Melaleuca...NOT such a "Wellness" Company Idaho Falls Idaho

You're completely correct about sugar.  Sugar causes more diseases and deaths per year then I think most people are aware of.  There isn't any substantial reason or science to believe in any of the products Melaleuca sells are better for your health.  For that matter, they are still using synthetic folic acid and cyancobalamin.  Is just goes to show you how truly behind the scientific curve this company is.  They should not be calling themselves the "Wellness Company".  They are just as bad as Mary Kay, Amway, Shaklee (at least some of Shaklee's products are organic but their line isn't what it claims to be either)

I have done all of my research, extensively and I would never put my faith or health into such an unethical company.  I'm entitled to not drink the melaleuca kool aide.  I don't like their cleaning products, they are in fact toxic, the personal care items are loaded with xenoestrogens and endocrine disruptors, the vitamins just flat out don't work. How do I know they don't work? Because I have had them independently tested through a third party lab.  Imagine that, a study that wasn't performed by the company itself to hide the fact they lie.  Even lab work doesn't add up when these vitamins are used and in fact, I've seen heavy metal levels get increasingly worse by having patients stay on their vitamins.  Now, once the labs come back and people can visibly see that the vitamins aren't working and their 2:16 estrogen ratios are off the chart, they switch.

Bottom line, stop buying their crap, save money and your health by making your own cleaning and beauty supplies, and stop taking vitamins that your body will just pee out any way. 

I work in the oil and gas industry and laugh when people say, 'derived from oil' in a denegrating way.  You can 'crack' any hydrocarbon product and make just about any other hydrocarbon product with different heat treatment, catalysts, etc.  In other words, you can take oil, and produce the same compound that is also produced in plants (let's remember that oil comes from decomposed plants).  You can take a toxic substance and add a Carbon-hydrogen link, and now the government says its perfectly safe.  Or you can even add a few oxygen molecules in there, and end up with a completely different product.  In other words, I disregard any 'proof' of toxicity based on illogical arguments, which are typically produced by authors with very high opinion/knowledge ratios.

So what do we depend on for information?  We can use government sources, but they are far from 100% reliable.  They will tell you that its perfectly fine to live by a high voltage power line.  They will define some level of statistical significance (based on REPORTED cases), which is conveniently selected for their binary style of reporting that 'yes', its is abosulately safe.  On the other hand, when these GSE's report negative conclusions, I would tend to listen.  But you still have cases of people believing in the myth of human progress, assuming that the latest information is some sort of dogmatic absolute truth.  Like in the 1970's, when government categorically discourage all fat intake.  Likewise, i don't think it would be smart to rely solely on 'research' funded by for-profit organizations.  Although I would be biased towards the cautious side, towards anectodal evidence indicating a negative side effect.  Aftreall, government would typically be a follower in these scenarios. 

I would like to see a survey of people who live to a very old age, in a healthy way, and corellate which ingredients they used and avoided.  My grandfather was a farmer, used pesticides, and lived to be 103.  He did, however, avoid sugar like the plague. 

Having said that, there is no reason to blindly trust melaleuca.  They do not sell the most expensive products, and must make value-based decisions at the margin of health/cost.  For example, acesulfame K may be better than aspertame, but is definitely not the same as a smoothie made from the Kale in your back yard.  Same applies to fractionated palm kernel oil.  I'm also not sure how much of their product cost is tied up in marketing and distributing vs other traditional companies.  Do they have room for higher cost ingredients that might be safer?   

To summarize my rambling, if you are going to suggest toxic side effects of Melaleuca ingredients, I think it would benefit all (I'm assuming that's the goal here, as opposed to the goal of simply 'being right') to post links or studies on specific compounds, and note any specifics regarding which melaleuca products contain these chemicals. 

Hi,

One safe alternative to deodorant would be white vinegar. I am a mammographer, and I had patients who used white vinegar instead of a deodorant - I never used it myself. The patient said she just splashed a little bit of white vinegar under her armpits each morning.

Also, I had patients that used natural rock as a deodorant. 

In mammography, patients are asked not to use any deodorant before the exam because deodorants have Aluminum in them and that shows up on the film and can be mistaken for calcifications.

Natural alternative for toothpaste would be baking soda. For inflamed gums, I use Peppermint essential oil that is therapeutic grade, I just put the oil on my finger and massage the gums-it refreshes me and also wakes me up-if I need a boost or did not have coffee in the morning.

Also, there are chemicals that are GRAS-generally regarded as safe-table salt is a GRAS substance. If you were to use lots of salt, then it would be toxic, even if it is a GRAS substance. My point is that you always have to compare the risks and benefits in a given situation-in mammography the risk of raditaion during the exam is small compared to the benefit of finding out the breast cancer early. So even if radiation is harmful, you should still have an annual check up if you are over forty, and definetely if you are over fifty or older.

