Herbal Treatments for Body Odor

Many people want to return to natural alternatives in their daily lives. We’ve discovered that convenience is not good for us. The health care industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the manufacturing industry and the fast food industry don’t have our best interests at hand. We have to take our health back ourselves and we can do this with simple things such as reducing the amount of deodorant we use.
The main ingredient in antiperspirant and deodorant is aluminum. Aluminum is a trace mineral that your body requires for normal functioning. The keyword here is “trace”. Your body only needs small amounts of these minerals to function well but having too much of these can cause adverse reactions. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s.

Body odor is actually the result of bacteria. Sweat itself has no odor but after several hours these bacteria or apocrine secretions begin to grow and causes odor.
There can be several underlying causes for body odor including a zinc deficiency, diabetes, liver problems, poor hygiene, constipation and parasites.
It’s been claimed that meat eaters have more body odor than vegetarians.

Antibacterial herbs have been the most widely used treatments for body odor. These herbs include: coriander, fennel, licorice, oregano, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cumin. These herbs can be powdered and rubbed on the underarm area or made into a tea and dabbed on the underarm with a cotton ball. Some herbalists even use these herbs in an herbal bath.
Adding sage to this mixture could be beneficial as an antiperspirant.

Two other ingredients that have been widely used and found in most homes are baking soda and cornstarch. Many people have used baking soda in their refrigerators and freezers to absorb odors but never consider using it as a deodorant. Cornstarch and baking soda both have drying affects and are used in many health and beauty aids to remove moisture from the skin. Baking soda is not an herb but it is a natural substance and people looking for a natural approach will appreciate the many benefits of this substance.

Zinc is often removed during the processing of foods and many people suffer from a zinc deficiency. A deficiency in this mineral can be an underlying cause of body odor. Eating whole foods such as spinach, cucumbers, collard greens, brussels sprouts and string beans can be a healthy approach to treating body odor. Even if you don’t notice a difference in the amount of body odor, your body will thank you in the long run.

Apple cider vinegar is one of those substances that many people may not consider trying as a combatant of body odor. It has its own distinct smell that many people don’t like. But as it dries it loses its odor. Cider vinegar has antiseptic properties and could be a good alternative to over the counter products that may be unhealthy.