Monthly Archives: April 2012

How to Clean Green

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by Angela Orluck Ducklinsky, Orluck Organic

Think of everything you do to keep up your home on a daily basis – the dishes, the laundry, cleaning the windows, floors, countertops and more. Now take a second to check out the labels of all those cleaning potions. Most of the words don’t even look like English and you need an advanced sciences degree to really understand what’s in those bottles. So, when you’re spending all that time cleaning, are you really getting your house clean or are you doing more harm than good?

Green housecleaning with chair

 

In addition to lengthy lists of unpronounceable ingredients, any household cleaning products also have dire labels that warn of skin or respiratory irritation, chemical burns or eye damage. And if these cleaners can cause such harm to your body, imagine what they’re doing to the environment. Once washed down the drain they pollute lakes, rivers and oceans and accumulate in wildlife and people. Eventually they also come back to you in the form of the food you eat and water you drink.

 

So, how do you maximize your efforts and make sure you’re really cleaning green and healthy for you, your family and the planet?

  • Read labels. If it says “Danger,” “Warning,” “Irritant,” “Caution,” “Poison,” or something similar, stay away. Look for safer plant-based ingredients instead of petroleum-based ingredients.
  • Look around your kitchen. Baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and water are all very effective and safe cleaners. And they’re much less expensive than anything you’ll find in the cleaning aisle.
  • Open a window. Instead of plugging in or spraying cloying artificial fragrances, open a window to make smells and indoor air toxins disappear. If it’s too cold to open a window, boil a bit of water with some deliciously-scented dried herbs (cinnamon, cloves, star anise) on the stove for a natural air freshener.
  • Make your home a shoe-free zone. Shoes track in everything from dirt and mud to fertilizers and chemicals. Leave the shoes (and the gunk) at the door and you’ll have less mess to clean.
  •  Hire green help. When life gets overwhelming and you don’t have time to clean, make sure your cleaning company uses toxin-free cleaning materials so your home really is sparkling.

What areas of your home do you spend the most time cleaning? Are you concerned about toxic ingredients in the cleaners you use?

Orluck Organic-All Natural House Cleaning was founded in 2004 by sisters Katie and Angela. The company currently serves the NW Twin Cities area and offers a more natural approach for both families and the environment. For more information or to schedule your free, in home consultation go to www.orluckorganic.com. Connect on Facebook for more cleaning tips, occasional giveaways and green products we recommend.

Making Healthy Choices That Best Fit Your Lifestyle

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by Lorri Weisen, Founder, Greenbody Greenplanet

Trying to make healthy choices for you and your family is not always an easy thing to do. It seems that we’re constantly bombarded from every direction with voices telling us what to do, what products to use, how to eat, how to live – it becomes difficult to know what, exactly, is the right thing to do. From the early morning newscast until the time our heads hit the pillow at night we’ve likely heard at least 20 different opinions on one simple subject.

While this can be overwhelming, and in some cases even annoying, I believe we should celebrate the fact that we have so much information available to us and that there are so many alternatives on the shelves. You may spend a bit more time reading labels or doing research online, but you’re also enormously empowered to make the best choices for you, your family, your lifestyle and budget.

The key is to listen to your gut and use common sense. Believe it or not, there was a time (not that long ago) where we all used to grease up with olive oil or baby oil and lay around on metallic blankets to reflect the sun and give us that coveted all-over tan. Or, as was more often the case, an all-over burn. We didn’t have choices then, there were no sunscreens available, and we didn’t know any better. Thank goodness we do now.

The power to choose is one of the most incredible gifts we possess. Embrace it and allow it to work on your behalf. Here are a few tips to help you make healthy choices that best fit your lifestyle:

  • Do your research, but don’t go overboard. Getting obsessed with making the “perfect choice” will backfire and leave you overwhelmed and empty handed.
  • Don’t second guess yourself. Once you’ve made a choice, know that you’ve done the best that you can for the circumstances you’re in.
  • Believe in the choices you make. It builds confidence and helps you make better choices in the future.
  • Don’t judge. What’s best for you may not work for someone else.

For myself, I try to live a chemical-free lifestyle and avoid putting chemical-laden cosmetics and lotions on my body at all costs. But if I was on a beach in the middle of a sunny afternoon and had only a tube of chemical sunscreen, I would happily slather it all over my body. The choice between burning, risking sun damage or skin cancer or using a chemical-based product is a great example of making the best choice at the time and I’d feel good about that.

The next time you’re faced with a choice, whether it’s a product or a life-impacting service, remember that YOU decide what’s best for you. How do you avoid getting overwhelmed by choice?

Lorri Weisen is the founder and CEO of Greenbody Greenplanet Organic Hair Care and an advocate for safe cosmetics. Her husband’s battle with cancer inspired her to create her organic line and her passion is to help others live a toxin-free lifestyle. Visit Greenbody Greenplanet at www.greenbodygreenplanet.com. Also, get connected with GBGP on Facebook.