So for the products, I am OK if there are some harmful chemicals in them, as long as they can kill bacteria-because it would be a greater risk for me to get an eye infection from contaminated mascara, than to be exposed to a miniscule amount of a potential carcinogen. BTW I never use make up so it is not a real issue, but in other products I would be OK with parabens if they serve an antimicrobial purpose. Silver is a natural antimicrobial, as is copper so maybe they can use this instead-but silver is also toxic, so there is always give and take with any product.

Tam

Paraben
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

General chemical structure of a paraben
(a para-hydroxybenzoate)
where R = an alkyl group

Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup,[1] and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.
Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, the long history of their use, and the inefficacy of natural alternatives like grapefruit seed extract (GSE),[2] probably explains why parabens are so commonplace. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, because they have been found in extremely low concentrations in breast cancer tumors (an average of 20 nanograms/g of tissue).[3] Parabens have also displayed the ability to slightly mimic estrogen (a hormone known to play a role in the development of breast cancer).[3] No effective direct links between parabens and cancer have been established, however.[4]

From Tony:

I am just a Stay at Home dad. One topic at a time please, now imagine this, if you think I didn't care what my wife puts on her face, you're mistaken. Sometimes, you have to understand, there are two sides of a coin. I did ask Melaleuca's Product Specialist about Parabens in our cosmetic line. They were very forthcoming with the information that I needed. I didnt feel they were hiding nor putting one over me, actually, got all the info I needed in one call. They said there was 3 products that did have some Parabens in them and the only reason that they have them is because they were still trying to research what they could use to substitute that does the same job as parabens. As describe above, cosmetic companies uses Parabens as a preservative or to be technical, it kills bacterial growth specially in cosmetics. Let us say you use a mascara on your eyes, the minute it touches your eye lid, do you think the bristle of your mascara isnt contaminated with bacteria? Then, you put it back into the bottle. Parabens stops bacterial growth, it preserves products till your next use. Isnt it the same with your foundation powder and other products? Show me something in writting that Melaleuca's products are organic, None. They are Natural Base not organic. So, I asked my wife not to use those 3 products out of the other 130 cosmetic products. Or do we all say Crucify them, all of their products are no good. Knowing what I know about them, they are at work trying to resolve this, can we just give them a little bit more time and let science happen. My HMO gave me a Oncologist or cancer doctor. They did blood test on me every 3 months for about  4 years. In 4 months after drinking Melaleucas Vitality 6 Vitamin Pack, I cried when my doctor said my white cell count went down to normal levels, No more leukemia treat. I rest my case.

To me, Doctors are doctors, they study the human body and that is their expertise. Or look at it this way, some doctors don't even know about Nutrition, they never studied them. Ask them, what are the 24 recommended Vitamins and 3 mineral for a human body and see If they can answer or the might give you a referral to a Nutritionist. I have a brother who is a doctor and he is an expert when it comes livers and kidneys. We talked and he said to me; you don't go to a foot doctor when there is something wrong with your heart.
 
Science is very hard to understand, there are things made for certain purposes, be it good or bad, like medicine, most of the time, they all have side effects. Do we still take them, you bet, because the good out weights the bad. Show me a case study that says that Parabens causes CANCER, and there is none. It is still being studied, suspicious, yes, but no definite answers yet. Did you know that there are thousands of more dangerous chemicals in cosmetics and the FDA has no power over the cosmetic company unless there is a recall. I did my research and I teach people how to be successful in Melaleuca and the value of their products because I do believe compared to other companies out there, they do care for us. I welcome any question about Melaleuca, dont hesitate to call me. Tony 408-771-0296 Remember I am a Stay At Home Dad and I work from home. Thanks to Melaleuca.  

Eczema comes from the inside NOT the out.  You may want to look into food allergies first.
As for the Renew, why would you want to put petrochemicals on a child's skin, especially with eczema?
On the issue of "Formaldehyde in Melaleuca products" check out polyquaternium-10, tetrasodium edta, quaternium-15. They fall into the "Quats" category of chemicals.

From what I'm reading from these die hard Melaleuca fans... you guys are acting like it's Melaleuca vs the popular store brands and that Melaleuca products are the ONLY safe alternative to the popular store brands.. You're trying to convince people that Melaleuca is the only way to live a safe green life... WRONG...

You can buy USDA Organic products that list 100% of the ingredients which are the HIGHEST quality at your Local Whole Foods store, or other natural food store, or even on-line. If you do some research you can easily find recipes for homemade cleaning products that are safe and effective as well.

This company is unethical... They use scare tactics to get you to buy their products. The founder of the company is a MALE & the only "TEAMS" I read about are all based on "Stay At Home Mom's" Gimme a break... The feed off of Mom's because mom's are the nurturing parents that are the most concerned about their kids safety, and try to convince these moms that with some part time effort you can stay at home with your kids and live a safe life too... This is a bunch of b.s! Where are the Stay at home dads teams? 

