Shampoo

This is from a Mercola article which he introduces a healthy shampoo. (See below for an alternative to his):

For example, your shampoo may not be as benign as you thought. The majority of commercial shampoos have several chemicals you don’t want on your body or in your water supply.

• Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) SLS (and its cousin SLES) is often contaminated, via the manufacturing process (ethoxylation), with 1,4-dioxane (see #3).Another problem with SLS is that it combines with TEA (triethanolamine, a detergent commonly used in shampoos) to produce a nitrosamine called NDELA, a recognized carcinogen.
  SLS is used in automobile shops as a degreasing agent... do you really want it in your hair?

• Ethylene oxide (which is what the “E” in SLES stands for)
• 1,4-Dioxane1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of ethylene oxide, which is believed to be carcinogenic to humans, toxic to your brain and central nervous system, kidneys and liver. It’s also a leading groundwater contaminant.
  Dioxane has been a known carcinogen since 1978. A 2008 study by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) found that many brands of shampoos, body washes and lotions contained 1,4-dioxane, including so-called “natural” and “organic” brands.
  Dioxane is an increasing threat to water supplies across the country and is of growing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the fact that it can’t be filtered out, and it doesn’t biodegrade.

• MSGDid you know that MSG (monosodium glutamate) is as likely to be in your shampoo as in your chow mein? It might not be obvious since it masquerades under aliases like amino acids, yeast extract, nayad, glutamic acid or glutamates.

• Propylene glycolPropylene glycol is another very common ingredient in personal care products.
  Despite the fact the material safety data sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as it is a strong skin irritant and can also cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage, it’smore than likely a component of your shampoo.

• ParabensParabens have been shown to mimic the action of estrogen, which may encourage the growth of breast tumors.

• Diethanolamine (DEA)DEA can react with other ingredients to form a potent carcinogen called NDEA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine), which is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with cancers of the stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder.

[For a pure shampoo bar go to http://www.phchnaturalsoap.com/]

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