Community News
Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils

There may still be snow on the ground, but Spring is officially here and one sign of Spring is the urge to clean house!

But before you reach for those commercial cleaners and sprays, stop and think about what is really IN your household cleaners. You’d be surprised to learn that many are filled with toxic or hazardous chemicals that can harm you, your family and your pets. When we use these chemicals to clean our home they can linger in the air for you and your family to breathe them in! The chemicals in cleaning products can enter our bodies by absorption through the skin or through ingestion of household dust. Chemical residues can even be left on dishes and cutlery! And when cleaning products are flushed down the drain, they can have a serious impact on our environment.

Research shows that there are hundreds of harmful and potentially DANGEROUS chemicals that can be found in household products, but here are the top 5 chemicals that are most common and that you should be looking out for:

  • Acetaldehyde:

Linked to some cancers, toxic to reproduction and development, immunotoxin, non-reproductive organ system toxin, skin, eye and lung irritator.

  • Alpha Terpineol:

Can cause central nervous system damage and respiratory problems.

  • Propylene Glycol:

Can cause cancer, allergies, and is toxic to the immune and non-reproductive organ system, is classified with “enhanced skin absorption” and irritates the skin, eye and lung.

  • Butyl Cellosolve (also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether):

Potentially neurotoxic, may cause damage to the brain and nervous system.

  • Ethyl acetate:

Linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, organic system toxicity and skin, eyes and lung irritator.

So how do we get our get our homes clean and smelling fresh while protecting our family from germs if we can’t use these products?

Look to nature!

Essential oils have been used for centuries to clean our homes. They contain anti-pathogenic properties, which can help to clean your home and keep it smelling fresh. Not only are some oils anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and even anti-viral, but they can cut grease, dissolve grime, and remove odours! Plus, it’s more economical as just a few drops of essential oils can go a long way!

Here are just 3 simple ideas for how to swap your harmful product for a healthy one:

 

Natural Fabric Softener:

Fabric softeners promise soft, fresh-smelling clothes, free of static and wrinkles. But in order to do this they coat the fabric with a host of harmful chemicals. Not only do some of these chemicals remain on the fabric and come into direct contact with your skin, but when these chemicals are exposed to high heat they are released into the air which can reduce the air quality of your home.

Vinegar makes an excellent natural fabric softener, and you can add a drop of two of lavender for a relaxing scent!

Simply add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle container in your washing machine in place of a commercial fabric softener. The acid in the vinegar not only neutralizes smells/mildew/bacteria, but it also helps break down detergents so little soap residue is left, helps keep dark/color dye lasting longer, and softens the fibers of fabric for fluffy laundry every time. You do not smell the vinegar at all. But if you wanted a relaxing scent you can add a drop or two of you favourite essential oil like lavender to your sheets or towels.

Natural All-Purpose Cleaner:

All-Purpose Cleaners are some of the worst culprits for DANGEROUS chemicals. All you have to do is look at the Skull & Cross Bones symbol, the Flames symbol, or the Poison Control number on the bottle to know that you are dealing with a hazardous product! These are put there to warn consumers about acute health hazards associated with just a single or short-term exposure to the chemicals in the product!

Luckily we can learn from our ancestors who for hundreds of years have known and used key elements in nature to stave off germs naturally!

Historical data talks about this one mixture in particular that was used to help keep merchants safe from the Black Plague in the 15th century. It contains the essential oils of Clove, Cinnamon, Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary. Thieves who rubbed on the oils to prevent illness while they robbed graves during the plague also used this blend!

This combination of oils is also found in Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner. It is the perfect blend for household cleaning, not only because of its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, but also because the oils work to dissolve grease and grime.

To make your own Thieves blend combine:

4 drops of Clove

3 drops of Lemon

2 drops of Cinnamon

1 drop of Eucalyptus

1 drop of Rosemary

Add this blend to 4 cups of distilled water, also add 2 Tablespoons of Vinegar. Pour into an empty spray bottle. Use to clean, no need to rinse!

Air/Fabric Refresher:

We have ALL used air fresheners at some time, or have seen countless commercials for fabric refreshers and plug-in or home scent sprays, but these air pollutants can reek havoc on your respiratory system and can be especially dangerous for pets and small children!

