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Eco info:
>energy
efficiency
>chemicals
>paints
& varnishes
>electro-magnetic-fields
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Air Pollutants
Air
pollutants can cause allergic reactions ot lesser or greater
degrees ranging from watering eyes and sneezes to far more serious
illnesses as the levels get higher the chemicals more dangerous, and if
your has become sensitised to them and struggles to cope.
These come from
small air-borne particles such as :
- dead skin and
hair cells (from humans
and pets),
- toxic gases,
(eg. radon seeping out of the earth's
crust, carbon monoxide from inadequate/faulty heating systems)
- fungal spores
(likelihood and amounts are increased
by
damp areas of your home such as bathrooms, damp walls and
leaking
ceilings, and using the wrong paints so that walls can't breathe)
- VOC's
(see items on chemicals
above),
- particles of
textile fabrics
- bits and pieces
blown in from outdoors such as
pollutants from neighbouring (or not so neighbouring) industrial
plants/ manufacturing and chemical plants/ incinerators
- fumes from
traffic
- particles of
soil and dirt from outside
- dust mites
- pollen (not
always a pollutant of course- some of it
is extremely good for us!)
- ie. anything
small enough to be airborne that isn't
beneficial for us!
Many eco-houses now are being designed with energy conservation in mind
and as such are being built with a "closed system" of air-loss.
Although this may be great from a heat/energy-saving point of
view, I
cannot recommend it from a health point of view.
In the winter we are more likely to get coughs & colds, in part
because we tend to keep our doors and windows shut to keep the heat in
and the cold out. That's fine, but we also use central heating systems
that provide the perfect requirements for a breeding ground for
bacteria, and we don't always allow for a full exchange of air
throughout our homes or our lungs! You can't beat good quality fresh
air. Ventilation is very important.
Of course the sensible thing to do is eradicate
any causes of
pollutants that you can. You may be able to do this quite well in your
own home, but unfortunately it is not always that easy to
change
what is outside your home - although if you know of industrial
or
any other sort of pollution going on in your neighbourhood you could
always write to your local MP and try to get something done about it!
But what if you are having allergic reactions but you are not
sure
what to? One method that may help is to try kinesiology.
This is a holistic
therapy which determines what is causing problems, (such as
food or chemical allergies), by muscle testing. Remedies can then be
given specifically for you to help your body get back in balance.
Another tried and tested way to re-balance the body is through the
ancient art & science of acupuncture.
This works similarly to Feng Shui
and Earth acupuncture in finding
blockages in the body's energy flows and helping to correct them. It
can help the body re-gain its natural strength and health.
For more information try www.barnacupunctureclinic.co.uk/
Other gentle methods of re-balancing & healing include Reiki,
which is a soothing &
effective therapy for many illnesses and emotional difficulties in
which the recipient receives energy directly from the practitioner
using various hand positions laid gently on the client as they
lie
fully clothed on a couch. Reiki masters will not however, diagnose
clients. Instead the energy will be drawn naturally to the part of the
recipient's body that it "knows" need it. Creating
better
health in general will help the body cope with substances that it
previously found to be irritants. Helen Lickerish is a Reiki
master and will be happy to give treatments, training and further
details of the ancient healing
art. To contact Maia
Design of Gillingham, Dorset -
email helen@maiadesign.co.uk
Plants
are a simple, beautiful and natural way to alleviate some
air-borne pollutants
They help to circulate and cleanse the air and some even
"clean up" certain chemicals absorbing benzene, formaldehyde and
trichloroethylene, all of which are common polutants given off in newer
houses (through synthetic carpeting, fabrics, laminated counters, etc)
Equally some are renowned for absorbing emf's
(electro-magnetic
fields) given off by all manner of our electical and electronic
equipment such as computers, TV's, wifi, mobile phones, ovens, etc.
Various scientific sources, including NASA, have identified the
following plants as being useful in absorbing these harmful chemicals
and electro-magnetic fields.
Hedera helix English
ivy
Chlorophytum comosum spider
plant
Epipiremnum aureum golden pothos
Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa' peace lily
Aglaonema modestum Chinese evergreen
Chamaedorea sefritzii bamboo
or reed palm
Sansevieria trifasciata snake plant
Philodendron scandens `oxycardium'
heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron selloum selloum philodendron
Philodendron domesticum elephant ear
philodendron
Dracaena marginata red-edged
dracaena
Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana'
cornstalk dracaena
Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig'
Janet Craig dracaena
Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii'
Warneck dracaena
Ficus benjamina Weeping
fig
Monstrosous Cacti
Dwarf banana plant
Gerbera
For more information o how to ensure maximum possible health within the
home and workplace see the Feng Shui
pages; in particular the information on Electromagnetic
fields
and Geopathic
stress.
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