Why I Slowly Shifted Toward a Toxin-Free Home
This wasn’t an overnight decision.
I didn’t wake up one day and throw everything under my sink away.
I didn’t go “full crunchy.”
I didn’t even understand half the ingredient labels at first.
What I did have… was a wake-up call.
Actually two of them.
The Diagnosis That Made Me Pause
More than 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer.
And about 10 years ago, I faced skin cancer - melanoma.
If you’ve ever received a diagnosis like that, you know what happens next.
You replay everything.
What could I have done differently?
What am I exposed to every day?
What am I putting in my body and on it?
That second question stayed with me.
What We Put on Our Skin Matters
Our skin isn’t just a barrier.
It’s an organ.
And it absorbs far more than most of us were ever taught.
Lotions.
Soaps.
Makeup.
Laundry detergent.
Cleaning sprays.
These aren’t occasional exposures.
They’re daily, repeated, layered inputs.
And over time, I realized this:
If my body had already fought cancer once,
maybe I should stop making its job harder.
Not from fear.
From respect.
This Was Never About Blame
I want to be very clear about something.
I don’t believe cancer happens because someone used the “wrong” shampoo.
And I will never shame a mom for what’s currently in her home.
I used what everyone else used.
I trusted what was on store shelves.
I did the best I could with what I knew.
But once I knew more, I felt called to do better.
Small Shifts,
Not Extreme Changes
I didn’t change everything at once.
I started with:
switching what I cleaned with
choosing gentler personal care products
paying attention to fragrance
reading labels (even when I didn’t fully understand them yet)
One swap at a time.
Because less toxin load still matters, even when it isn’t perfect.
Why This Matters for the Nervous System Too
As a chiropractor, I see this connection every day.
The body is constantly responding to its environment:
chemicals | scents | stress | what touches the skin
When the body feels overwhelmed, the nervous system stays on high alert.
And a nervous system that never gets a break often shows up as:
fatigue, anxiety, hormone imbalance, poor sleep, and inflammation.
A toxin-reduced home isn’t about control.
It’s about giving the body fewer threats to manage.
This Is About Support, Not Policing
I teach it as support.
Support for: your immune system, your nervous system, your hormones, and your long-term health
Especially if your body has already been through a lot.
Why I Still Talk About This Today
My cancer journey changed how I practice.
It changed how I parent.
It changed how I live.
And it’s why I care so deeply about helping moms make informed, gentle changes without overwhelm or guilt.
Because you deserve a home that supports healing, not one that quietly drains you.
If You’re Just Starting…
Start where you are.
One product.
One room.
One swap.
Progress will always matter more than perfection.
Your body is incredibly wise.
Sometimes it just needs fewer obstacles in its way.
And if you’ve ever felt that quiet nudge that something needs to shift
trust it.
That’s not fear.
That’s intuition.
Want Help Getting Started?
To make this easier, I created a simple, printable guide to help you identify the first low-stress swaps most families start with no overwhelm, no pressure.
(Perfect if you’re just beginning and don’t know where to start.)