The Debate on Borax

I always do a good bit of research before deciding on a DIY to trying or making my own recipes. This has included looking into Borax, as I've seen bloggers who use it without question and others who say it is an unsafe material. Crunchy Betty and Wellness Mama do a great job of collecting the arguments for both sides, but I encourage you to do your own digging as well.

The Argument Against Borax
Borax has been classified by multiple organizations as concerning. EWG ranks it as moderately hazardous. The FDA banned it as a food additive, and ECA flagged it as a high concern.

Some physiological concerns are also noted. It can be a skin irritant, and some individuals have reported chemical burns. In some studies it was shown to cause lung irritation. Ingestion of borax can cause stomach pain and sickness. Boric acid is linked to hormone disruption (males) or fertility/pregnancy issues (females, primarily animals).

Use of borax in soil has also caused crop problems. It is used in insecticides and pesticides.

The Argument for Borax
Ok, well, this is less an argument for Borax, and more of a de-bunking of the arguments against it...

Borax is a salt, not an acid. Borax (sodium tetraborate or sodium borate) is a naturally occurring mineral salt. Boric acid (hydrogen borate) is the result of borax reacting with another acid. In some places these compounds occur together (such as volcanic areas or in seawater), but the borax we are buying at the store for our DIY projects is a salt that can be found naturally in the ground.

Borax is ranked the same as baking soda or salt when it comes to MSDS data, and NIH does not really indicate it as concerning unless ingested in large quantities (just like table salt). Indigestion or skin irritation all depend on the amount of a substance used and the individual person, but that does not inherently make a substance poisonous. Also, the non-topical physiological symptoms are related to ingesting large amounts of borax, which again you could have the same issues ingesting large amounts of baking soda or table salt.

Boron (the element in borax) is actually necessary to life, in small amounts. It is a trace mineral that benefits normal growth and a healthy body by helping to strengthen cell walls. Boron is also beneficial to crop soil (boron, not boron salt or borax). However, boron has been show to cause issues for arthropods, making it a good candidate for insecticides. Boric acid is the chemical you will find in insecticides or pesticides, not borax.

Conclusion?
Honestly, it's up to you. Make your own informed decision. Personally, I used Borax in laundry soap and dishwasher detergent for years, and my only complaint was about long-term performance. Over time, I noticed that my clothes and dishes appeared to get a film. In laundry detergent this can be associated with the soap as well, but some of my research suggested borax could also be a culprit.

If you choose to remove Borax from your repertoire, don't worry about having to find all new recipes. You can very easily replace Borax with washing soda in any cleaning product recipe and have good results. This won't make your whites whiter, but it should help if you are having issues getting things clean and removing that film.

Minty Dog Treats

Are you looking for a quick and easy dog treat recipe? Or are you trying to combat stinky breath? We've got you covered with these Minty Dog Treats. One of the lovely ladies form my Rebel Canners FB group shared this recipe, and I whipped up a batch today for our pup. She had to check them out at first, but quickly grew to love them. Now she keeps trying to get into the container!

Minty Dog Treats
½ c mint leaves, chopped
¼ c applesauce
½ c parsley, chopped
¼ c shredded carrot (optional)
3-4 c flour
2 eggs
water

Combine everything together, using enough water to make a non-sticky dough
Roll ¼ inch thick and cut into desired shape
Bake 10-15 min at 350F

Elisha notes that you can easily swap the apple sauce for pumpkin puree or mashed bananas. Her flour of choice is whole wheat, and I have heard good things about oat flour as well, but really you can use whatever flour you want.

When I made these, I used dried herbs. I have what I believe to be 2 crazy mint plants in my front yard, but I haven't verified which type, and no fresh parsley. It's a super easy swap, just make sure to only use a third of the specified amount if swapping in dried for fresh herbs (so in this case, only use 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp of each herb).

I've also hear both mint and parsley are good for bad breath. If you don't have one you could very likely leave the other out, or possibly double whichever you have on hand.

Let me know how you and your dog like these treats! And if you have other pet treat recipes that you love, please share them :)

DIY Shampoo

Dry shampoo is great, but every now and then you need a good cleaning (or at least I do, with my current routine I can only go about 3 days between washes). I haven't hopped on the no-poo wagon completely because I did not like the baking soda method, and after about 3 days my dry shampoo just doesn't cut it anymore...my hair starts feeling oily and heavy from all the dry shampoo still in it. While I can (and sometimes do) rinse out my dry shampoo, there are days when I just need a good clean.

Commercial shampoos are full of all sorts of chemicals, but making your own is not that easy. I've been testing out shampoos for a few months now, and finally have a formula I am happy with. Even though thee ingredient list is natural, it's not short. Granted, you likely could use liquid castille soap (either straight up or diluted with water), but you can add ingredients to help renourish your hair after stripping all the dirt, grime, and oils.