Sorry but Melaleuca is NOT the only safe alternative to popular store brands, and while they may use less harmful ingredients they are still not the most honest, or best quality brand available.

Most of you that are buying Melaleuca products are probably doing so because you don't know any other alternative even exists and you keep buying their products because you're on "auto-ship" :)

Obviously you have a PHD in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy,  and what else? 

My son had bad Ezcema and the ONLY lotion that has helped him is Renew. There is no Formaldehyde in Melaleuca products, they have helped my children's allergies......FYI my son cannot be around baking soda it is very irritant to his skin.....

I use Melaleuca products also and have recently begun checking the ingredients.  There are products that I wouldn't use b/c I did find the harmful ingredients in them.  As for the rest, I put blinders on and hoped they were as good as promised by my sponsor - person who signed me up - because it's difficult to find safe alternatives.

Another thing that affects all of our health: pollution from coal and oil and other industrial activities.  There was a recent "Town Hall Meeting" with former Vice President Al Gore about how to solve the climate crisis since Congress refused to vote for carbon capping and other clean energy policies.

His team asks for us share our thoughts about what should be done on www.repoweramerica.org/discuss.

My busy triplet toddlers and thier 2 older siblings are doing amazing.

Hopefully the new bill in congress, The Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, will pass requiring companies to be more transparent on ingredients, lets see how well Melaleuca explains thier products when they need to disclose ingredients for thier cleaners. I did not get thier cleaning products but judging from what they wanted me to bathe my kids in, I imagine they are full of some toxic stuff.

Thanks again for your information and your post.

It's all about Transparency! Thank you so much for you post.  You're so right!  All you have to do is read the labels and know that if the products were as natural as they claim that you would be able to pronounce most of the ingredients. 

I love your greener alternatives.  Very impressive ingredient list.  That's the definition of natural! Organic..  organic...organic..  I love it!!  Best of all, your babies are healthier because of it!

 Almost everything at one point in time was "derived" from a natural ingredient but when it's man made that's when it has the potential to be toxic.  What part of that do people not understand? 

Any company that promotes they are "Green" and "Natural" should have the data to back it up.  I have asked Melaleuca reps over and over..  Where are the MSDS for ALL of the cleaning supplies??  I only get one for the Sol u mel. That's because it's the only one they want people to see.  They are hiding something!!  Demand disclosure on all of the ingredients and don't settle for anything less.  You lives may depend on it!

Best of luck to you the babies :)

Organic Mommy - I just want to say bravo for your information. Last year a friend of mine lead me to believe that Melaleucas products were all natural and organic, I just wanted some of the body products for myself and the kids as I was very happy with my inexpensive homemeade cleaners.

Well that first shipment arrived and I was very dissapointed and surprised by the back of the Koala Pals bottle, these products brought more chemicals into my home than I was using. I have 5 kids including triplet preemie infants, at the time, and there was no way I would use those chemicals on my kids. Here was the back of the bottle:

Body Wash Ingredients: Aqua (water/Eau), Sodium trideceth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, d-a-Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methypropional, Hexl Cinnamal, Linallol

For my family this was not a "greener" alternative. I of course canceled my membership ASAP and never recovered my money, it was not worth it to send the stuff back. Ended up donating the products.

The body wash my kids use contains the following ingredients:

Organic Green Tea, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Coconut Extract, Organic Coconut Oil Soap, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. 

WOW I can pronounce everything and they are certified organic. Not sure why folks are saying negative remarks to you, the back of the bottles speak for themselves and I agree a truly green company should be held to higher standards and list all ingredients.

Soap Nuts are fantastic!! 

You can do a couple of things.. either buy a liquid already made (it's more expensive but less time consuming) Or.. if you have the soap nuts..here's what I do.

Take a handful of soap nuts and approx. 4 cups of water.  Try to crush the shells into smaller pieces first if you can. Boils the shells and water together for 20 mins or so.  You can use the liquid soap right away or let it steep overnight in the fridge.  Strain the liquid into a container.  The left over shells, I put in my compost or crush them up to make a type of soft scrub.  I use the liquid for shampoo, hand soap, pet shampoo, cleaning, laundry..etc.  When I make a hand soap I use a couple of drops of essential oil and vit. e. 

As for a natural stain remover..  On Whites..  Hydrogen Peroxide. Colors..depends on the stain.  Oil: cornstarch.  For everything else I have a paste of baking soda and water.  Instead of fabric softner I use vinegar in the rinse cycle.  It's great for towels, sheets and static. 

Hope this helps!

Organic mommy:

I read more about the soap nuts you mentioned and they seem like a more affordable and practical non-toxic cleaning option.

You mentioned that you melt them down for hand soap and for cleaning.  How do you do that?

Also, what do use for non-toxic stain removal from clothes? 

