Friday, July 18, 2008

Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008!!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=eW9SlqiA_DI

This video summarizes the Indie Beauty Network's position against the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the legislation that would put thousands of Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.
If passed, this law would drive consumers back to the days when they could only choose between a few huge, faceless, nameless big box stores and brands for their cosmetics and personal care products. And fewer consumer choices always leads to higher prices. Tell Congress you want none of it.



Petition
We are the owners of small cosmetics companies, and the customers who love their products.
We understand that laws must be in place to protect everyone from unsafe products, but we are outraged by the Draft Legislation that would require small cosmetics companies to pay thousands of dollars a year in registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork that would serve only to put them out of business.



If passed the legislation would deny thousands of families the ability to earn an honest living, and also deprive consumers of the variety of cosmetics and personal care products available to choose from. We oppose this law and condemn any companies that support it as being interested only in creating an unlevel playing field where small and family owned businesses will be forced from the marketplace before they even get a chance to start out. We urge you, as our representatives in Congress, to stop this law which would serve only to make it even harder for families to support themselves. We call instead for a real and meaningful discussion about how Congressional goals can be accomplished without enacting unfair laws that make it impossible for small businesses to survive.

In signing this Petition, we formally request that the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 be marked up so that the legitimate concerns of small businesses and the consumers they serve can be translated into reasonable laws that protect consumers without also killing small businesses by making them pay unfair fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

We sincerely thank you for your time.


Spread the Word!
Please send your customers and colleagues to this blog post to sign this Petition. Simply cut and paste the Petition text and send it to Virgil Miller at virgil.miller@mail.house.gov. Mr. Miller is a Professional Staff Member with the House Energy & Commerce Committee.


Support small businesses! Support a vibrant marketplace! Make Your voice count!
To enjoy regular updates about the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, subscribe to Indie Business Blog today. © 2008, Donna Maria Coles Johnson. Used by Permission. Originally posted at www.indiebusinessblog.com.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Demystifiying Holistic Aromatherapy

One can simply inhale an essential oil, which is the essence or life blood of a plant, and instantly feel the healing effects. Every essential oil has a different quality or characteristic, which heals different aspects of one’s being.

Through aromatherapy, increasing moods, treating ailments, improving sense of well being and purify the environment are just the tip of the iceberg in a vast land of natural healing.

Aromatherapy works two ways: inhalation through the nose or topical absorption through the skin. Essential oils applied to the skin are absorbed into the bloodstream for an immediate effect. For instance, if one were to ease a headache, simply apply a lotion or oil base that has pure essential oils of Peppermint, Rosemary, Lavender or Eucalyptus for instant relief by massaging into the temples and base of the head.

From a chemistry stance, constituents with various properties and abilities make up each individual essential oil. There are no two alike. Essential oils can be placed into categories and subcategories, be cross referenced and so on. For all intents and purposes, these oils are powerful healers from Nature, that when combined become more than the sum of its parts.

As an Aromatherapist in daily practice, the integrity that these oils stand up to is quite magical. Over 8 years of formulating and treating clients has been a gift from Gaia herself. They have become integrated in daily life knowing their true purpose is healing on every level of the human body. Having tackled ailments that modern medicines could not solve and within days seeing major improvements in a safe holistic way has led to the pursuit of more experiences.

It is very important to clarify that not all products that say “aromatherapy” are pure in nature. Derived from pure plant parts, true aromatherapy benefits your physical and emotional health and well being. There are certain companies that produce air fresheners and candles that use words like aromatherapy and essential oils, while adding synthetic fragrances derived from petrochemicals that when burned, release toxic carcinogens into the air and lungs that then create a toxic build up in your body and anyone else’s who are in that breathing space.

There is a travesty in our current policy making system. Manufacturers of household products such as cleaners, air fresheners, disinfectants, etc., are not required to list the ingredients of these products on their labeling or packaging under a household trade secret law agreement.

Companies that produce natural, environmentally friendly products are held accountable for their ingredients by various companies that hold certifications. The labeling and packaging of these Green companies are complete and thorough as they have nothing to hide and proudly list their ingredients. So the next time you are shopping ~ check the labels, if they are lacking an ingredient list, they are chemically enhanced and usually have synthetic fragrances that are potentially harmful.