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5 Steps to Reducing Toxic Exposures for You & Your Family
There is a trend in internet publishing, to copy an article written by someone else, post it on your own site or blog, put all the proper links in place to the original article, slap a bunch of your own affiliate ads around the piece, and call that writing.
To say the least – it urks me. It’s cheating. If your entire blog is made up of you pasting pieces other people have written – that’s not writing. I’m not even sure it’s publishing. In fact – if the links to the author aren’t clearly defined — in my day, that was plagiarism.
However there are times when I am browsing the internet, when I come across a really well-written article that I think will help people really understand an issue. This article by Dr. Aviva Romm, MD is one of those pieces:
“Have you ever heard the term body burden? Body burden refers to the total amount of toxic chemicals in your body at a given time, or the amount of a single chemical, for example, arsenic, lead, mercury, or PCB to name just a few. Body burden has become a critical health and environmental problem. It affects us all and can cause health problems ranging from cancer and diabetes to infertility and autism. It affects all ages – even our babies before they are born.”
Toxic exposure is a concern for all of us. Please pop over to her web site to read her article, “Five Steps to Reducing Toxic Exposures for You & Your Family.”
The Loofa Plant (Washrag Gourd)
About two years ago, a gardening mentor handed me something I had never seen before. A small round loofa – grown in her yard. How quaint, I thought, and brought it home and put it up to save for seed – somewhere.
I have not been able to find it since.
So this year, while perusing ebay one evening, I came across a listing for loofa plant seeds. Since this year’s garden plans include expanding the herb and flower garden for use in some bath products, little loofas seem to fit the theme. So, I bought some seed.
A vining plant, I’m hoping to plant the seed along the fence after the early peas have been harvested. If successful with them, I can use them to decorate the bath sachets I hope to make next winter. The seed I got off of ebay didn’t come with instructions, so I found several web sites that were helpful:
http://www.luffaseeds.com was very helpful, and inspired me to get them planted in trays right away.
http://www.seedman.com/loofah.htm surprised me, because I didn’t know there was more than one kind, and also had no idea which kind I had ordered.
This is one of the “new” plants I am trying this year, just for the fun of it. I’ll keep you posted as the season progresses.
Four Months w/ the Nicotine Vaporizer
It’s hard for me to believe I haven’t been smoking now for four months. To be honest, until I discovered the nicotine vaporizer, I had resigned to smoking the rest of my what I knew would be shorter life.
I didn’t go to the vaporizer store (an RV in Spencer) to quit smoking. I went to try something to at least help me cut down. I never imagined that I would set my cigarettes aside permanently, immediately. But I did.
I am quite aware that there are those who feel it’s a cheat. “You’re still addicted to nicotine,” they say, and it’s true. “You should just have quit cold turkey,” they say.
Some people just want to cut you down. Some people just don’t want to recognize any improvement.
But it is an improvement.
Long time smokers know about phlegm. It’s a part of the smoker’s life. But three days after I switched to my vaporizer, I didn’t have to go through the morning cough and hack routine. Within a few weeks, that routine was all but gone from my life.
Within a week, my sense of smell came back full force – and I began to realize just how much smokers smell like smoke.
Mid-winter, I realized Daisy was packing on the weight, and we started daily walks again. Usually, by the time we reach the end of the far field, I’m out of breath. But when we got there this fall, I was fine – and we kept right on going. Daisy seemed surprised to find we weren’t turning back as usual.
Apparently, each person has an ejuice flavor that works for them. Mine is Mocha Hazelnut, although I also use Burley Tobacco. Frank likes the Brandy, Whiskey and the tobacco. I once met a man who said only the chocolate/peanut butter worked for him, while another man struggled adapting to the vaporizer until he found the Turkish Tobacco flavor. Others like fruit flavors, or candy flavors. You have to find your own.
I read today that more than 700,000 U.S. smokers have reported switching to nicotine vaporizers. I often think if Daddy had the chance with a vaporizer, he might still be with us.
But no. Even though vaporizers have been around for years, their import into the United States was banned for years. Even now – all vaporizers are made in China, but the e-juice used in them is available from American sources.
If you’ve tried to quit smoking, or not… If you’ve tried e-cigarettes, gum, or other devices that didn’t help…. If you like smoking, but would like a healthier habit…. Try the vaporizer. It’s the way to quit smoking that smokers love.
You can purchase vaporizers and all kinds of flavors locally at Nimblefingers in Spencer (the RV in SavALot parking lot), and supplies and a few flavors are available at Talliesduck in Normantown. You can also purchase supplies on Amazon. I’ve provided a link to the vaporizers like we use below.
