Liv' Life and Stay Fresh: NeNe Femhealth and Feminine Wash

The Backstory

     So, I mentioned in my last post that I had experienced a time period where I would get a yeast infection at least once a month. Now I went to my Gynecologist about this and he advised me on various possibilities such as my PH levels being off which could come from sex, my menstrual cycle, and even drinking too much water. He also explained to me it can come from tight clothes and even sweating to much down there causing moisture to build up. The list of possibilities got longer and I was over the uncertainty. I was a paranoid young adult experiencing something foreign with my body.  I went and got tested for STD’s because no one could narrow down the causes. After getting back my negative results for all STD’s I just accepted that I was just one of the unlucky women who would be prone to repeat yeast infections for the rest of my life. It wasn’t until I started to do more research and really look into a more natural way of life. I was blessed to have had people around me that had already started looking into natural alternatives so with a little bit of girl talk, Instagram algorithms, and internet research I figured out where to start. 

Finding Nerissa and NeNe Fem Health

     I started following @Nerissanefeteri on IG back in 2013/2014 but didn’t really look into her teachings about natural alternatives until well into 2017. That year I attended one of her YoniPoppin workshops in Miami and I have never looked back when it came to my Yoni and a toxic free life. The class was intimate and informative. Together we worked out our Yoni’s, meditated, talked as a group and gathered outside for a popup shop. 

NeNe Femhealth and the Products that Changed my Life

Vagina Therapy Feminine Wash (retrieved from nenefemhealth.com)

• Ingredients:  Rose Water, Coconut oil, aloe, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, calendula flower extract
• Free of Paraben, Sulfate, Phthalate, GMO, Mineral Oil, Propylene glycol, Dye, Artificial Fragrance, DEA, Cruelty, and Gluten
• Unscented 
• Certified Sustainable Plant Based ingredients

Lotus Fresh Feminine Wash (Retrived from nenefemhealth.com)

• Ingredients: Deionized Rose Water(Aqua), Soapberry (Sapindus Mukuross) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana( Witch Hazel) Extract, Decyl Glucoside ( plant derived, Apple Cider Vinegar, Melaleuca Alternafolia ( Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Calendula Officialis  ( Calendula Flower Extract, Colloidal Silver, Propanediol( made from corn)
• Colloidal silver: is a natural antibiotic that treats yeast infections, bacteria vaginosis and vaginal itching.
• Great to use after sex and during your cycle if you are prone to yeast, odor and bv 

       I first transitioned into using the Vagina Therapy Feminine Wash. This wash was made up of all ingredients you can find in the earth and not in lab. 

Once I started using this wash (and a combo of the Cherish Pads from my last article) my yeast infections started to happen less and less. I continued to use The Vagina Therapy with minimal infections. I then was introduced to the Lotus Fresh Feminine Wash. @Nerissanefeteri had posted a video of how woman can use both washes together or separate. The Lotus Fresh Feminine Wash was good to use after sex (helping to re balance that PH) or to prevent a full-on Yeast infection or BV (depending on how extreme your symptoms are).  I transitioned because it honestly helped me and my body and I liked the fact it was natural. It became really interesting when I looked at the label of a well known feminine wash brand and started to do the research. 

My Research

     Firstly, most of the ingredients sounded like a lab project. I looked up each ingredient and although I did not find much related to harmful connections when used in personal care I did find a lot of the same ingredients are used in foods and if ingested could cause harm to the body including cramps, nausea and even linked to cancer. I found also found online articles warning women against the use of feminine products in general and detailed tables comparing different brands and what to look out for.

Popular Feminine Wash Brand

• Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Glucoside, cocamidopropl betaine, Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice, Polyquatenium-7, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance/Parfum

The ingredients that stood out / Links 

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: No direct link to it being harmful to the vagina but is known to be highly allogenic to some and dry out hair and skin. I connected “Sulfate” to my "natural hair lingo" encouraging women to use Sulfate Free Shampoo. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a chemical that removes dirt and oil and help with the lathering and foaming aspect to cosmetic products. 

• Sodium Benzoate- Manmade preservative. Mostly added to soda, packaged food and personal care products to prolong shelf life. There needs to be more research to link in it to health problems but in the food form are links to a possible agent to cancer. 
• Feminie Care Hall of Shame
• Women's Voices for the Earth                

     Back in 2017 I took a chance on a product that was all natural and it worked for me. Nene FemHealth has been my go to choice and has helped me not just accept an issue with my body and proof that there are alternatives. Thank you @Nerissanefeteri @summerof69 @mobbinwithmorg @valinda.m I continue to learn healthier ways of living from these ladies. Some changes are easy to transition to others are harder but what I can say is I'm incorporating and learning more each and every day. Do your research and make the right choice Sis!