Alex ‘Earthie Mama’ Du Toit – Fact: Commercial hand sanitizers are chemically-scented and made with toxic ingredients. While, yes, they do kill certain bacteria and viruses, the unfortunate byproduct is that these chemicals also seep into the pores of the skin and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

The primary active ingredients in commercial sanitizers are Ethyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol. [1] Isopropyl alcohol is a petrochemical that is commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a well-known neurotoxin, meaning it is toxic to the human brain and nervous system. [2] Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol or grain alcohol, is both neurotoxic and psychoactive. [3]

Thankfully there are natural sanitizer alternatives that can help keep you and your children’s hands clean and germ-free, without damaging your nervous system in the process. And today I’m going to share with you two simple recipes I came up with that are effective and very easy to make at home! The first one is a gel and the other one is a spray. They both work great, it just depends on your preference.

But first, the “dirty” truth…

Just like the muscles in our body, the immune system needs to be exercised in order to fully develop and become strong enough to resist illness and disease. Research into the connection between getting dirty and immune system health has found that our society’s modern obsession with germs and cleanliness might be leading to the rise in allergies [4], asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. [5] Continue reading →