Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

One older devotee here studied Ayurveda and he says that using soap every day is bad for your skin.

He never uses it. He doesnt stink either. He convinced me to try it so i decided that Id go without soap until my wife noticed something. Four days later I was back using soap. (I make my own though ... see other post)

I dont use it unless I have been sweating and I dont stink. It was on recommendation of an ayurvedic doctor (Dr. Liladhar Gupta) You can use that crystal deodorant stuff which is natural and cheap in India (alum). There is no need to use soap everyday for most people.

amalagaura: if alum is made of aluminium or has it, then dont use it. Aluminium effect on skin is that closes the pores, that prevents sweat from going out... not very good for health apart from aluminium goes in and sits in body causing chronic ailments in due time.

We need to sweat, but body odor is caused by bacteria feeding on sweat, so anything killing bacteria is good as deodorant.

once a week soapy bath, should be OK, :)

I also never use soap and take only cold showers. As far as I know (at least nobody ever told me), my body doesnt smell bad. Im doing this now for about ten years. In the beginning when we stop using soap the body may smell a little, but that goes away after a while. It also depends on the health of the body.

Best is to begin with warm (not hot) water and end with cold. This way the pores open to clean them properly.

Wow I had to do research on alum, quite interesting, no longer am I just rubbing a mineral on my face after I shave, now I am armed with knowledge
:-)

You can get it in India for 5 rupees but in the West we have scientists and big companies so it is $7-$8

http://www.thecrystal.com/faq.cfm
Our deodorants contain alum, which is a compound formed by the combination of the mineral salt version of aluminum plus the mineral salt potassium or ammonium. Together they form a totally new compound called alum. It differs greatly from the aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium compounds found in most mainstream deodorants, which are absorbed into the skin.

http://www.thecrystal.com/technical_product_information.cfm

Hare Krishna,pammho..

if we dont use soap, then just water??

I do not wash my whole body with soap every day, and I am pretty sure I dont smell :) Some parts, however, have to be washed with soap daily for optimal cleanliness.

>if we dont use soap, then just water??

You can also take bath with cow dung, cow urine and in the dust lifted by cows hooves :) I know a devotee who took a few baths in cow dung, but switched back to water in a few days when people he would meet during sankirtana would start looking where the cow was. :)

theres a devotee here who bathes daily in cow urine. ummmm .... i know its auspicious and all but ..... it really stinks!

I think I know him, he taught me how to milk cows at New Govardhana, he is 60 something and has more energy than me! Starts with L and ends with "i"?

Yes, Jagannatha Mishra Prabhu, you get the prize - a lifetime supply of cow urine bubble bath! Enjoy! :)

Another of the Prabhus remedy is apple cider vinegar with honey, which is tasty and good for health. I wonder about the validity of vinegar as devotees food though.
As a remedy is definitely incredible.

I use soap very rarely. A sauna is a real good way to get clean. I once read a letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote explaining that washing with water is sufficient, although I believe there is one schism within ISKCON that believes that you can go back to Godhead even if you *do* wash with soap - they are the ones who refuse to acknowledge the paper: "The Real Final Order".

(sorry, Im being a little frivolous there... :-) )

According to Manu Samhita you can also wash your hands in earth.

i read somewhere about nama-snana or bathing in the Holy Name. and that this is sufficient before doing pujas etc ... does anyone know of a reference?

Today I forgot about this and used soap again. Bad habits die hard. :)

I guess bathing in the Holy Name is sufficient if you have nothing else, but if you have something else I think you must use it.
I heard that offering the best you have, even if its not first class, is in the mode of goodness, but if you dont offer the best then its in the mode of passion. Maybe we can apply this principle to cleanliness standards.

"Therefore, along with all types of bath one must take the mental bath to gain the internal purity that complements external purity. The substance of internal purity is remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (Pancaratra-pradipa)

No, but taking a cold shower with alittle almond oil is good. I wouldnt use soap or oil on my skin on Ekadasi.

i rub my body with cow dung every day ; )

really?
commercial or natural?
;)

and today I didnt use soap. We will see how this goes.

Everytime I forget to not use soap its what abhiram pr said: "Bad habits die hard"
hehe. trying to not use it...
:D

very complete article about the subject matter:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=403703&in_page_id=1774

alternatives to soaps and chemicals...

http://www.drhuldaclark.org/product_productavoid.asp

is this borax+water approach being used by any devotee?

Explanation of why everyday soap shower is bad is because it destroys natural skin acid protection against bacteria, etc.
as you may know acid+alkaline (soap) = water