Instead of using harmful chemicals and fake fragrances, trying using the beauty of nature instead…use essential oils!

The added benefit is that instead of just masking bad odours, essential oils work to actually eliminate them!

Here’s a well-known essential oil blend for purifying the air/fabrics in your home:

1 drop each of:

Citronella

Lavender

Lemongrass

Rosemary

Myrtle

Tea Tree

Add this Purification blend to 2 cups of distilled water and pour into a spray bottle. Spritz the air, fabric, or any other surface. No need to rinse.

To learn more about these essential oils/blends and other ways to use them, call Sylvia 204-72-5348 or email [email protected] or visit CanadianMoms.ca

Acupuncture For My Pet?

The goal of acupuncture is to promote the body to heal itself. From a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) perspective, veterinary acupuncture encourages healing by correcting energy imbalances in the body. Acupuncture enhances blood circulation, oxygenation, nervous system stimulation, and the release of anti-inflammatory and pain relieving hormones. Acupuncture also aids in the removal of metabolic wastes and toxins. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter pain medications, veterinary acupuncture lacks potential adverse side effects for your pet’s internal organs. Your pet’s medications or supplements will not adversely interact with veterinary acupuncture treatment; therefore, it can safely be used in conjunction with traditional health care.

Life & Space Re-Design

Spring is the perfect time to get rid of the old and embrace the new. Find clarity about your wants and needs and action plans for your dreams and goals. Turn your inner vision of your ideal space into specific design features. Create the space that reflects your style and personality, values and beliefs. A space that supports your goals and the life you want to enjoy. It is the time to get rid of clutter – literally and virtually – and of what keeps you stuck. Time to get out of overwhelm and procrastination and break down the mountain into manageable parts. Create a space that you will love, one that will offer optimal function and comfort, nurture and support your soul and your life.

Emmanuelle Stathopoulos MAC-MSC. InnerDreamToOuterForm.com

The Inner Conflict

There are many beliefs and experiences stored in our subconscious mind. Whatever is stored there affects how we feel and act. Issues evolve when the conscious mind wants or believes one thing, but the subconscious mind wants or believes something else. If the conscious mind (5-10% of our potential mind power) and subconscious mind (90-95% of our potential mind power) are in conflict, the subconscious always wins. It is simply larger and stronger. It doesn’t matter how irrational the behavior is, we continue to engage in it because the subconscious feels it is serving a purpose of some kind. For example, someone who smokes cigarettes knows logically that smoking is harmful and wants to quit. However, there are messages stored in the subconscious that smoking is cool, or it helps manage stress, or that quitting is too hard. These messages override the logical desire to stop smoking.

Scott Metcalf, RCCH, A Beautiful Mind Hypnotherapy, ABeautifulMindHypnotherapy.com

How Important Are Enzymes?
  1. Enzymes build, orchestrate and unify the physical expression we call “life.” They seem to know precisely what to do and when to do it.
  2. They “assemble” molecules during their formative growth and they take molecules apart when individual cells are fractured.
  3. Enzymes create and modulate every system in the body.
  4. Enzymes help assemble a human body from a one-cell organism into a 50 to 70 trillion-cell life form
  5. Enzymes are involved in repairing the body when it is damaged; they transport, use, and transform oxygen molecules and every other nutrient the body needs; they break down metabolic waste and the by-products of cells; they quench free radicals, and they split off unwanted molecules from nutrients, adding necessary ones. The physical existence of every human being and the existence of all other living organisms is totally dependent upon the ability of enzymes to do their job. People get sick and diseased because they lack enzymes. People focus on vitamin and mineral supplements, but we need enzymes in our body before vitamins and minerals are effective. We have many that eliminated their most challenging illnesses. From death-bed cancer to cancer-free in 60 days. Cancerous tumors were expelled from the body with the use of our powerful proteolytic enzymes and patented proteolytic probiotics. People have taken up to five hundred (500) caps with no deleterious effects. And there is a huge difference between pancreatic and plant enzymes.

www.LeadingEdgeHealth.org

Financial Fitness

Spring’s officially sprung, and April brings us thoughts of Easter. Remember the baskets with the coloured cellophane nest filled with chocolate Easter eggs and other goodies. We approached this time with anticipation. How satisfying now when we look at our ‘nest egg’ of savings that we have set aside for emergencies, a special trip or our retirement. How much should we have set aside? The answer to that question varies greatly among financial advisors. Commonly, people think of setting aside one month’s salary, but it is best to determine how much you need to meet all your basic obligations for one month and start saving with that amount in mind. After that, you can save to have two months of expenses set aside and more after that. Saving for retirement should be just that, not a nest egg that we keep dipping into but set aside for the ‘golden years.’

Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates Inc., Abakhan.com

Worried about the Trumpocalypse?

How are you feeling about Donald Trump? Are you checking the news for updates on American politics? You are not alone! Sudden large shifts in our world can be very anxietyprovoking. Values and expectations about what’s normal are being fundamentally challenged and argued over. At the same time, at a personal level we can sometimes start to catastrophize, worry, start thinking in unhelpful ways about the what-ifs. Questions may arise – how can this be happening? Why can’t I let this go? What does this mean for me? How can I make a difference? Maybe you know your response is understandable and legitimate, but you disagree with someone close to you. Counselling can provide a safe place to figure it out – whether you want to vent, find a new way to direct your energy, change some habits of mind, or just feel heard.

Mary Munro, MA, MC, MaryMunro.ca

The Queen of Essential Oils

You may not have heard of Frankincense being referred to as “The King of Essential Oils,” but perhaps you can guess which one is called “The Queen.” If you said Lavender, you are correct! Lavender Angustifolia is commonly called English Lavender or True Lavender and has also been dubbed as The Universal Oil. Well known and loved for its calming effects, it may also provide symptomatic relief of burns, acne, boils, minor skin irritations, and cuts. It may also reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Use in cooking to soften citrus flavors and add a flavorful twist to marinades, baked goods, and desserts. Add a few drops to a spray bottle with water to mist pillows, bedding, your linen closet or mattress. Rub a few drops on bottoms of feet, temples or add to bath water as part of your nightly routine.

Nelson Meggitt, OptimumWellnessFactor.ca

Health Benefits of Weight Loss

Research shows that if you lose at least 10% of your unhealthy body weight, the chances of your general health improving are enormous. Weight loss may improve survival in those who have an obesity related illness, especially Type 2 Diabetes. Even losing just 10% of your body weigh can decrease your blood sugar levels and can also prevent your chances of becoming diabetic, if weight loss is sustained. Weight loss helps all of your vital organs function properly, making what you once thought as a simple body process, such as breathing, a lot easier to do. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea can experience improved sleeping patterns and less daytime sleepiness. You can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, dementia, and more, just by losing 10%.

SuccessWeightLoss.ca

Ask The Expert

Q: Why are most spectacle lenses plastic now? Isn’t glass better?

A: Actually, plastic has some real advantages over glass. First off, plastic lenses are lighter. Plastic lenses are also less likely to shatter than glass and this makes them perfect for children and to use during sports and other physical activity. They are much safer; in fact the CSA removed certification for glass safety lenses in 1987. Optically, plastic lenses can be more easily coated and shaped to enhance the vision in many lens designs, especially progressives. Also, photochromic plastic lenses (transitions) function and look better than their photogrey glass counterparts. Plastic lenses are also better at shielding your eyes against harmful UV rays.

Dr. Alex Kennedy, Mosaic Vision Care, MosaicVisionCare.com

Psoriatic Arthritis: Supplemental Treatment

Approximately 14% of psoriasis sufferers (a chronic skin condition that causes red patches on the body) will develop psoriatic arthritis, a form of inflammatory arthritis. The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis range from mild involvement of the fingers and toes to burning, stiffness and pain in the lower spine and sacrum. When the joints of the toes and ankles are involved deformity may occur which results in pain when weight bearing and discomfort wearing footwear. Custom insoles (orthotics) and extra-depth footwear may offer improved foot comfort by relieving high-pressure areas on the soles of the feet and toes. In some cases, orthotics can be designed to correct joint alignment to reduce ligament strain. As well, there are shoe modifications that are available to improve shoe comfort or ease walking stress. Ask your doctor for a referral and make an appointment with a Pedorthist to see how orthotics and footwear can relieve your foot pain.

B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics, MitchellPandO.com