Yes, what a fantastic idea!  Cleaning without synthetic chemicals!! I love it.  After all, water is a chemical.  I use my steam cleaner all of the time. 

I make all of my own cleaning products.  It's less expensive, non-toxic and I know exactly what I'm using.

Thank you so much for the great post.  Sorry to hear about Amway.  There's products are just as bad as Melaleuca's!

For everyday cleaning I saw an infomercial the other day for a home steam cleaner.  Steam has no chemicals in it whatsoever even baking soda.

I don't think I can mention the specific company on this forum.

Also, WebMD the magazine, March/April 2010 has many ways to get all the chemicals out of your home.  For cleaning, they suggest mixing 2 cups of white vinegar, 2 cups of water and 25 drops of your favorite essential oil.  To freshen air naturally, they suggest using essential oils and boiling citrus fruit sections, cinnamon, and cloves in a pot with water for an hour. 

I grew up in a household where we used Amway's products.  I remember cleaning the house with those awful chemicals.  My mother, a few years ago, had a masectomy due to breast cancer.  No other history of breast cancer in our family.  A connection?

A very good chance.

Please feel free to post the information on ways to remove chemicals from you home.  There are tons of safer, proven alternatives to synthetic chemicals.  I would love to see what you found.

Well, of course they are a step up from Bleach!  However, the products are still toxic.  Why don't you google Tincture of Green Soap (an ingredient in the Solumel) and see how toxic that is!

Here's the facts..  Melaleuca doesn't disclose 100% of their ingredients. They refuse to release the MSDS except on 1 product.  They do use toxic ingredients. They do in fact use SYNTHETIC fragrances which can cause asthmatic symptoms.  If the ingredients are as safe and "natural" as some of you claim, i.e.: lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar than it IS NOT proprietary only the ratios are.

It's great if the products work for you but it's based on misconceptions that you are thinking you are buying safer products. The products are a rip off and you are better off buying ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and making your own.  Especially if you have a child who is prone to allergic reactions. Don't buy into the "wellness company" hype! After all, this comes from a company who dumped 15 tons of their vitamins into a local landfill and which will end up in drinking water.  They don't care about anything other than their own greed for profit.  http://www.kidk.com/news/66773452.html

Organic mommy:

I have some great information I just read in magazine recently about getting all the toxins out of your home.  If the moderator of this forum will allow it I'll copy the articles I have and send them to you or e-mail you which magazines I found them in.

I have been using melaleuca products for 3 months now and I love them. I used to use bleach and pine-sol religiously. I did not connect the chemicals with my children's problems with asthma allergies and skin irritants until I took the switch and now use melaeleuca products. No more inhalers, coughing, daily headaches, or sickness.. So, for you to say it does not work at first I was sceptic but I tried them and now will not use any other product.  I just wish people would quit complaining on unfound things! This is like two little kids fighting over whoes toy is better, its nonsense.

I was once a full-fledged member of meleleuca, but found that I couldn't use $50 a month of merchandise. The products themselves are great. The problem with the company is that the products are too expensive unless you're a member. If you join don't use up your monthly allottment, Melaleuca issues "convenience certificates" for you to use at a later date. I quit my membership years ago, but $500 in unused certificates remained in my account. The last time I used some of those certificates, I wasn 't told that they had expired. But today when I tried to call in the remaining $100 worth of merchandise, a manager refused to budge, saying that the money was gone and there was nothing they could do about it. She mechanically repeated this blanket statement when I said I was misinformed by the person on the phone the last time I made the order.

Customer/buyer beware...this company only cares about the bottom line, not your "wellness!"

I'm certainly happy that you did your homework for the last 103 months.  What you have been doing is putting toxins into your home and skin.  Let me put this to you as simply as possible. 
Melaleuca does NOT disclose 100% of their ingredients in their cleaning products.  They use Fragrances and Perfumes that are synthetic.  All fragrances are toxic unless they are pure essential oils.  If Melaleuca used essential oils, they would say so.   As far as believing everything the FDA says then good luck with that.  There havent been any regulations on the cosmetic industry in 33 years.  There are thousands of chemicals that are in personal care products and they havent been tested.  Melaleuca isnt the only company who does this.  However, when a company promotes itself as non-toxic I question where they get their information from.  As far as the formaldehyde goes, you are correct; they did change the formulation for the Koala Kids.  The quarternium 15 was changed to a 10. However, they are using PEG-80 (which causes organ toxicity. Check out skindeep) There is formaldehyde in their other products; its just listed under different names. How about their dental products? Koala Pals Training toothpaste-apple.  Theres nothing like putting potassium acesulfame in a TODDLERS toothpaste!!  

 I have done my research and a company that uses Petrochemicals (i.e.: Renew lotion) is not a company I would consider non-toxic. 

