Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.

When I lived in California for a few months last winter, all the dryers stood on the same spot on all the porches – it was one of those modern, boring, suburban communities. All the households used the same detergents and dryer sheets. The same cloying scent was standing in the air - always. After rush hour, the smell peaked: All the dudes and gals coming home from work and did they daily home chores. Dryer sheets are unnecessary (and toxic) products. Many volatile organic compounds are released in the air with every drying course, plus aldehydes, benzene, and other substances that are proven or under suspicion to promote cancer, asthma, and other chronic diseases. “Multiple Chemical Sensitivities” is such a syndrome, closely related to the “Gulf War Syndrome”. Researcher suspect that sitting around all day in barracks, exposed to toxic foods, toxic drinks, toxic fumes, toxic recreational drugs might be the root cause. Even worse: Because the fragrances in dryer sheets are manufactured to last and last and last, it is near-impossible to get them out of your machine and out of your clothing (try vinegar and baking soda!). You think your laundry smells FRESH?? That’s the power of advertisement. Does a guy who walks by me (or stands in the elevator with me) smell FRESH? Or SEXY? To me he smells chemical, and uninformed. - When I put my face in my hard towels, they smell lovely - because they are dried on the line, outside. Dryer sheets and vaginal douches would top my list of absolutely unnecessary products. But the list is close to endless, I fear. Let’s start such a list! Because Earth is getting too small for all the people living on it, we can make an effort to omit – and perhaps ban! – all products that do not enhance the quality of life but only use up precious resources and pollute air, soil and water. Not to mention use up our money in financially difficult times. Here is the list – not ordered by urgency just by what came to my mind: 1. Dryer sheets 2. Vaginal douches 3. Wonderbread (or any other nutrient-poor replacement of the real things made from scratch) 4. Anti-bacterial soap (except in medical settings – and even there I’d challenge the wisdom of using them) 5. Toys that are used a day, and then never again 6. Liposuction – go for a walk instead. Daily. 7. Moisturizer (use coconut oil after your shower – if you need it. On your whole body) 8. Artificial sweetener (if you really want to stick with the over-sweet taste you have been raised on, try stevia! At least, it is natural) 9. Dairy (most inflammatory, artery-clogging, brain-fogging food there is – right there with sugars) 10. Toner (splash you face with cold water whenever there is a possibility 11. Make-up (in most cases, except in professional situations like theater) 12. Veganburgers (or any fake “health” food. Cook a vegetable with olive oil and garlic. Or two. Or three. – That’s it!) 13. Food colors – Who needs neon-red and neon green and neon-purple in their mouth?? 14. Facelifts 15. Power drinks (go to bed early enough so that your body gets energy naturally) Help me! Let’s make this a looooong list! Read More