Detoxification
A suggestion for DETOX FOR METALS
A suggestion for DETOX FOR METALS, FUNGI AND PARASITES
From Dr. Dana Flavin
1/4 cup lemon juice in 1 bottle (glass) mineral water /day
Heavy metal detox:
Must be done after all silver fillings are removed.
Cilantro 2 drops in the morning
www.cancersalves.com
Chlorella 2 capsules afternoon
Trace minerals every evening(Zeolite, or from algae from clean lakes in Utah etc.
Antifungal/antiparasitic
Phytolacca syrup 1 tsp3x/day first month then 2x/day second month
then 1x/day third month www.cancersalves.com or 2 drops gentian violet
Or if only fungi, or excessive fungi, Kolorex 1 capsule/day
www.kolorex.com
melatonin 3 mg before bed.
Exercise and lots of FRESH air, or oxygen with exercise 5-10 minutes during exercise..
For those persons who have neglected their health and diet for longer periods of time, they should take N-acetylcysteine 500mg with food a day, selenium 300 mcg/day and nicotinamide 500 mg 2/day as a protection for detoxing the body and the liver.
If they have additional liver problems, Milk thistle(silymarin) is recommended at 500 mg/day.
Posted September 2007
A suggestion for DETOX FOR METALS, FUNGI AND PARASITES
From Dr. Dana Flavin
1/4 cup lemon juice in 1 bottle (glass) mineral water /day
Heavy metal detox:
Must be done after all silver fillings are removed.
Cilantro 2 drops in the morning
www.cancersalves.com
Chlorella 2 capsules afternoon
Trace minerals every evening(Zeolite, or from algae from clean lakes in Utah etc.
Antifungal/antiparasitic
Phytolacca syrup 1 tsp3x/day first month then 2x/day second month
then 1x/day third month www.cancersalves.com or 2 drops gentian violet
Or if only fungi, or excessive fungi, Kolorex 1 capsule/day
www.kolorex.com
melatonin 3 mg before bed.
Exercise and lots of FRESH air, or oxygen with exercise 5-10 minutes during exercise..
For those persons who have neglected their health and diet for longer periods of time, they should take N-acetylcysteine 500mg with food a day, selenium 300 mcg/day and nicotinamide 500 mg 2/day as a protection for detoxing the body and the liver.
If they have additional liver problems, Milk thistle(silymarin) is recommended at 500 mg/day.
Posted September 2007
Activated Charcoal COMPARISON Old to New
Activated Charcoal for Diarrhea 2004 study
A Phase II Study of Activated Charcoal to Prevent Irinotecan (CPT-11) Induced Diarrhea.
Michael Michael, M Brittain, J Nagai, R Feld, D Hedley, A Oza, L Siu, M J Moore, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, Australia; Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract: The dose limiting toxicity of CPT-11 is diarrhea. Phase II and III studies of single agent CPT-11 in patients (pts) with colorectal cancer using either 125 mg/m2/ week x4 Q6 weeks or 350 mg/m2 Q3 weeks have reported an incidence of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea of 20-35%.
The current recommendations are for the use of high dose loperamide once diarrhea occurs, as well as dosage reductions in subsequent cycles. One theory for CPT-11-induced diarrhea (CID) is that glucuronidated SN-38 excreted via the biliary tract is converted back to active drug (SN-38) in the small bowel (SB) lumen and has a direct effect on topoisomerase I in the gut mucosa.
The aim of this study was to assess whether adsorbing, by activated charcoal, free SN38 within the SB lumen can reduce CID and hence optimise dose intensity of CPT-11.
Pts studied were those with advanced colorectal cancer receiving CPT-11 125 mg/m2 intravenously over 90 minutes weekly x4 weeks Q6 weeks. On cycle #1 pts received CPT-11 plus activated charcoal-1000 mg in a 15-ml aqueous solution given the evening prior to irinotecan and then TID for the following 48 hours.
In the second cycle of CPT-11 therapy, pts did not receive charcoal. Thus far, 28 pts have completed cycle#1 with the combination of CPT-11 and activated charcoal. Of these 28, there were 24 who then completed a second cycle of CPT-11 without charcoal.
Results: Cycle 1 + Charcoal (n=28):Cycle 2 No Charcoal (n=24) (i) Diarrhea Grade 0,1- 22:14, Grade 2- 4:4, Grade 3- 2:3, Grade 4- 0:3 (ii) Median % planned dose delivered- 98:70, (iii) # pts receiving 90% of planned dose- 18/28:9/24, (iv) # pts taking more than 10 loperamide tablets- 7/28:13/24. On the first cycle of CPT-11, when charcoal was also given, the incidence of severe diarrhea was reduced (2/28 versus 6/24), less anti-diarrheal medication was required and the dose of CPT-11 delivered was higher.
