A query on Earth to Body’s  ‘Tooth Cleanser’: “How do you clean the residue of the product out of a toothbrush? “ A customer recently asked.“I don't mind that it stains the bristles, but it's hard to get the deeper part of the toothbrush clean.  I don't know if it's OK to have residue left behind.  Any tips?”  LC, Dartmouth, NS Our Answer:I use a standard nail brush, now designated a ‘tooth scrubber’. I simply rub the nail brush onto my soap bar and then proceed to scrub the tooth bristles.  Then I rinse the brush well under hot water.  Comes clean as a whistle.  Even the green disappears. It…

Maybe you need emu in your ear.  Maybe you do not.  But if you have ever had an earwax imbalance, or possibly may have one in the future, you should know about emu when earwax is a concern. Earwax is normal. It is not really wax, per se, but the dead skin cells from the ear canal. The ear cleans or revitalizes itself, sloughing off dead cells, called cerumen or earwax. This cleaning job should happen naturally, normally, and we should not have to do anything about it. The job of the earwax is to clean out the ear canal. The hair lined canal moves the earwax, in a grinding-like motion, out of…

You have scalp psoriasis.  Your health care professional advises: ‘A Coal tar shampoo will help ease the symptoms of your psoriasis. But do have regular cancer screening tests.’ You are now caught  between a rock and a hard place. Do you take the risk? You buy the coal tar shampoo. The warning on the label reads: For external use only. Ask a doctor before use if condition covers a large area of the body. Avoid contact with the eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. May increase tendency to sunburn for up to 24 hours after application. Avoid other psoriasis therapies such…

If you have nail fungus, you are not a happy camper. With all the ads of damaged looking toe nails up front and center, in your face, announcing some miracle cure for nail fungus, we can assume it is a fairly common aliment. The media ads can be quite graphic, some serious, some humorous, all offerings prescriptions and/or over the counter cures.  Google research offers some natural do it yourself home remedies. If you have the nail in the ad, it is more than concerning. Nothing is funny about nail fungus.   Who gets nail fungus?  If you are diabetic or have a like illness, are immune…

 What if companies joked around. Tossed about the good, the bad and the ugly. Messed with us. Had fun. As in a fictional ad from a purely fictional company called ‘The Cosmetics Con Company’ advertising a purely fictional product called the ‘Best Body Wash Ever.’  The advertisement  Best Body Wash EverThe Cosmetic Con Company Our Ingredients: Upfront and in your face Water (eau), glycerin, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium laureth sulfate, Cocamide MIPA. avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, sodium chloride, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, parfum, tetrasodium EDTA, glycol distearate,…

Triclosan. Maybe you squirt it on daily and don’t even know it.  I do not read the labels on the hand sanitizers I use to enter a store. I pump or squirt or pull and tear, rub on palms and proceed about business. Like everyone.  I have yet to see anyone pick up a container and search for the label ingredients. Most containers are big plastic jugs and are labeless anyway.  And who wants to pretentiously hold up a line to read a label?  But we should be wondering what we are squirting onto our skin. Masks are no longer mandated but most places still offer the squirt. Maybe we are more relaxed…

Is it the odor or the sweat that bugs you the most? If it is the odor, you want an anti-odour a.k.a. deodorant. If it is the sweat, ouch! Be forewarned. Wanting an anti-perspirant to BLOCK the sweat glands could get you into trouble.  Sweating is a good thing. It regulates your body temperature. Whether it is just hot outside or you are working out, sweating helps to cool you down. If your body is prevented from doing what comes naturally, like sweating, you could end up with skin rashes, feeling dizzy, faint, or worse. Your kidneys are not supposed to produce stones, but they may just do…

Ginkgo. Number one on Anthea’s SHOPPING  list. Followed by blueberries, oranges, eggs, dark chocolate, coconut, broccoli,  turmeric, pumpkin seeds… Anthea loads the car and just before backing out of the parking lot, remembers to double check her list."Damn…forgot the ginkgo.” She shakes her head. She has no time to go back. Arriving home ginkgoless, Anthea forces herself to smile at the irony. Ginkgo, for memory. At least she remembered her blueberries et al. ‘Help improve memory’ ads are directed to a boomer market. Prevagen for one, totes jellyfish as the saviour. I have no idea if the…