When I was in the tenth grade in high school, I registered for a drug abuse class. At that time, I did not understand that alcohol abuse actually was a sub category of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for individuals all over the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol treatment and the different alcohol rehab clinics that are frequently available to alcohol abusers.

Some of the harmful consequences correlated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class unquestionably startled me. The ruined lives and frequent problems experienced by most alcohol dependent people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. Stated briefly, I did not want to face the disaster and destruction that alcohol dependent individuals almost always experience.

Reflect on this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old person wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What teenager wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that drinking alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What teenager wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related problems before he or she becomes twenty-one?

What young person wants to encounter alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to stop drinking? Why would an individual engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause serious issues in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after a person has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a teenager want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that focuses on excessive drinking?

These issues were so meaningful that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was absolutely incredible to me was the number of students who openly didn’t care about the dangerous outcomes of excessive drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be troubled with the facts and how these consequences can wreck their lives. For the first time in my life I started to comprehend a saying that my grandfather used to say to me all through my younger years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.

How to Choose All-Natural Organic Soaps for Sensitive Skin

Nowadays it seems everything has gone organic. Consumers have many more options than ever before when it comes to choosing pesticide and chemical-free products. Beyond vegetables and fruits, organic products include clothing, baby food, teas, and even…soap!

What is organic soap?  Manufactured according to USDA approved standards, organic soap does not contain the often skin-irritating detergent and chemical based ingredients found in many mass-produced personal care products.  Organic soap components are often found in plant-based renewable resources that have been manufactured in a chemical-free natural environment, and typically in a fair trade manner.

Today consumers can find organic soap products ranging from bar soaps, shampoos, and shower gels to nontoxic floor cleaners, dish soaps, and even laundry soap. As consumer demand for these all-natural solutions increases, so do the organic soap offerings for personal and homecare.

How to choose the right organic soap? Make sure you understand the process and ingredients that go into each bar. Organic or natural soaps are often proudly produced by master soapmakers who still consider the process an art. They use top quality ingredients found only in nature, including pure essential oils. They begin by mixing small batches for a long period of time, allowing the soap mixture to thicken slowly. Then they add in special botanical concentrates, herbs, and spices. Poured into a mold, the soap is then allowed to harden. After several days the soap is removed from the molds and cured for several weeks. This painstaking process often results in the highest quality, mildest, yet effective all-natural soap.

Natural soaps often include special healing or soothing essential oils like lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, and rosemary.  A good moisturizing choice for frequently dry and sensitive skin is a combination of soothing oatmeal and lavender natural soap, or aloe baby soap. People with more oily skin are likely to find relief with citrus or tea tree oil selections.

All natural soaps are commonly produced without SLS – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This foaming agent is commonly found in most mass-produced bar soaps, gels, detergents, shampoos, and even toothpaste.  Certainly an important ingredient, SLS performs many cleansing functions. The downside is often debated, though, among all-natural soap enthusiasts. They claim that potential negatives of SLS include irritation of the gums after tooth brushing as well as skin and scalp inflammation in sensitive individuals. To avoid these potentially uncomfortable side effects, natural, organic bar soaps and shampoos are recommended. Dry/sensitive scalps benefit from aloe/lavender combinations, while oily scalps can often be remedied with citrus shampoo bars.

In recent years, the popularity of antibacterial soaps have skyrocketed. Along with this soar in popularity is an increase in the debate over how helpful antibacterial soap really is. Some researchers claim that antibacterial products are contributing to the emergence of more skin irritations as well as drug-resistant superbugs.  According to them, the overuse of antibacterial agents is growing and, because these agents can be quite harsh, can lead to an increase in skin irritations like eczema. Some claim that antibacterial agents strip away fatty acids, moisture, and amino acids from the skin. This can increase dryness and roughness. And finally, some lab studies suggest that use of antibacterial products kill off sensitive bacteria, leaving behind hardier strains such as E Coli and staphylococcus aureus that may live longer. So, what to believe? You don’t have to be a strict purist to believe that falling back on nature’s bounty and choosing organic products is the safe route when navigating the antibacterial soap debate. According to organic soap proponents, healthy living goes hand-in-hand with limiting overall chemical contamination from our daily use products. Fortunately, the choice to go organic gets easier and easier, as more products find their way to the market every day.