Aromatherapy - pregnancy questions

Here's another question from my newspaper column:-

Q I am confused –are natural toiletry ingredients better for me when I am pregnant, I don't like chemicals?

A It is confusing for all but here are some facts

1) Everything you touch and handle is composed of chemicals but they are either organic (plant or animal matter) or synthetic (man made). WE (Potions & Possibilities) ONLY USE PLANT and CRUELTY FREE. Both organic and synthetic have the potential to harm you e.g. peanuts and strawberries cause more allergies than any synthetic food additive known. There is a myth that if it is "natural" it is hypoallergenic that is not true. For instance a bath oil with a mineral oil base is less likely to cause an allergy than a sunflower oil base. Sunflower oil goes off quickly i.e. oxidises and becomes toxic whereas mineral oil is stable. There is some unsupported evidence that if you drank a gallon of mineral oil every day for a year you may risk cancer - however almost every substance natural or otherwise known to man would upset the bodies chemistry (arguably increasing the risk of cancer) if taken internally (by mouth) to excess. In aromatherapy we are talking external application i.e. via skin or breathing and the amount ingested is tiny.

2) natural products often have synthetic sounding names. Sodium Laureath sulphate is actually processed coconut oil and is safe. Manufacturers who spread scare stories and say "we don't use it" generally use ammonium laureath sulfate which is the same thing but has not been around so long and has not had the level of safety analysis.

As an update, Potions & Possibilities have recently launched a range of products that are SLS and paraben free - have a look at the Floral range to see what is available