Saansom

[tatom]

Saansom (saan pronounced almost like sun, som like the Thai word for orange). It looks like a chunk of ice or quartz, and is used to settle out sediment in cloudy water. It also makes a good under arm deodorant.

Having cirrosis of the liver, I have to be very careful of not only what I put in my body, but also what I put on itn t, as things can be absorbed from the skin into the bloodstream.

Can anyone tell me where saanson comes fron and what is its chemican content ?

[Farma]

Sansom สารส้ม is also known as Alum. It's used as a deodorant, to stop mossie bite itches and for clarifying water.

From http://www.ochef.com/1080.htm

"Alum is a salt that in chemistry is a combination of an alkali metal, such as sodium, potassium, or ammonium and a trivalent metal, such as aluminum, iron, or chromium. The most common form, potassium aluminum sulfate, or potash alum, is one form that has been used in food processing. Another, sodium aluminum sulfate, is an ingredient in commercially produced baking powder. (Have you never noticed the faint metallic taste in baking powder? It comes from the alum.)

The potassium-based alum has been used to produce crisp cucumber and watermelon-rind pickles as well as maraschino cherries, where the aluminum ions strengthen the fruits' cell-wall pectins.

Alum is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, but in large quantities — well, an ounce or more — it is toxic to humans. As a result, efforts have been made and are being made to wean us of our alum dependency. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that if good quality produce and modern canning methods are employed, there is no need to use alum to bolster the crispness of our pickles and cherries. In any event, the department says, even if alum is used to soak the pickles, it should not be used in the final pickling liquid. "

I use Grace Deodorant made from Alum. If their website is to be believed "Because of the large molecular structure there is no absorption into the skin. It leaves no toxic residue or by-products".

Edit to add additional information

Edited July 6, 2007 by Farma

[expatwannabe]

I'm not a chemistry major, but this may be related.

When I was a boy, my father nearly died from excessive aluminum in his body. He was diagnosed by his doctor, who told him that his use of Right Guard anti-perspirant for 20 years had built up a toxic level of aluminum (from aluminum chlorohydrate) in his bloodstream.

.. just fyi

[tayto]

Anything to do with Sangsom the very popular Thai whiskey.

[Nienke]

Cooking in aluminium pots and pans can also increase the aluminium in the body, even to dangerous levels (as from what i've heard).

[backflip]

"Cooking in aluminium pots and pans can also increase the aluminium in the body, even to dangerous levels (as from what i've heard). "

There are many conspiracy-related websites that claim the same thing, without any proof. Aluminum cookware has been used worldwide for decades, without any health-related incidents...not including having someone knock you over the head with a heavy aluminum pot. As for OD'ing on deodorant as another poster mentioned, it's too funny to consider.

[expatwannabe]

As for OD'ing on deodorant as another poster mentioned, it's too funny to consider.

I don't appreciate being called a liar. That was the diagnosis. Whether the doctor had a false opinion or false test, I don't know.

[tatom]

Farma,

Thank you for the reply. I always tell people, if there is anything you want to know about Thailand, there will be someone here who has the answer.

Your reply was just what I wanted, and more. I really appreciate it!

Thanks again, Tom

[Huw]

I'm not a chemistry major, but this may be related.

When I was a boy, my father nearly died from excessive aluminum in his body. He was diagnosed by his doctor, who told him that his use of Right Guard anti-perspirant for 20 years had built up a toxic level of aluminum (from aluminum chlorohydrate) in his bloodstream.

.. just fyi

The prolonged use of Right Guard and other anti-perspirants has also been known to cause skin tags under the arms though I don't know if it is the alum content or something else. It may also be useful to remember that some specialists in the subject continue to believe that Alzheimers and aluminium are related, though I understand that no direct links have been established for this.

H

[Trevor]

I'm not a chemistry major, but this may be related.

When I was a boy, my father nearly died from excessive aluminum in his body. He was diagnosed by his doctor, who told him that his use of Right Guard anti-perspirant for 20 years had built up a toxic level of aluminum (from aluminum chlorohydrate) in his bloodstream.

.. just fyi

The prolonged use of Right Guard and other anti-perspirants has also been known to cause skin tags under the arms though I don't know if it is the alum content or something else. It may also be useful to remember that some specialists in the subject continue to believe that Alzheimers and aluminium are related, though I understand that no direct links have been established for this.

H

All commercial cosmetics are toxic. Most young women believe all the trashy adverts they see, then absorb 5 pounds of toxins a year through the skin, causing them to slowly rot from the inside. Even toothpaste manufacturers still insist toxic fluoride is good for you; check the labels and avoid!

[chuchok]

Pure and Natural deodorant stones are made of potassium alum. It is a pure product made without the addition of chemicals, fragrances, oils or alcohol. The chemical formula for potassium alum is K2SO4Al2(SO4)324H20. Potassium alum is a colorless substance that forms octahedral or cubic crystals.

Bauxite is the ore from which alum is drawn. It is formed by the rapid weathering of granitic rocks in warm, humid climates and can be purified and converted directly into alum.

Potassium alum is soluble in seven times its weight of water at room temperature and is very soluble in hot water. When crystalline potassium alum is heated, some of the water of hydration becomes chemically separated, and the partly dehydrated salt dissolves in this water, so that the alum appears to melt at about 90 degrees C (approx. 392 degrees F), potassium alum swells up, loses all water, and becomes a basic salt called burn alum. Potassium alum has a density of 1.725. Alum's are used for a variety of uses including as a powerful astringent.

If an aluminum compound, such as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, which is very soluble, is used as an antiperspirant, that compound is readily absorbed. Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free or radical aluminum (Al+++). This passes freely across cell membranes, and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow. It is this concentration of aluminum that has been the source of concern in the medical community and has prompted the research being done on ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE and BREAST CANCER victims. See:

http://cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/05/even...5.shtml?CMP=ILC

Potassium alum molecules have a negative ionic charge, making it unable to pass through the cell wall. THEY ARE NOT ABSORBED. This is why our deodorants are safe to use and will not cause high levels of ALUMINUM in your system. ALUM and ALUMINUM are two different substances, with distinct chemical signatures. They possess different chemical properties which create different chemical attributes.

We hope this information helps to dispel some of the misunderstandings about ALUM and puts your mind at ease about the safety of all of Deodorant Stones Of America deodorant products.

Reference source: Microsoft® Encarta® 96 Encyclopedia© 1995

http://www.pureandnaturaldeodorant.com/alu...mquestions.ivnu