Homemade Shampoo
1/2 cup liquid castille soap
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup water
1 tsp vitamin E oil
1 tsp jojoba or castor oil (I do half & half)
1 Tbsp honey
1-4 Tbsp herbs (optional)

Steep herbs in hot water for about 30 minutes (if using). Strain water into bottle and add remaining ingredients. Gently rotate the bottle to mix completely (if you shake too hard, you will cause foam in  the bottle.

This shampoo will be very liquidy. It is not the same consistency as commercial shampoo. When using this formula, I recommend using a squeeze bottle and gently squeezing out a small amount directly onto your scalp. I tend to do this in a few different locations to help me get even distribution.

This formula makes about 10 oz of shampoo. I have shoulder length hair and with fairly regular washing (about every other day), this amount has lasted me about 2 months.

Why herbs?
You can steep the herbs in water and get some extra benefits for your shampoo. They also add some scent. My herbs of choice are 1 Tbsp lavender, 1/2 Tbsp rosemary, and 1 bag Tazo Zen tea (green tea with lemongrass). Lemongrass is an effective cleaner and deodorizer. Rosemary is said to be good for people with oily hair as it helps control sebum production. Lavender is good for people with mixed skin types and moisturizes dry skin. All 3 are known to sooth irritated/itchy scalps which will reduce dandruff. Green Tea helps prevent hair loss and improves shine. All 4 are also said to have properties that will promote hair health & growth.

This recipe has a very herby/earthy smell. If that is unpleasing to you, you could try adding essential oils. I have not personally done this yet, but I would say 10-15 drops of scents you find pleasing (or scents that compliments your herbs) should be sufficient. I would likely use equal parts lavender, lemongrass, and rosemary as they are all beneficial to hair and would be inline with the herbs I use as well as the scent for my dry shampoo.

DIY Herbal Mouthwash

Let's round out the past few weeks of oral care before moving onto a new topic. As I mentioned in my remineralizing tooth powder post, I've been looking for a way to replace my mouthwash. I used a remineralizing mouthwash previously, and now that I've found a toothpaste to help supplement the need for that particular mouthwash, I was on the hunt for another DIY.

Once again, I turned to Wellness Mama for some inspiration. However this time I didn't use her recipe as a springboard, but pretty much used it unadulterated. The only difference is that again I leave out the essential oils. Even though you are not swallowing the mouthwash, I choose to leave essential oils out of my oral care items due to the fact that they are not recommended for ingestion. Either way is fine.

Herbal Mouthwash Tincture

8 oz vodka or grain alcohol
1 tsp clove powder
2 Tbsp peppermint leaf
2 Tbsp plantain leaf
1 Tbsp rosemary
water






Combine your dried herbs into a jar and pour over enough boiling water just to cover (you want to get the herbs damp enough to release their oils). Then pour in vodka and cover jar. Let steep 4 weeks, then drain through cheesecloth. Store your tincture in a glass bottle. I tend to keep a master batch in our basement, and a small 1oz dropper bottle on the bathroom sink.

To use your mouthwash, combine 1 dropper full (about 40 drops) with 1 oz (about 1 mouthful) of water. I like to keep a small shot glass in the bathroom for this purpose. Swish for 30 seconds as you do normal mouthwash, then expectorate.

So why these herbs?

Wellness Mama explains it well, but I'll give you a quick rundown... 

Clove has been historically associated with oral care due to it's antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It is also known to sooth oral pain specifically, from small wounds to toothaches. 

Peppermint (or Spearmint) has been used in oral care a bunch as well (think of most store bought toothpastes and mouth washes). This is because it has antimicrobial and cooling (soothing) properties. 

Plantain is also antimicrobial and antifungal, but mostly it is touted for it's ability to help in healing wounds, which makes it a great addition for minor oral scratches, bleeding gums, and braces. 

Rosemary is again antimicrobial, but also has cooling (soothing) properties and is known particularly to help soothe sore gums.

I've been very happy with this combination of herbs, but if you dislike the flavor of one, or are allergic, or just can't get ahold of them, there are others you can consider:

Echinecea is antimicrobial, draws out infection, and boosts your immune system which makes it great to fight colds & the flu. However this also benefits your oral care, and in fact this herb has been called the toothache plant due to it's effectiveness.

Oregon Grape Root is another anitmicrobial herb, but is is also an astringent and will help tighten and tone your gums. This is a great herb to add if you often have swollen or inflamed gum tissue.

Orange Peel has been known to remove surface stains and can help with teeth whitening (we use it in homemade cleaners, so imagine what it does for your teeth). It also helps freshen your breath and soothes sensitivity.