There is a fantastic You-tube clip that explains what chemicals to say away from. It's on the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics webpage.  Melaleuca products contain about 90% of those chemicals.  Funny that a company that promotes Wellness and Green doesnt have all of the ingredients for all of their products online.  They are very selective with the products they put the actual ingredients for.  From their Body Satin line to the phenoxyethanol in the lotions, down to the PEGs in the deodorant.  Wow, not exactly something one would want to put underneath their armpits every day. 

Im not making any allegations I cant prove.  Look at the ingredients yourself. Of course only the ingredients Melaleuca want's you to see and do your research.  What so many people dont understand its the quantity of chemicals that you use every day?  Add up how many personal care products you put on in 1 day.  Add up all of those chemicals, multiple that by a month, and then a year, how about 103 months..now I ask you..  What is YOUR toxic exposure?!  Educate yourself. You dont know that you dont know. 

I visited ripoffreport.com this a.m. to research a leaf-blowing machine that I'm about to purchase, and came across "Organic Mommy's" outrageous, unsubtantiated complaint about Melaleuca Inc. as a whole.

I've been using Melaleuca's wonderful products for 103 months straight, and have only experienced solutions to some problems I used to have when I used the popular brands in the past.

I contacted Melaleuca's product department and they told me that indeed, Melaleuca uses 5 parabens, which they are gradually removing from any of their products. Dimethicone, which is FDA approved, is also being removed from the products that it's being used on at present. Forget about the use of formalyde in children's products. It is NOT used.

It seems to me very unfair that a character like "Organic Mommy" who makes these serious, unfounded allegations that will scare some people, can get away with making said allegations and still remain anonymous.

I would like to know the recipes for using soap nuts additives to take care of other cleaning. I see the laundry: What about glass cleaner, body soap, dish soap, etc.  Thank you.

Hello Laura,
Thank you for your response.   Youre 100% correct. Melaleuca is NOT as Green and Non-Toxic as they claim!!   Melaleuca does not disclose 100% of their ingredients. As a consumer I feel I have the right to know what ingredients are in my cleaners. Why would I trust a company like Melaleuca when they clearly use unsafe ingredients in their line. Dont believe me; look at their lotions, soaps and makeup!!     If their cleaning products were truly non-toxic then why not list all of the ingredients?   What are they hiding?   Even Seventh Generation discloses all of their ingredients.
 
I am a huge fan of the EWG.   As for the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics, not all of the companies who sign the compact are green companies. The best advice I can give is read the labels and know what they mean.   Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is NOT coconut oil!!
 
As for solutions...this is hard. Shaklee claims that they have organic products but they too dont list 100% of the ingredients.   Its hard to know where to buy from!   There are a few companies that I will shop from and the rest I make myself.   I wont use anything unless I know what all of the ingredients are.
 
Heres my list.
For laundry and soap I use Soap Nuts that I get from a company called NaturOli.
http://www.naturoli.com/index.html
I use the soap nuts and I melt them down for liquid hand soap and for cleaning. They do sell a liquid concentrate but it has Sodium Benzoate in it.   (They do derive it from plants but the soap nuts are by far a greater value)
I have recipes that I use the soap for.   Anything from window cleaner to hand soap.   I can send them to you if you like.  
 
Also, as a disinfectant I use a couple of things. Hydrogen Peroxide is fantastic. Vinegar as well but it only kills approx. 84% of virus/germs.   Hydrogen Peroxide has multiple uses.   I always buy a 3% solution and dilute it from there.   I also use Probiotics to clean. I get that from a company called Miessence. ( BioPure Probiotic Household Cleaner Concentrate.)  
There is another company that I use as well.   www.safersoaps.com .   I love the Ultra Safe Plus cleaner and a little goes a long way. If you email them, they will give you a full list of ingredients and MSDS sheets on all of his products.   Sometimes its easier to send them an email because the site has a ton of products!
 
Honestly, I stock up on Baking Soda, Vinegar, Kosher Salt and lemon juice.   I keep a list of all of the cleaning supplies I make and I save SO much money! If you need fragrances, use essential oils. Fragrances are the #1 toxin in most products!!
 
I can say that these products are SAFE, Affordable, and work great!!   Good luck to you and if you would like more information just let me know!
 
Take care!
 

I found your report while searching for information on Melalueca, as several of my friends have just signed up and want me to sign up as well.

I did find that some of the ingredients they use are NOT green and as safe as they claim. If you google EWG ( Environmental Working Group) you can find the link to the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, where it gives more information about this company's ingredients, although I could ONLY find info. for 2 of their products. My sister used to use their products and no longer does because she found that they weren't as green as they claimed to be either. They DO test on animals, they DON'T freely list all of their ingredients, they have NOT signed the "Compact for Safe Cosmetics", they are NOT Green Seal Certified,  and their products are NOT cheaper. I have done the math and compared products ounce for ounce, serving for serving and it would cost me more to use Melaleuca, even dilluted. So if the products are not all they claim to be and are not more affordable, why would I switch to them? 

