By Emilee Shake
“Natural” and “organic” have become buzz words in today’s society. In our nation’s efforts to “go green,” producers have realized it’s popular to have one of those two words printed on the label of any product. When purchasing an item, consumers might feel more eco-friendly and healthy by opting to purchase a brand of lotion with “organic aloe vera” on the label rather than just “aloe vera.”
But exactly how “natural” and “organic” are most of the items?
Odon couple Adam and Heather McPherson don’t buy all the label print.
“In today’s retail world, you really have to define ‘natural’ and ‘organic,’” Adam said.
Adam and Heather began researching the ingredients in health and beauty products after Adam received a Divine word.
“I was standing at work one day, and the Lord told me I was going to make soap and make lots of it,” Adam said.
That began their journey of researching ingredients in the products their family uses every day, reading books about being conscientious consumers and, ultimately, producing their own completely natural products.
“There are chemicals out there in the bath and body market that we really shouldn’t be using,” Adam said.
He said in 2005 the European Union banned 1,500 certain chemicals from being used in bath and body products. The multinational U.S. companies that produce items that contained those chemicals then reformulated their ingredients for the EU but not for the United States, Adam said.
When looking at scientific studies, Adam said there are long term effects the chemicals in some products can have on a person’s health. They can cause cancer, disrupt hormone cycles and create skin problems.
“There are chemicals out there that are basically called hormone disrupters.
“Do I have scientific data? No. I’m not a scientist. I’m not a chemist,” Adam said, adding there are people out there who’d argue exactly what he’s saying.
But he himself has experienced the difference in his skin problem after purging his hygienic products of anything but those with completely natural ingredients. Adam has had eczema, a skin condition that causes itchiness and irritation, for several years, and after using the soap he made, his eczema has cleared.
The McPhersons’ made their first loaf of soap mid-January 2009. Soon after, they were making 100 bars a week. As people began trying their soap, they started requesting other items.
“They figured since we made soap, we could make other things,” Adam said.
And they did. They began producing all-natural lotion bars, lip butters, makeup, insect repellent, shampoo bars, deodorant sticks and laundry soap.
Adam said most manufacturers can’t call their soap product “soap” because they don’t meet the FDA standards for soap. In order to be true soap, nothing can be added to the product after the original saponification, which is the chemical reaction created by combining oils and fats with lye and water, Adam said. When manufacturers add chemicals or other ingredients and remove natural moistures, it can have harmful effects on skin.
“It’s really actually caused us to look into other products more, to be more conscientious consumers all together,” Heather said.
The McPhersons’ company, Pure Hearts and Clean Hands Soap Company, is currently operated out of their 314 Park St., Odon home and online. To view the products or read more about natural ingredients, visit their Web site at www.phchnaturalsoap.com.
“Over the course of the last year, we’ve been sick far less, even with common colds, and doctor visits have gone down,” Adam said of his family’s health after switching products.
