It’s natural and healthy to sweat, but of course none of us want to smell all day. Body odour starts with certain types of sweat. Eccrine glands pour out clear, neutral-smelling sweat, which cools your body as it evaporates. Apocrine glands, concentrated in your underarms and genitals, secrete a substance that bacteria feast upon, causing strong odours. Stress, ovulation, sexual excitement and anger can cause apocrine glands to kick into high gear.
Commercial deodorants come filled with chemicals reputed to do more harm than good. It’s best to try tackling Body Odour in natural ways.
Natural remedies for body odour:
Dab vinegar onto your underarms with cotton pads during the day to cut down the numbers of odour-causing bacteria.
Dab on witch hazel. Apply directly onto your skin as often as necessary with a cotton pad. The clear, clean-smelling liquid has drying and deodorizing properties.
Dust baking soda or cornstarch as these powders absorb moisture, and baking soda also kills odour-causing bacteria.
Shave regularly under your arms. Underarm hair tends to trap sweat and bacteria leading to escalated body odour.
Dab some tea-tree essential oil to problem areas with a wet cotton pad, as long as it doesn’t irritate your skin. This oil, from an Australian tree, kills bacteria and also has a pleasant scent.
Use Lavender and peppermint Essential oils in the same manner as tea- tree oil to fight bacteria. Choose which fragrance goes best with your body type as different bodies secrete differently.
(if you have sensitive skin, you may have a skin reaction to certain oils, so test the underarm area or a small patch of skin before using.
Sage tackles bacteria and reduces perspiration. Make some sage tea and store in a bottle.
Lemon and Other citrus fruits change the pH level of your skin, making it more acidic. All bacteria, including the odour-causing kinds, have a hard time surviving in a highly acidic environment. Just cut a lemon in half, rub on your underarms and pat dry.
Eat the right foods to counteract body odour
Eat plenty of spinach, chard and kale. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll, which has a powerful deodorizing effect in your body.
Parsley is credited with anti-odour properties. Make parsley tea by steeping a teaspoon of chopped fresh parsley in a cup of boiling water for five minutes. Let it cool a bit before you drink it.
Natural chemical free deodorants, If it makes your life easier browse through our collection of wonderful chemical free deodorants, and keep your body safe.
When to see your doctor:
If you’re sweating frequently or heavily, you could have an overactive thyroid gland, low blood sugar or a problem with the part of the nervous system that controls sweating. If you think you’re sweating too much or you may have a medical condition causing your body odour, see your doctor. And if you’re taking a prescription medication that might be contributing to excessive odour, ask your doctor about switching to another drug.