I REALLY want to find a SAFE affordable solution!  PLEASE  respond to me on here and tell me where to find products that really are organic, safe, 100% natural, affordable, and effective. 
Thank-you so much, and I look forward to hearing about your solutions!!!

Laura

I have used Melaleuca products now for 7 months and love all of them. I guess that makes me a cultist. I love that the 'researcher' didn't want me to take her comments personally. :-) Just that I am so uninformed and easily led that I would belong to a cult that viciously promotes 'Wellness and Green' and is a fraud.

I too have done a lot of research because I don't readily believe companies claims and would rather check them out myself. I have my research printed out for those I speak with about Melaleuca so they can follow my links and/or do their own. I was a researcher in the Pharmacology Dept of the University of Washington going through college and am familiar with the scientific journals that Melaleuca publishes their findings in for peer review. They work in conjunction with several universities across the states and are considered an extremely sophisticated and prominent research lab.

My findings have proven that Melaleuca is all they claim to be. They are a reputable company with the purpose of producing healthy products that are safe for our homes.

I would suggest that folks efforts be directed to the fact that Proctor & Gamble and our own EPA have never divulged to us just how deadly dishwasher detergent is for our toddlers. Please read about Harrison's story and how his Mum - Lisa Clark has been campaigning across Australia to have the manufactures change their formulation, have the government set safety cap standards for all manufacturers to use, and simply let the public know just how dangerous the cleaning and shower items are to our children. By the way, Lisa was introduced to Melaleuca products shortly after the accident and she has been using them ever since.....four years now.
http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=104761&catId=100512&tid=100008&p=1&title=Dishwasher+detergent+danger

My wife is moderately successful in Melaleuca, so I guess that makes me bias. Quaternion 15 is the chemical known to be a 'formaldehyde releaser'. I called Melaleuca and they told me they do not use quanternium 15 and there is no formaldehyde in any of their products. There is no quanternium 15 listed in any of the ingredients that I have seen in Melaleuca products.

Kempers:
It's called reading, and understanding what you read!

Here are the facts:
1. Melaleuca products are toxic! If they were truly non-toxic, there would not be warnings on the labels!
2. Melaleuca does NOT disclose 100% of the ingredients in their products!
3. Melaleuca's products do contain petro-chemicals and parabens which are known carcinogens.
4. You have no idea what non-toxic means!

I understand that you are part of a cult, and you might not know any better but there are chemicals in Melaleucas products that shouldn't be for a so called "Green" company. They use "going green" as a marketing ploy for weak minded people.

Good luck to you and your disillusions.

I am not sure where you get your information from, but we have used Melaleuca products for years and we love them all, there are no side effects, there are no harmful ingredients in them and we have studied them.

Actually we have used their products to help us...I use their hair shampoo with melaleuca oil in it for my Psoriasis when I wash my hair, it works great, we use their bar soap and love it, my husband has problems with most other soaps and breaks out in hives, he has no issues with Melaleuca soap.

We love their laundry detergant is smells great and works great and my husband is not allerigic to it. Also, the mela gel is great, safe and very effective...My Siamese cat got a major sore under his neck and it was raw and icky, well I used the mela gel and within 3 days it was healing beautifully, it is very safe...

If the products were dangerous it could harm my cat or my kids and it doesn't.

I am sorry you had a bad time with the products and that someone told you wrongly. I do hope you will give them another try some day.

Thank you.

I'm truly amused by your post. It seems you should, perhaps, read your own source, because Dimethicone is used in combination with a base for the protection of skin against skin irritants, and is used for diaper rash.

When I said that Dimethone (not Dimethicone -- two very different chemicals) is not used in Melaleuca's products, you have not proved otherwise. I have never argued that Dimethicone is used in their products, largely because, as the MSDS indicate, it is safe for humans to use.

I do realize that Melaleuca is not the only company with toxic and harmful ingredients in their products. It's almost impossible to find any products that would be considered "safe" at any standards.

While Procter and Gambles products are highly toxic, their MSDS sheets are available to the public. Not the same for Melaleuca.

For a company that promotes itself as the "Wellness Company", I personally hold them to a higher standard. Why don't they put ALL of the ingredients for their products on the bottles? Including what is in their "fragrance/perfum" Let me, the consumer, read them for myself.

It's the uninformed client that Melaluca is after. How many people actually read and can understand what is in the products they use?? That their children bathe in?? It's becoming an epidemic.

The biggest point I'm trying to get across is that for a safer household, make the products yourself. It's WAY less expensive than what it costs for 35 product points a month for Melaleuca. Healthier people, safer home and a cleaner enviroment.