Nicotine Vaporizer Update
I got my nicotine vaporizer (like the one above) in early November. Frank got his about a month later. Immediately, we both quit purchasing cigarettes (for me) and snuff (for him.)
It’s been three months now, and we still have not purchased any tobacco products. We both use our vaporizers on a regular basis; I use mine perhaps a bit more regularly than Frank, but I was a smoker and he rubbed snuff. The original habit was different.
When we first started, we were tempted to try different flavors, but it wasn’t long until we settled on favorites. We both use the Burley tobacco. Frank will rotate this with Brandy and Whiskey, while I switch between the Burley and Mocha Hazelnut or Caramel Cream.
After about six weeks, we started making our own nicotine juice, which cut down a lot of running to town and money. We make our flavors and store them in glass bottles, and use eye droppers to fill our vaporizers, which we call our “puffers.” We are more able, this way, to control the nicotine level in the juice we use, diluting it over time to wean ourselves slowly from the nicotine itself.
We are more than thrilled with the vaporizer process, and are happy to have tobacco gone from our lives. No dirty ash trays, smoky clothes and furniture, no spit cups, no morning cough. It really has made a difference in our lives.
However, it is challenging to find quality hardware. While nicotine juice and flavorings are available from the United States, France and other locations, vaporizers themselves are all made in China. Knock-offs are rampant. Leaking cartomizers, fried batteries – are common. But even with the regular upkeeps, maintenance and replacements – vaporizers are still cheaper than smoking a carton of brand name cigarettes a week, and the health benefits are immeasurable.
For some folks, the e-cigarettes (as those presented on the right of this page) are enough to kick the tobacco habit. But for many, the nicotine vaporizer is the magical key to quitting.
If you’ve ever even considered quitting cigarettes, I encourage you to try a nicotine vaporizer. For us, it’s been life-changing.
Natural Remedies to Ease Grieving & Help Manage Depression
Grief is the most draining of emotions, depleting both energy and brain power. Most people know that there are several stages of grief, including: shock, denial, protest and depression (though not in any particular order). Every person experiences and deals with grief differently, and some may have trouble working through the depression phase. However, there are natural remedies that can help everyone through the process.
AROMATHERAPY
The scent of marjoram is a traditional remedy for grief. You can purchase the essential oil and apply a drop or two to a tissue or handkerchief, or grow and dry marjoram and make it into a sachet. Both would make nice gifts to ease the pain of a grieving friend or loved one.
DIET
Ginseng helps the body deal with all kinds of stresses, including grief and loss. Ginseng is available as tea or capsules, but also powdered and fresh. During times of grief, increase your intake of Ginseng. Ginseng tea or root would be a good gift to offer someone who is grieving, or find a recipe calling for fresh Ginseng root.
When grieving, it’s important to be aware of your intake of sugar, processed foods, caffeinated foods and alcohol. Each of these can worsen depression.
An herbal supplement of Saint Johns’ Wort, taken three times a day, can help lift your outlook. Or, make tea from the dried herb, allow to steep for 10 minutes, strain, then cool. Drink twice daily. The down side? It takes up to four weeks to see results however, and the fair skinned should avoid the sun when taking Saint Johns’ Wort.
SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID
One of the biggest regrets to accompany grief relates to “things left unsaid.” Some psychiatrists recommend picturing the lost one near the end of their life, then speak out loud of anything you wish you said before the person died. Express your sorrow, confusion, anger – whatever feelings you have relating to that person. Other psychiatrists suggest writing a letter to the deceased saying what needs to be said, then burning or shredding the letter as you wish them a final farewell.
IMMUNE BOOST
Grieving people are more susceptible to illness and disease. It is important to take steps to boost the immune system during a grieving period. Daily doses of Vitamin C and D can help.
Progressive relaxation has shown to increase immune cell activity, if regularly practiced three times a day. The progressive relaxation process includes tensing and relaxing muscles to increase blood flow to the different parts of the body.
EXERCISE
Anything that increases circulation will strengthen the immune system, relax tense muscles, and lift the spirits. Specifically, for grief, the American Yoga Association recommends the standing sun, knee squeeze and seated sun poses. However, since grieving people tend to become more sedentary, anyv exercise, even a slow, 15-minute walk will make a difference.
WARM YOUR HANDS
Under stress, the body restricts the flow of blood to the extremities, so they are colder than the rest of the body. If you warm your hands, blood flow increases again, lowering the level of stress and improving circulation for a healthy immune system.
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