air pollution and allergies in the home


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	>back to Interior design >back to Feng Shui Eco info: >energy efficiency >chemicals >paints & varnishes >electro-magnetic-fields	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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Air Pollutants

Plants are a simple, beautiful and natural way to alleviate some air-borne pollutants