Punany Poison: What Not To Put In Your Precious Petals

Many of us use personal lubricants for intimate play with our lovers, our toys and ourselves. But what we don’t know about is the glaring amount of chemicals that are within the ‘safe’ lubricants on the market. Lubricant safety is regulated by the FDA as “medical devices” and not drugs. As such, safety testing is only required in pre-clinical animal models, like rabbits and guinea pigs, not humans. What’s even more interesting is that the FDA considers using lube for anal play as an ‘off-label’ application and to use it at your own risk.
On average we put over 100 different ingredients on our skin each day and up to 60% of that is absorbed into your bloodstream. Now take into fact that the mucous tissue found in the vagina and anus doesn’t have the same level of barrier, we are at risk of absorbing even more chemicals.

A recent study found that a number of chemically laden water-based lubricants actually dried out the tissue in the vagina and anus making them more susceptible to micro tears, thereby giving bacteria and viruses an easy entryway into the bloodstream.

Specifically, here are just a few of the ingredients that should be avoided in your personal lubricants:

Nonoxynol-9 (spermicide) We were so happy when we thought we could lower our risk of pregnancy even more by using condoms or lubes with Nonoxynol-9. It is an abrasive detergent. It has shown to help kill the AIDs virus in clinical tests (in test tubes). However, it has been found to leave abrasions and lesions in the vagina and to strip away the protective rectal lining in the anus, both of which could potentially increase chances of get AIDs, STDs and skin irritations, leading to infections.

Glycerine (glycerol; closely related to glucose or sugar) is used as a sweetener and preservative in cosmetics and has been linked to yeast infections in women who are prone to them and they can also damage mucus membranes. It has also been shown to be toxic to sperm.
Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, and butylparaben) are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in the cosmetics and are used for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. Studies have found that parabens can be absorbed through the skin and can mimic the hormone estrogen, which has been linked to breast cancer.

Petrochemicals (petrolatum) Petrochemicals, which have recently been restricted in cosmetic manufacturing, in oil-based products such as mineral oil and petroleum jelly, coat the skin halting the vagina’s ability to “flush” itself, leaving you open to bacterial or other infections. It can take the vagina 3-5 days to break down and get rid of oils, so oil-based lubes should not be used for vaginal or anal sex and but oil based (not petroleum) is recommended for male masturbation.

Propylene Glycol (cousin to anti-freeze) Also known as the ‘workhorse’ of the cosmetics industry can be found in most everything that needs to be slippery. You can find it in everything from brake fluid, anti-freeze, and paint solvents, to dog food and toothpaste. Propylene Glycol is used as a solvent in many pharmaceuticals, and is used as a humectant food additive, emulsification agent, and moisturizer in cosmetics. The oral toxicity of propylene glycol is low, but large quantities can cause perceptible health damage in humans and is an irritant to the eyes and skin.

Fragrance If something is labeled ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ it is an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients used as fragrance dispersants such as diethyl phthalate. Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. ‘Fragrance’ has a toxicity level of 8 out of 10 (extremely high) in the Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep Database. Synthetic fragrances are a toxic mixture of “evil phthalates” (you thought these were just in cheap jelly sex toys or plastic food containers?) and “poisonous chemicals”. There is no way to know what poisonous chemicals go into an individual fragrance, as companies do not need to list what they put into a fragrance due to patents. — Skin Deep Database

How to keep the Punany Petals Precious
Look for lubricants that are water-based and chemical free. In addition, look to have your partner use vegan condoms, as they do not have chemical based lubricants on them. Be sure not to use any products with Nonoxynol-9. Check the Skin Deep Database for toxicity ratings on your lubricants or vaginal moisturizers. Lastly, if the label has ingredients that you’ve never heard of or can’t even pronounce, it’s most likely a chemical.

Some of our favorites at www.organicloven.com include: Blossoms Organics, Good Clean Love, Sliquid Organic Lubricants.

LOVE: Organically, Purely, Deeply, Naturally, Boldly

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