Paraben Free versus Chemistry Free
by Dr. Christoph Streicher
These days a number of manufacturers tout their products as
“paraben-free.” The word paraben refers to a number of synthetic antibacterial
and anti-fungal preservatives. Parabens received a bad reputation in recent
years and have served as a target for new advertising campaigns. They are
commonly replaced by potassium sorbate,
henoxyethanol, benzoic acid, chlorphenesin and other synthetic substances.
These latter compounds are skin irritants, and there is no evidence that they
are less toxic than parabens. They have an aggressive effect on the skin in
products where the consumer is asking for a soothing, nourishing, regenerative
outcome.
Furthermore, the products of these manufacturers commonly
contain a significant list of other synthetic substances, from synthetic
emulsifiers to synthetic antioxidants, anti-chelating agents and more.
Sometimes the consumer deception goes so far as to describe these substances as
“plant derived.” As any chemist will
tell you, once a plant substance has been chemically modified, it exhibits the
characteristics of a new, synthetic compound and does not retain the properties
of the plant substance.
I would like to assert that any synthetic substance poses a
challenge to the human immune system and nervous system—and often also to the
endocrine system. On a daily basis, we are bombarded with a huge number of
synthetics, for which our internal systems are not prepared. Sensitivities,
allergies, headaches, autoimmune
diseases and in the worst case, cancer, are often the result.
By contrast, the human physiological system has co-evolved
with natural substances. Our bodies have not only had the chance to adapt to
these substances but they have also learned to make the best use of them. For
example, many essential oil compounds occur in small quantities in non-aromatic
plants like broccoli, tomatoes, etc. In the past, these substances were
considered nutritionally neutral. However, recent research has shown that many
of these substances play a vital role in our health, including cancer
prevention. For natural substances,
toxicity is the rare exception. For synthetics it is the rule. This is the reason why all holistic healing
systems emphasize the need to avoid synthetics.
It is Amrita’s policy to not use synthetic ingredients in
any of our products, because they interfere with the therapeutic intent of the
formulation and may add significant health risks to the product.
To read more about the basic differences between the Western scientific
reductionistic paradigm and the holistic paradigm, see the article
Holistic Paradigm vs. Reductionist Paradigm.