Cinnamon* is antifungal and antibacterial. It is well known to fight off the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Myrrh is an antiseptic and soothes your gums. It has historically been used to treat mouth ulcers and support gums in general, which may be because it helps circulate blood flow in the gums.

Tumeric is antimicrobial, and anti-oxidant. It also helps reduce inflammation, making it a great choice to help soothe gingivitis and peridontitis. Tumeric has also been shown to aid with a variety of gum tissue and muscle problems, soothe oral cancer patients, and generally ease toothaches.

Propolis (beehive resin) is antimicrobial and used worldwide to treat tooth infections.

What about mouthwash alternatives?

If you want to stay away from mouthwash, oil pulling with coconut oil or a salt water rinse are both very beneficial.

*I personally would recommend staying away from cinnamon. While I've heard good things, and even seen cinnamon toothpaste commercially, I have also read that it can be irritating to your gums. Women seem to be particularly more susceptible to irritation from cinnamon than men, but as I find it expensive to switch over to a natural DIY lifestyle (definitely more sustainable once you get there, but that initial switch has a price), I didn't want to waste a batch of mouthwash to find out it does more harm than good.

DIY Mineralizing Tooth Powder

I had been using my whitening toothpaste for months now, and I really like it. It cleans my teeth well, and I do feel the whitening is occurring (although it's not an instant fix by any means). However, I have very tightly packed teeth and cavities are always a concern for me, so I wanted to investigate a toothpaste that could help repair my enamel. I currently use a repairing mouthwash, but as that is also on my list of projects to tackle, I wanted to ensure I could still get the benefits.

Now, credit where credit's due, I took a lot of my recipe from Wellness Mama. She is associated with Lea Harris over at Using Essential Oils Safely, and I find her very reliable. However, I did find myself making some adjustments to her recipe. I never use Xylitol (or really most sweetener alternatives) because it is highly toxic to dogs and I don't want and chance of it being near my pets. I also choose not to use essential oils in my toothpaste because not all oils are suitable for kids and very few are suitable for ingestion (and while we all know you aren't supposed to swallow toothpaste, why risk it?). And finally I do not use cinnamon because it can actually cause gum problems (this doesn't affect everyone, but women are more susceptible so again, why risk it?.

Remineralizing Tooth Powder

1 tsp calcium powder
1 tsp bentonite clay
1/4 tsp diatomaceous earth
1/4 tsp activated charcoal
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/4 tsp orange zest
1/4 tsp sea salt (or less to taste)
1 dash cayenne pepper (optional)
4 drops trace minerals (optional)

This recipe will just about fill a 2oz jar. Mix everything together in a small bowl before transferring into your jar. For a powder, you will want to make sure your orange zest is dried or use a mortar and pestle to mix fresh zest more thoroughly (then let your powder dry a bit).

The cayenne pepper is optional. If you choose to add it, do only use a dash (very small amount). It can help numb any oral pain you may be having, but too much can also cause irritation so use sparingly if at all.

Toothpaste variation: add 1.5 Tbsp coconut oil (or a combo of coconut & sesame oil, which give a softer consistency). This will still fit perfectly in a 2 oz jar, or you can use a 2 oz squeeze container. If making a toothpaste, you can also use fresh range zest.

What sets this apart from my other toothpaste?
If you checked out my other recipe, I'm sure you noticed it seems I've mostly added ingredients and swapped out the flavoring. That is partially true, I've made additions to help rebuild the minerals in my teeth, but the "flavors" each have their own purpose as well. Here's a quick rundown of the new ingredients:

Diatomaceous Earth is an abrasive (and tends to be more abrasive than the other ingredients, so you can always leave it out especially if using baking soda), but it also contains trace minerals and silica which help with remineralization.

Calcium Magnesium Powder is integral to the remineralization process. Calcium, as we know, benefits bones (and teeth!), and the magnesium is what helps the calcium to be properly absorbed.

Trace Minerals are also a big part of the remineralization process and can help restore tooth enamel. They are recommended if you drink things like reverse osmosis water (which removes all the bad stuff, but also all the good stuff).

Clove has been historically associated with oral care due to it's antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It is also known to sooth oral pain specifically, from small wounds to toothaches.

Orange has been known to remove surface stains and can help with teeth whitening (we use it in homemade cleaners, so imagine what it does for your teeth). It also helps freshen your breath and soothes sensitivity.

Cayenne offers pain relief with a warming, numbing sensation. It is also known to relieve gum inflammation. However, be careful, as too much capsaicin can cause irritation (or if you are allergic like me, worse). Even though I have a topical allergy, I find a small dash does not cause me discomfort.

Sesame Oil is another oil traditionally used for oil pulling, but it's main purpose in this recipe is to help with the texture as coconut oil will harden while your toothpaste sits in your cabinet.