The Case Against Deodorant
Why you need to make the switch to a natural alternative for your deodorant.
If you’ve been around me the last year, or your friends, or any of your family, or just anyone really…you have probably heard me randomly strike up a conversation about deodorant.
I have pretty much been berating strangers for the past year about their personal self-care regimes. My responses, more then likely being, an unwarranted- empathetic cringe when they would tell me the brands they use.
All is that to say that I want to know what is going on under your armpits. Are your armpits under some sort of deep-rooted mind control that I am hoping right now, I can debunk and free the natural smell of humans all over.
Stick with my hippie-dippie, woo-woo ramblings for a moment as I explain.
It began with my understanding of the lymphatic system. This great system that is our lead detoxifier and immune support. I started studying anatomy as I became infatuated with our various systems and how they work in conjunction to keep us healthy and in homeostasis. I was focusing so hard on what was actually going beyond the epidermal layers (into the mouth) that I realized it must be just as important what goes on those external layers (turns out it does!)
Now stick with the very mild science lesson before I dive into the history of deodorant. Our lymphatic system is what is called an “open system.” Essentially it passes substances (plasma, hormones, tissues, ions, proteins) into other systems and gets substances back. It acts like a filter so any substances retained in the lymph nodes (that aren’t properly fought off) can easily be handed off to the circulatory system where it circulates in our bloodstream. The lymph nodes create what is called lymphatic fluid that we need constantly moving and flowing through our body to support our immune system so blockages or stagnancy is not ideal.
Now take a guess where two of our largest lymph nodes reside.
If you guessed the two opposing armpits…you’re right!
So, the substances we topically apply onto our armpits seep right into those beautiful lymph nodes where they pick up what they got and filter it into our blood or, even worse, try to filter radicals out but are met with a heap of blockages made by again you guessed it, those nasty anti-perspirants. But their intention is to inhibit perspiration anyways, right? Well, turns out we are meant to sweat people and perspire, and if you don’t you should visit a medical practitioner asap!
Now that we know a little about the lymph let’s turn to the history of the multi-billion-dollar industry of deodorant.
In the late 1800s the company called “Mum” marketed to woman telling them they would never get a date smelling like that. Perfume won’t do the trick but blocking your lymph nodes with zinc oxide will! A decade later, aluminum will become the new deodorant base and women and men across the world will start applying chemical ridden products onto their bodies until The Journal of American Medical Association finally deemed it dangerous almost a century later…
Deodorant companies thrive for the same reason you may be cringing right now. The obsession with public perception is often the single driving factor for humans to make decision despite the health consequences. You don’t want to be that smelly person at the office or that guy on a first date wearing what was a light grey T-shirt that has dampened so much it’s changed shades. And if I tell you to start telling yourself, “Well who the hell cares?” you’ll probably roll your eyes. But WHO the HELL CARES?
My favorite brand of natural deodorant and smell.
Right now, only 46% of Americans say they care about buying a personal care product free of harmful chemicals. Which percentage will YOU land on?
We have yet to see, or just simply be able to concretely trace, the damaging effects of these products on our health. There are so many factors that exist in our everyday environment nowadays that it would be next to impossible to sample size one factor as being a catalyst for the rise of chronic diseases in this country. But here is another statistic for you, 51.8% of this country suffers from some sort of chronic illness and there is no slowing down the rate at which that statistic has been climbing since the late 1990’s.
By putting our money into products that are concerned with our health and well-being we are taking back control over our health and telling those big companies that they can’t manipulate us any longer.
There are several completely affordable natural deodorant companies that I suggest be used on the rarest of occasions. For example, I only wear my natural deodorant on days I am working outside because that Florida heat can create quite the stank. If you feel most comfortable starting with just not wearing any deodorant on days when you are at home that’s fine, just start somewhere and get comfortable with sitting with yourself, all of you, odor n all.
Here is a list of natural deodorant companies that I approve of that you can try OR opt-in to just cutting a lemon in half and rubbing the juicy side on your armpits (it sounds scary but it works):
Piper Wai: https://www.piperwai.com/collections/deodorant/products/piperwai-natural-deodorant?sscid=41k6_s1or4&
Dr. squatch (For Men): https://drsquatch.com/collections/deodorant?campaignid=13033734407&adgroupid=121489964825&adid=520264977531&gclid=CjwKCAjwsJ6TBhAIEiwAfl4TWIS69pH3SJe6zZeGCyRSy1Z-StaM3KBNdhjueQEuKLAkcvx1nIkxTxoC_CEQAvD_BwE
Brothers Artisan Oil (For Men): https://www.brothersartisanoil.com/products/magnesium-stick-deodorant?variant=46522789330