Background
In 1997, I was diagnosed with Graves Disease: a stress disorder. I had all the classic symptoms. My right eye was bulging out of my head, producing ‘The Graves Stare’. And my resting pulse was 120 beats per minute. At the time I had been living at high stress altitude for over a year, and had jokingly dubbed my life "The Stress Alps". I spoke to three separate doctors; they all agreed I needed to stop - period. I was put on heart inhibitors, and told I could nuke my thyroid or I would have to take thyroid medication for the rest of my life. Nuking my thyroid was not an option, and so I opted for medication. Slowly I took steps to dismantle my life as I knew it, and eventually landed on the beautiful island of Kauai in October of 1998.
Inspired to clean up my life, I had my blood checked for 1000 different potential allergies, ranging from common household products to wheat. The blood test showed that I was allergic to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate [a chemical compound responsible for making products foam]. It turned out Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was in the body care and household products I used on a daily basis: toothpaste, shampoo, dish washing liquid, and laundry detergent.
Feminine Mysteries Product Development
Because of the lack of sulfate-free body care products in the whole food market place, I was spurred to envision a line of clean, carcinogenic-free, natural body care products – made with as many Certified Organic ingredients as humanly possible. My illness, and subsequent discovery of these environmental exposures to unhealthy chemicals, have led me to seek out wonderful individuals like Milton Lynn at Coral Moon International, and Anthony Orpen at Organic Formulations. Milton educated me about the exposures women, men and children – especially women- are experiencing on a daily basis, and Anthony is teaching me what is involved in making a clean product.
“According to Neways’ recent conservative estimates, three personal care products are applied daily to infants and children, men use ten personal care products daily, and women use six cosmetics and thirteen personal care products each day. Assuming that the mainstream products used by most women each contain one to two carcinogens, this would amount to over 40 different avoidable carcinogenic exposures daily. It is unthinkable that women or men would knowingly inflict such exposures on themselves.” 1
1. Neways International is a privately held company founded by Tom and Dee Mower. Tom is a chemist with some two decades of experience in manufacturing industrial chemicals, including those used in floor cleaners. Recognizing the carcinogenic and toxic hazards of a wide range of these industrial chemicals, he was disturbed to discover that many were also commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products. Tom was so disturbed that in March 1987 he and Dee created an new company in Salem, Utah, dedicated to marketing safe personal care products, particularly for hair, face and skin.
Since the founding of Neways International, the Mowers have directed high priority to the development of safe cosmetics and personal care products, which pose no risks of cancer and other hazards to unsuspecting consumers. With this objective, the Mowers have progressively reformulated their products so that with few exceptions they contain no “frank” or “hidden” carcinogenic ingredients, which are commonly found in mainstream industry products. Additionally, Neways banned sodium lauryl sulfate, a harsh cationic detergent, from all its products. While this ingredient is itself non-carcinogenic, it damages the skin to such an extent as to substantially increase absorption of any other carcinogenic ingredients. Unreasonable Risk by Samuel S Epstein, M.D. Publisher: Environmental Technologies 2002 pgs 70, 71, 72
Giving Back
As a US company it will be important to give back to the people who so generously support our company. For every country that purchases Feminine Mysteries products we will give 5% of Net Profit from those purchases to a women’s organization in that country. Anthony Orpen, owner of Organic Formulations, shared his life dream to plant a million trees before he dies, or at the very least inspire a million plantings. I feel an affinity with Anthony and his personal goal. In support of Anthony’s dream, Feminine Mysteries seeks to give an additional 5% of its Net Profit each year and to initiate the formation of a coalition of Tree Organizations; called ‘Trees For Life’. Trees for Life’s mission will be to identifying endangered forests and oversee the purchasing and restoration of each forest. Trees for Life will seek out indigenous peoples local to each forest to manage and be the caretakers of the forests. Trees for Life will identify existing Not-for–Profit, and Non-Profit tree orientated organizations from around the world to manage the fund. Feminine Mysteries will appeal to individuals in our international community through advertisements to give a $12 per year donation. That’s one dollar a month. We will be reaching out to banks in every Western developed nation to match these donations with ATM transaction fees paid by their customers. Each $12 donation can never be touched. Only the interest earned will be used to purchase the world’s endangered forests, ensuring for the planet and future generations of our children the forests needed to produce the oxygen and sustain life on Earth.
It is time for us heal our beauty wounds, and to stop adorning our selves with poisons. I would like to invite you tol join me in an Evolution Revolution and begin to be what you have been waiting for!
Peace, Love and Gratitude
Toni Childs
Bard & Alchemist