Antibacterial soap....Et cetera

Antibacterial soap is a better defense against infection than normal soap, right?

Unfortunately, that's false.

Three years ago, a University of Michigan team reviewed data and reported that antibacterial soap products in which TRICLOSAN is the active ingredient is no better than normal soaps at preventing infection. (triclosan is the big dog of antibacterial products)

According to a 2004 report in the journal Pesticides and You (yes, there really is a journal for everything!), triclosan is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that's used in hundreds of products. But not just soaps. The chemical also shows up in Colgate Total toothpaste, Right Guard Sport Deodorant, and Solarcaine First Aid Medicated Spray.

And here's where things take a very dark turn: Triclosan may promote antibiotic resistance, which would actually make you MORE vulnerable if exposed to infections and hospital superbugs like MRSA and C. diff.

Early this year, Representative Edward Markey (chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment) asked the FDA to update the scientific review of triclosan.

In their response, FDA officials noted that recent research raises "valid concerns" about triclosan safety. In addition to antibiotic resistance, concerns include animal studies that suggest the chemical may interfere with hormone regulation.

So the FDA has started a new review of triclosan safety. Ready for a laugh? Agency officials say they'll have their report ready in the spring of 2011. D'oh!

Want to avoid triclosan right now? Why not? It's apparently not doing anyone any good. Just Google "triclosan-free" and you'll come up with thousands of websites that carry soap and other products that leave triclosan out of the mix.

And if you're wondering just how serious the problem of antibiotic resistance really is, consider that this danger was first recognized more than 80 years ago by one of the foremost medical scientists of the 20th century. His name: Alexander Fleming.

---ABOVE ALL TAKEN FROM HSIALERT.COM (The Health Science Institute)

My thoughts:

If you look under Antibiotic Resistance in the Wikipedia, it says, "Household use of antibacterials in soaps and other products is discouraged (as not being effective at infection control)" Makes you wonder if the use of antibacterial agents in common household products is either effective or harmless?

I first became aware of the potential downsides of antibacterial soaps from Dr. Mercola (The world's number 1 free natural health Newsletter resource), here's a similar article to the one I first read: Dr. MERCOLA ANTIBACTEIAL DANGER NEWSLETTER.

So, everyone wants to keep their family and children safe from harmful bacteria that can cause illness, right? What's the SAFE alternative you ask?

NATURAL, God designed antibacterial agents which have NO NEGATIVE effects on the human body:

• VINEGAR -- as a spray on counter surfaces, toys, and bacteria-laden places. Article on vinegar's effectiveness: VINEGAR AS A BACTERIAL, MOLD, GERM KILLING PRODUCT. It's very inexpensive at the grocery store--give it a try!
• LIQUID SILVER -- Practitioners in burn wards have known for a very long time that soaking bandages in a low concentration silver solution inhibits infection in burn victims; it literally saves their skin. Silver has long been used as an anti-infection agent with bandages or other medical supplies all around the world. VIEW SILVER BAND-AID PRODUCTS. Silver is also coming out in cleaning products/cloths: NORWEX SILVER CLEANING PRODUCTS.

Here's what our family uses as a quick antibacterial handsanitizer when out and about: SILVER ANTIBACTERIAL GEL HAND GEL. A little more spendy...but saves you from taking a chance with using TRICLOSAN on your kiddos!! They also sell a liquid version for antibacterial washings and for using with eye infections: LIQUID SILVER.

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******