Homeopathy: My Secret Parenting Weapon

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By Desirée Brazelton, Classical Homeopath, Spark Clinic

As a mother of three young daughters, I am often asked how I keep them so healthy. My girls typically get a cough once a year for a week or two and that’s it for our annual illness.  The answer? I use homeopathy to not only keep them healthy, but to treat their illnesses as they come up.

What is homeopathy?
In homeopathic medicine, individuals are treated with diluted natural substances that trigger the body’s healing systems. Homeopathy is founded on the idea that you treat “like with like” – taking the same substances in very small amounts that, when taken in large amounts, could cause a symptom. A common example of homeopathy is to give people with allergies minute doses of what they’re allergic to in order to de-sensitize them and minimize (or eliminate) the allergy.

How does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy works to strengthen the body’s own innate defenses. Homeopathic medicine acts to stimulate our own vital immune systems and aims to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. Well-chosen remedies can, at times, begin to work as soon as they hit the tongue.

Meet Peter
Peter was a little over one year of age and was normally a happy child. But he’d been having trouble cutting his new teeth and was in pain, fussy and couldn’t be comforted by his parents, no matter what they tried. The family came to my homeopathic practice and I gave Peter a dose of Chamomilla – the calming and sedative compound found in chamomile tea – and he quieted down and immediately became content. After three days, he became agitated again, so he received another dose of the remedy, finally cut his teeth and has been content since.

Children respond amazingly well to homeopathic medicines and can heal rapidly.  Childhood illness such as ear infection, sore throat, cough, fever, flu, skin rashes and allergies can be treated with homeopathy and build up your child’s immune system.

Homeopathy for you and your family
Want to try homeopathic care for yourself or your family? Spark Clinic is a holistic walk-in clinic, wellness center and yoga studio located in south Minneapolis. With walk-in hours and competitive rates, it’s easy to begin using homeopathy to boost your family’s health and wellness.  For more information and our hours, find us at www.sparkclinic.org or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sparkclinic.

What health challenges do you or your children have that you might consider having treated with homeopathy?

Desirée Brazelton is a classical homeopath and founder of Spark Clinic. She can be reached at (612) 232-6453 or at www.sparkclinic.org.

The Secret to a Surgery-free Face Lift

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When so many of us were younger, we looked in the mirror and said, “When I’m older, I’ll celebrate my wrinkles because they’re a map of a lifetime of smiles and laughs.” Now that we’re older, however, those creases may not seem nearly as dignified or nostalgic to some of us.

“Worry lines” on our foreheads, “crow’s feet” under our eyes, “smile/frown lines” or “parenthesis” next to our mouths, sagging jowls – none of these phrases describe how young, beautiful and vibrant we feel on the inside. And when we feel that way, why shouldn’t we look the way we feel?

Surgical procedures are expensive and drastic, chemical injections can be painful and both can have dangerous side effects. But acupuncture can offer a completely natural, affordable way to rejuvenate your face without any recovery time.
So, what can you get when you use acupuncture for a surgery-free “face lift?”

* Improved facial color and moisturized skin due to an increase in blood flow and lymph circulation.

* Increased collagen production and improved muscle tone.

* Minimized wrinkles and fine lines.

* Reduction in puffiness.

* Relaxation and stress relief which shows in tighter pores and brighter eyes.

Cosmetic acupuncture is an excellent natural alternative to surgery. For more information and to find out if you’re a good candidate, visit WinerAcupuncture.com. Do you feel facial rejuvenation could help you in your journey to age gracefully? Why or why not?

Trying to Get Pregnant? Acupuncture Can Help

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Some women seem to be able to get pregnant just by smiling at their partners. But for others, fertility can be a long and stressful struggle. While many turn to expensive fertility drugs, the ancient practice of acupuncture can boost fertility either on its own or as a compliment to other treatments.

 

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a major form of therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that’s been used for at least 2,500 years. There are points on the human body – meridians — that are connected to or associated with major organs. Stimulating these points with the insertion of tiny, solid needles can stimulate the flow of energy and remove blockages. The idea behind acupuncture is to keep the body in balance.

Can acupuncture boost my fertility?
Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat many causes of infertility. Research suggests it may help improve the success of fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization. Women can benefit from the proven stress relief acupuncture provides as well as the increased blood flow to reproductive organs. Men can also reap the fertility rewards as research shows that acupuncture can improve the health and quality of sperm.

Can you prove it?
Many studies have been conducted that suggest acupuncture has a positive effect on fertility in both men and women. The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness suggests that the most effective fertility treatments combine acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional medicine. Since the risks of using acupuncture are minimal, it’s absolutely worth giving it a go if you’re trying to conceive. To be safe, make sure you’re treated by an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility disorders.

Want to know more about how acupuncture can help you become pregnant? Check out the SuNu Wellness Center Women’s Retreat this Saturday, April 14. Or feel free to leave a comment below and a member of the SuNu Wellness team will be happy to help.