Dimethicone is a Silicone emollients are occlusive - that is they coat the skin, trapping anything beneath it, and do not allow the skin to breathe (much like plastic wrap would do.)
Recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure of the skin to sweat, by occlusion, causes skin irritation. Some synthetic emollients are known tumour promoters and accumulate in the liver and lymph nodes. They are also non-biodegradable, causing negative environmental impact. Please check out this site is you look at the MSDS sheet:
SILICONE OILS IRRITATE OCULAR MUCOSAE TO SLIGHT EXTENT, GIVING RISE TO REDNESS, PAINFULNESS, & LACRIMATION ... . /SILOXANE OILS/
[International Labour Office. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Volumes I and II. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1971., p. 1309]**PEER REVIEWED**

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=106&query=dimethicone

As for polyquaternium-10 you are correct, but ONLY if it's vegetable derived. Does it say "vegetable dervived" on your bottle? I would love to see that. Unless it comes from a veggie, it's a polymer base. Most of the pq-10 is made in China. How reliable have they been on their ingredients? It's a cheap alternative for cosemetics.

and polyquaternium-10 is nontoxic and environmentally safe...read the msds sheet again. while formaldehyde is toxic and a known carcinogen...they clearly are not the same

I do believe that the MSDS sheet on dimethicone states that it is non toxic

Well,
That has to be one of the most ignorant responses I have read yet! Are you serious?! Melaleuca does have caustic ingredients in their products! If you read the back of the bottles and look up the words (hint..use a dictionary) you would realize that.
Melaluca doesn't even publish all of the ingredients because they are toxic. Why doesn't Melaluca publish MSDS sheets for all of their cleaning supplies for the public? Procter and Gamble does.

I have checked all of my sources, apparently you didn't read all of the comments I made. I can't say the same for you.

My advice; get a clue and buy safer products.

Do you really think that Proctor and Gamble uses any safer ingredients than Melaleuca? If you really were a Melaleuca customer then you should have checked out the huge product guide that you receive on an iglide disk, it will tell you everything that you need to know on every product... Maybe you should look at your other labels and see that MOST manufacturers use the same ingredients that you just listed! Besides I am not really buying into the fact that you say Melaleuca uses those ingredients either. You may want to check your source especially after you just said that they don't list all of thier ingredients. Hmmm...

Not to mention the fact that Dimethicone is:
A silicone oil consisting of dimethylsiloxane polymers, usually incorporated into a petrolatum base or a nongreasy preparation and used for the protection of normal skin against various, chiefly industrial, skin irritants; may also be used to prevent diaper dermatitis.

Source: http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?dimethicone


And.. I quote: "I finally realized that the information you put up is regarding Dimethone, a product not included in Melaleuca's products." You yourself.. ANGEL said that!!! And again I proved you wrong.

Check out this site. http://www.safecosmetics.org/
Melaleuca isn't on this site.. Wonder why?!

http://www.health-report.co.uk/ingredients-directory.htm#Dimethicone

You really have no clue do you?! Keep pumping those parabens into you skin and see what happens.

I prefer not to subject myself or my children to your crappy, unsafe products.

I hope you feel good about selling lies to your clients.

I haven't denied that Melaleuca uses the items you state. What I have said is that I cannot find any study identified information that: 1) states that dimethicone is a dangerous substance, as I said, unless heated over 300 degrees; or 2) states conclusively that parabens in the quantities used are dangerous. I am aware, in the latter case of one study stating that parabens are found in the breast tissue of breast cancer patients, and I quoted the American Cancer Society's belief that there is no link between the cancer and the presence of parabens (often found in underarm deodorant and explained as being present in the tissue, but not linked to the cancer).

I have requested the studies that you believe state that the two items in question are dangerous. I haven't gotten those, but have gotten repeated assertions that Melaleuca uses them. I'll stop arguing now. :)

Angel

Angel...If you want to locate Shaklee's ingredients...I will look those up as well.

PARABENS!!!
http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&pid=2850&sCatId=2105

Dimethocone:
http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&pid=9308&pType=0&intcmp=ph_9308&l1=1&l2=7


As for my references. I did spell toxicologist's incorrectly.

(((link redacted)))

(((link redacted)))

It's for members only. The international database has extensive research on fragrances and cosmetic ingredients.

The "hidden" ingredients in fragrances are unbelievable!! I could show you a report for Calvin Klein Eternity, where the perfume has 46 ingredients. 23 of them are known carcinogenic!! They don't have to disclose any of this because they can file under secret proprietary laws.

Melaleuca is NOT the ONLY company that does this!! Shaklee has paraben's too, and they as well don't put the ingredients on their packages.

I think you are taking this too personally. The company's products you are using aren't as wonderful as you think they are.

You could really make everything you need at home for much less money and less of an environmental impact.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Assuming that the typo from your report "toxicoists" was actually meant to be toxicologists, although I did search for both, perhaps you could provide a website regarding information on this journal? Google can't seem to find one, and I do tend to like to check sources.

