Greetings and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. It's amazing how much can happen in the span of two short weeks … as the recent life-altering events in Japan demonstrate. Great disasters and the resulting large-scale damage and suffering like this and last year's earthquake in Haiti, are a sober and humbling reminder of how vulnerable we are to the ebb and flow of nature's whim. It certainly reminds me of how important it is to always honor and respect the delicate balance that represents our relationship with the environment, which gives us life and sustains us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this latest earthquake and tsunami and their loved ones, and the people of Japan as they cope with the aftermath and attempt the challenging task of restoring some sense of normalcy to their lives.

Now, turning to a lighter but still important subject … in our last issue I spoke of the value and benefits of internal cleansing and detoxing as a wise way to usher in the change of seasons. Now that spring is officially here, this week's article looks at some simple ways to help can gain control over your allergies and reduce or eliminate your exposure to common household toxins. Some are surprisingly simple yet often overlooked!

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

SPRING SPECIAL: Take $15 OFF any purchase of $45 or more OR take 15% OFF individual ScentBall & CarScenter Diffusers.

Spring Clean Your Air: 5 Tips to Reduce Allergens & Hidden Health Hazards in Your Home

Springtime with its fresh blooms and high pollen counts, is typically the time when the allergy-prone suffer most. Most of us dismiss our sneezing, wheezing, drippy noses and goopy eyes as the inevitable result of this sequence of events and pop a few antihistamines or cold tablets to manage the symptoms without a second thought. But what if the cause of your allergy misery was the result of something else?

The simple truth is, there are numerous hidden health threats in your home that can cause allergies and other health problems year-round. If you suffer from chronic allergies, there are ways to reduce or eliminate your exposure to these hazards if you know where to look for them.

Here are five hidden (and not-so-hidden) hazards in your home that may be contributing to your misery and what you can do to eliminate them:

1. Common Household Cleaning and Laundry Products to Die For
   
   Many of the everyday household cleaning products we use are loaded with ammonia, bleach, and a host of dangerous chemicals that can burn your lungs, eyes, nose, and skin --if not used with great caution. Most laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and even dishwashing liquid are made with synthetic fragrances containing phthalates -- chemicals used by industry to soften plastics that have been shown to be endocrine disruptors.
   
   All those noxious smells can be extremely irritating and harmful especially when you come in frequent or constant contact with them. The good news is there are a growing selection of plant-based, chlorine-, ammonia- and phosphate-free detergents and multi-purpose cleaners to choose from. Or you can make your own safe, highly effective and "green" cleaning products from ingredients like baking soda, washing soda, borax, white vinegar, castile soap, and essential oils.
    
2. Synthetic Air Fresheners and Scented Candles with Leaded Wicks
   
   According to one Consumer Product Safety Commission study, as many as 40% of candles on the market still contained lead wires inside their wicks. A candle with a lead-core wick has been shown to release five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air.
   
   It's now believed that frequent candle burning --especially synthetically scented candles-- is a major source of soot and toxic exposure because the chemicals (i.e. phthalates) used in "fragrance" oils tend to soften the wax, increasing the need to add metals to the wicks to stiffen them. Though candle soot is primarily composed of elemental carbon, it can include phthalates, lead, and other toxic ingredients such as benzene and tuolene.
   
   Scented aerosol sprays, gels, and plug-in air fresheners contain harmful chemicals linked to breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies, and cancer in laboratory animals.
   
   Using essential oils in a diffuser or in a water-based aromatherapy spray is a perfectly safe and healthy way to scent your home. And certain essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary and lavender, can assist with sinus congestion associated with allergies, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing. Always use candles made from 100% vegetable (soy) wax or beeswax with coreless cotton wicks, and scented with essential oils only.
    
3. Furniture and Home Furnishings That Can Bring You Down
   
   One major source of hazardous exposure is the chemicals and neuro-toxic solvents used in furniture and home furnishings. These include but are not limited to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint, solvents used to stain and finish furniture, flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs), and stain resistant coatings like perchloroethylene (the main chemical used in dry-cleaning) added to drapes, carpets, upholstered furniture and bedding. Even the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) in your plastic shower curtain can cause problems. Collectively, your home furnishings outgas a variety of chemicals that can become a significant source of pollution in the home.
   
