MANILA, philippines -- As any bus or jeepney rider would tell you, the aromatic emanations of the human body are sometimes enough to make a person seriously question just how far man has evolved as a specie. According to some experts, the smells we give off from certain areas of our bodies primarily our armpits and groin may have once served to advertise our sexuality.

 "Of course, whatever purpose was served by body odor then to many of us, it's objectionable now." says Dr. Nathan Howe, a physician with the Department of Dermatology at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine.

The popular notion that body odor is the smell of sweat is true, sort of.  "Human beings actually produce two kinds of sweat: eccrine, a clear, odorless sweat that appears all over our bodies, performing the vital role of regulating body temperature, and apocrine, a thicker substance that is produced by glands in the underarm and groin areas. Apocrine sweat is a vestige of our prehistoric days and serves no apparent purpose. It, too, is odorless until bacteria on the skin's surface act upon it.  The by-product of this unholy union is what we call body odor or BO.

"The intensity of some body odor may lead people to think that they have a serious medical problem, when in most cases they are merely the victims of bad genes or inadequate hygiene," explains Dr. Selma Targovnik, staff dermatologist at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. Most BO sufferers were simply born with larger, more active apocrine glands, or they aren't doing as good a job as they should keeping the odor-producing bacteria off their skin.

"We don't know of any illnesses that cause that apocrine smell, but some diseases will produce other kinds of skin odors," points out Dr. R. Kenneth Landow, clinical associate professor of the Department of Medicine and Dermatology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Gastrointestinal abnormalities can give the skin a very unusual smell. Diabetics and people with urinary infections will sometimes develop a sweat-smelling or fruity body odor.   Diseases of the past, like the vitamin C deficiency scurvy and typhoid fever, were associated with strange smells.

In adolescents, BO is a sign of puberty.  After all, the apocrine glands become active only after puberty and they release sweat that has a strong, easy-to-identify odor. Also, aging and metabolic changes can bring on increased apocrine activity.  And the smell of certain pungent foods (like garlic!) can ultimately work its way through your pores and into the nostrils of others.

The secret to combating most body odors is to inhibit the body's production of apocrine sweat, decrease the number of bacteria acting upon that sweat or remove the offender. Give these tips a try from "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" and soon you and those around you, will be enjoying the sweet smell of your successful war against BO.

Wash daily with a deodorant soap.  That's one of those morning rituals you must do. "Using an antibacterial soap will work well on the bacteria that is producing the odor," says Dr. Targovnik. "You don't have to scrub long or hard; the antibacterial will do all the work. Use it as least once a day, twice if possible."

If antibacterial soaps aren't producing results, Dr. Targovnik suggests washing the areas with an acne cleanser such as those that contain benzoyl peroxide, which has strong antibacterial properties.  A warning though: Excessive use could cause dryness and irritation.  If these cleansers still won't work, you can also try dabbling on some antibacterial ointment.

Freshen up every now and then."During the day, if you can do a quick wash of your armpits with a wet washcloth or paper towel, you can eliminate some of those odorous materials that have been produced as well as many of those bacteria that will produce odor in the future," says Dr. Targovnik.

Aside from using deodorant soap, also apply underarm deodorant. "Those over-the-counter underarm deodorants will work fine on all odor-producing areas," says Dr. Stephen Z. Smith, a dermatologist and clinical instructor of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky.  Check your labels.  The deodorant should contain antibacterial metallic salts (aluminum or zinc) to kill odor-causing bacteria.  Roll-ons and sticks will provide better coverage and longer-lasting protection than sprays.

Antiperspirant is also highly recommended. "Commercial antiperspirants will slow down some of the apocrine sweat production," adds Dr. Smith. "They should contain aluminum chlorohydrate as their active ingredient which are often combined with deodorants."

Rub on some alcohol, recommends Dr. Landow. "You may want to try directly applying a splash or two of some rubbing alcohol during the day just as some extra maintenance," he says.  Alcohol helps reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria.  Aim your splash where bacteria hang out under the arms, for instance.

Still another: Roll on some baking soda. "Sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, kills the odor-causing bacteria and absorbs moisture," says Dr. Arthur Jacknowitz, chairman of clinical pharmacy at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in Morgantown. Many people find that baking soda is just as effective as a deodorant.  Simply sprinkle a generous amount into your bath and soak yourself, or mix it with a little talcum powder and apply it directly to underarms.

Dr. Jacknowitz also suggests shaving excess hair under your arms. "The presence of hair increases body odor, because it serves as a collection site for secretions, debris and bacteria," he says. Shaving your armpits is one way to reduce body odor problems.  However, antiperspirants should not be used on newly shaved skin.

Hold the spices, urges Dr. Anne Kleinsmith, a cosmetic dermatologist as William Beaumont Hospital near Detroit.  Extracts of proteins and oils from certain foods and spices remain in your body's excretions and secretions for hours after you eat them.  These extracts can impart an odor. "So, if you have body odor problems, you'll have more problems if you eat a lot of these foods, she says.

You've tried everything, and nothing seems to work? Maybe you haven't tried everything. In the United States, an old folk remedy for a dog that's been skunked is to deodorize the poor pup with tomato juice.  And guess what?  It works for humans, too, says Alice Kilpatrick, a staff nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fort Lyon, Colorado.

She tried it first on her dog and then on a particularly odoriferous patient.  And then on another patient. "It works 100 percent of the time!" she says.  You don't need to fill your tub with pure tomato juice, just pour a couple of cups in with your bath water and sit for 15 minutes," she says.

When all the above suggestions can't do the job, you may have a body odor problem that requires some heavy artillery namely, your doctor's expertise.

"If you've done everything you can and nothing seems to help, then you really need to see a dermatologist who specializes in body odor problems," advises Dr. George Preti, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.  "You may have an underlying condition that requires certain antibiotics to kill the bacteria, or your doctor may prescribe a special soap."