Thanks.

In attempting to figure out where you got your information regarding Dimethicone, because the MSDS sheets I've found all say it's safe, unless you let it get to 300 degrees F, I finally realized that the information you put up is regarding Dimethone, a product not included in Melaleuca's products. Interesting tactics you use.

Im sure you have bought into the Melaleuca hype. Of course you believe in the products. You dont even know that you dont know. A toxicologist, apparently, you are not. Most of my information is from the Journal of American Toxicoists, where I have been a member of for the last 8 years.

First of all, many of the Melaleuca products contain petroleum. Crude oil, from fossil fuels. Petroleum products dont allow the skin to breath. Not so environmentally friendly.

Next, most of the packing is in plastic bottles. Most of them are #1 Polyethylene. Every news station in the US, is warning against Polyethylene and plastic leaching. If the Melaleuca products dont make you sick, then the plastic they come in will.

So, shall we talk chemistry? Obviously, I have checked my information. Can you say the same? Even Oprah Winfrey herself would rather use Shaklee products than Melaleuca.

If Melaleuca doesnt have a problem with their ingredients, then why dont they list ALL of the ingredients on the products labeling??? Even a true Melaleuca customer cant even deny that issue!

One study from the Herb Research Foundation found that the skin absorbs up to 60% of the chemicals in products that it comes into contact with directly into the bloodstream. Are you debating the fact that lotions and shampoos are absorbed into the skin? I would assume youre really not that dense.

How about we start simple for you. The MSDS sheet for Melaleua.
The substance may be toxic to blood, skin, central nervous system (CNS).
Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage
Other Toxic Effects on Humans: Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant).
Dont most of the products from Melaleuca contain Tea Tree oil?


MSDS: Dimethone: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); severe or persistent itching, burning, or stinging; skin irritation; worsening dryness.

Dimethicone is unmodified silicones. Silicones are non-biodegradable, leading to negative environmental impacts, both during the manufacturing process and the disposal process. So much for a Wellness Company. Dont you remember the breast implant scare? Silicone can have serious side effects.

PEG-150 is the polymer of ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is a well know carcinogenic for reproductive organs, gastrointestinal, and organs. There are too many studies on ethylene oxide to even write about.

As for parabens, they are not safe. Over a short amount of time, the amount of parabens absorbed into the body will more than out way the safe doses. Even the FDA is questions the use of parabens. Parabens have an estrogenic effect on the body. Too much estrogen can lead to serious complications.

As for the Polyquartium-10, on my bottle of Koala wash, it does NOT say vegetable derived. Actually, the ingredients arent even on their website. What are they hiding there?

I am not accusing Melalecua of illegal acts. I am simply stating that they are marketing under false pretenses. Maybe you should bring that up at the next meeting?

Good luck to you and if you decide to get rid of some toxic chemicals in your life, drop me an email. I can show you safer, organic alternatives that will promote life not shorten it.

Best wishes,
Organic Mommy

As an informed customer of Melaleuca for almost four years now, I'm going to respond to some of your allegations -- at least the ones I can find information about.

First, parabens have been shown to be safe over time, with one report that has come out saying that parabens have been found in the tissues of breast cancer patients. As our skin does absorb what we use, and parabens are generally used in underarm deodorant, it is not surprising that parabens have been found in the breast tissue taken from just adjacent to the armpit. If you rubbed under your arms with garlic oil, they'd find that too. You will also find, if you research a bit more, that the American Cancer Society has said that there is no good scientific evidence to support this claim. The American Cancer Society is not aware of any strong epidemiologic studies reporting a statistical link between breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use.

I would truly like to see your source (other than where you got the quote you put into your letter, which does not provide any studies to prove their own allegations) regarding dimethicone. Everything I can find on the substance says it's absolutely safe.

As for formaldehyde, there is NONE in Melaleuca's products. If you are thinking about the fact that you were probably told about Quaternium-15 in the presentation you heard about the products, that is a synonym for formaldehyde. However, what Melaleuca uses is Quaternium-10, which is vegetable derived and not a preservative.

I'm curious as to how much xenoestrogen you believe Melaleuca puts into their products, as compared to how much is required to cause a problem in the reproductive organs. My research shows that the amounts needed to cause a problem are hundreds of thousands of times higher than the amounts you get when using body wash. A lot of any good thing is generally bad for you, but the amounts you need to get to on a constant basis are impossible for anyone other than a scientist to reach, and certainly not something that will be sold to the public.

As for the refund, any products that you purchased within the last 60 days can be returned for a full refund. If you've simply decided that you don't want to be a customer any more, please remember to include a letter to the company, signed by you, that you would like to cancel your membership, by the 25th of any month. However, your allegations of false advertising are inaccurate, and you may want to do a bit more research before accusing a company with an outstanding record, of illegal acts.

Angel