   To make matters worse, your carpets, drapes and upholstery can be a gold mine for dust mites, and if your home is damp, a fertile breeding ground for mold –-both common sources of allergy and illness. For this reason, many allergists recommend that their patients get rid of carpets altogether. At a minimum, you can install a dehumidifier and make sure to steam and clean carpets thoroughly and regularly.
   
   Next time you're ready to paint, switch to low or no VOC paints. Consider upgrading your home with furniture made from natural fibers like wool, organic cotton, untreated wood or wood finished with a water-based stain. Or buy used or antique furniture that's at least five years old, where it's a good bet that most of their chemicals have already been released. Avoid furnishings made from particleboard, polyurethane foam, and PVC.
    
4. The Bedroom: An Oasis of Calm or a Chamber of Horrors?
   
   It may sound a little dramatic, but the place where you spend a third of your life may be teaming with toxins and dust mites! Most traditional mattresses are made with metal coils coated in toxic chemicals to keep them from rusting and degrading over time. On top of that, they are filled with polyurethane foam, flame retardant materials, and/or cotton loaded with pesticides. Then there are the chemicals added to the outer layer of the mattress to make them water and stain resistant. That adds up to a lot of chemicals that you are frequently lounging around on!
   
   Ditch your mattress in favor of a greener, cleaner option like natural (not hybrid) latex, natural rubber, organic cotton, or organic wool. Natural latex is naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, dust mite proof, and relieves pressure points along the body. Natural rubber is exceptionally breathable, naturally hygienic, will not house dust mites, and has been shown to reduce pressure-point pain up to 30% better than memory foam. Wool is an excellent choice because of its high moisture content and the protein (keratin) that it contains, making it naturally flame resistant and hostile to dust mites.
   
   If you can't swing a new bed, make yours more comfy and allergen-free by adding a wool or natural rubber mattress topper. The wool in mattress toppers (and in mattresses) is well encased in cotton so if you're allergic or sensitive to it there shouldn't be a problem. At a minimum, invest in organic cotton zippered encasings to protect your lungs from dust mite allergens and put a little barrier between yourself and the toxins being out gassed by your current mattress.
    
5. Do You Practice Fireplace Safety and Common Sense?
   
   If you have or use a fireplace then you may be setting yourself up for possible carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, wood fires can release a substance called benzopyrene –a carcinogen that can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
   
   Make sure your fireplace and/or wood stove are installed properly and the flue is open when you light a fire. Have both inspected annually to remove creosote build up which can block the chimney and force toxic fumes back into your living room. As a precaution, install a smoke and carbon monoxide detector nearby.

There are several other common sense things you can practice to minimize the potentially toxic effects of pollutants in your home. Chief among them is regularly opening windows (even just a crack) and if necessary, using fans to properly ventilate. Open two windows, or a window and a door to create cross-ventilation --the most effective way to reduce indoor pollution. There are also a variety of houseplants like aloe vera, ferns, ficus, philodendron, and spider plants that are considered good natural air filters –drawing pollutants out of the air and replacing them with oxygen.

Remember to take your shoes off before or upon entering your home so as not to track lawn fertilizer and pesticides inside with you. And whenever you bring something into your home that you know has a chemical coating or finish –leave it outside or in a very well ventilated area for several days to out gas before bringing it inside. The same holds true for clothes you bring home from the dry cleaners --remove the plastic and let them air out before hanging them up in your closet.

Copyright 2011 Dropwise Essentials

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.

If you enjoy the articles in this newsletter then be sure to visit our blog The Aroma Zone for even more valuable articles, practical tips, and helpful resources on Aromatherapy, Health & Beauty, and Greener & Better Living. You can access the blog any time by clicking on the links to the Aroma Zone found throughout our site. If you don't want to miss anything then you can subscribe to the RSS Feed and all new posts will be sent to you via email.

Please feel free to post comments. Your feedback is always welcome. If you have a burning question about something send it in an email to feedback@dropwise.com.

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

• Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
• Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
• Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
• Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.