunately was hosting microbial growth. This led to skin irritation. ( I would advice if it is a DIY, make and use small batches at a time and if the recipe calls for water, use purified water)
Natural products are generally good for you but do not automatically assume that they are benign products that cannot do you harm.