Originally Posted by
Rowan
It might seem that the benefits of "good hygeine" are overstated. The western preponderance for staying clean from birth may be more of a negative than a positive in terms of resisting the bugs that can cause ailments. It is a preponderance that is reinforced by the fear instilled by heavily promoted products that make a big profit for various corporations.
+1
Daily bathing (or even weekly bathing) is a modern custom. It definitely is not necessary for good health.
It may be socially unacceptable to stink as bad as I do after a few days on the road, but even that seems to be fairly well tolerated by the local folks in really rural areas.