Prophylactic activated charcoal thus may have a role in reducing dose-limiting CID and optimizing CPT-11 therapy: accrual is continuing.
Abstract No: 1615
Subsequently published: J Clin Oncol. 2004 Nov 1;22(21):4410-7.
2018
Is There a Role for Charcoal in Palliative Diarrhea Management?
Helen Senderovich 1 2 3 4, Megan J Vierhout 1 5
Affiliations expand
Objective: Symptomatic therapy is an intervention centered entirely on symptom management and pain relief. The utilization of charcoal in diarrhea management is a pertinent example of this type of medical care. Diarrhea is an ailment defined as an escalation in the frequency of bowel movements, unformed stool, abdominal discomfort, and pain. These symptoms can be extremely debilitating for patients, and effectuate frustration as well as severely dampening mood and overall well-being. This narrative review aims to explore the use of charcoal in diarrhea management and its possible benefits in alleviating discomfort associated with these symptoms.
Methods: The authors used PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar searches on recent literature available on the role of activated charcoal in diarrhea management.
Results: It was found that the main precursors of diarrhea include drugs and bacterial infection. Activated charcoal has a firm history in its ability to attract and expel ingested toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. It acts to prevent system absorption of these adverse entities, adsorbing them on the surface of its particles, making it a suitable diarrheal treatment.
Conclusions: Diarrhea can present itself alongside a multitude of treatments and conditions, such as chemotherapy, primary malignancy, intestinal, colorectal and pancreatic cancer, bacterial infection, and irritable bowel syndrome, making activated charcoal a potential therapy in these conditions. In comparison, with other common anti-diarrheal treatments, activated charcoal has exceptionally few side-effects. Overall, further research is necessary in order to wholly determine the effectiveness of charcoal in the management of diarrhea.
Curr Med Res Opin, 34 (7), 1253-1259 Jul 2018
Activated Charcoal for Diarrhea 2004 study
A Phase II Study of Activated Charcoal to Prevent Irinotecan (CPT-11) Induced Diarrhea.
Michael Michael, M Brittain, J Nagai, R Feld, D Hedley, A Oza, L Siu, M J Moore, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, Australia; Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract: The dose limiting toxicity of CPT-11 is diarrhea. Phase II and III studies of single agent CPT-11 in patients (pts) with colorectal cancer using either 125 mg/m2/ week x4 Q6 weeks or 350 mg/m2 Q3 weeks have reported an incidence of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea of 20-35%.
The current recommendations are for the use of high dose loperamide once diarrhea occurs, as well as dosage reductions in subsequent cycles. One theory for CPT-11-induced diarrhea (CID) is that glucuronidated SN-38 excreted via the biliary tract is converted back to active drug (SN-38) in the small bowel (SB) lumen and has a direct effect on topoisomerase I in the gut mucosa.
The aim of this study was to assess whether adsorbing, by activated charcoal, free SN38 within the SB lumen can reduce CID and hence optimise dose intensity of CPT-11.
Pts studied were those with advanced colorectal cancer receiving CPT-11 125 mg/m2 intravenously over 90 minutes weekly x4 weeks Q6 weeks. On cycle #1 pts received CPT-11 plus activated charcoal-1000 mg in a 15-ml aqueous solution given the evening prior to irinotecan and then TID for the following 48 hours.
In the second cycle of CPT-11 therapy, pts did not receive charcoal. Thus far, 28 pts have completed cycle#1 with the combination of CPT-11 and activated charcoal. Of these 28, there were 24 who then completed a second cycle of CPT-11 without charcoal.
Results: Cycle 1 + Charcoal (n=28):Cycle 2 No Charcoal (n=24) (i) Diarrhea Grade 0,1- 22:14, Grade 2- 4:4, Grade 3- 2:3, Grade 4- 0:3 (ii) Median % planned dose delivered- 98:70, (iii) # pts receiving 90% of planned dose- 18/28:9/24, (iv) # pts taking more than 10 loperamide tablets- 7/28:13/24. On the first cycle of CPT-11, when charcoal was also given, the incidence of severe diarrhea was reduced (2/28 versus 6/24), less anti-diarrheal medication was required and the dose of CPT-11 delivered was higher.
Prophylactic activated charcoal thus may have a role in reducing dose-limiting CID and optimizing CPT-11 therapy: accrual is continuing.
Abstract No: 1615
Subsequently published: J Clin Oncol. 2004 Nov 1;22(21):4410-7.
2018
Is There a Role for Charcoal in Palliative Diarrhea Management?
Helen Senderovich 1 2 3 4, Megan J Vierhout 1 5
Affiliations expand
- PMID: 29231746
- DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2017.1416345
Objective: Symptomatic therapy is an intervention centered entirely on symptom management and pain relief. The utilization of charcoal in diarrhea management is a pertinent example of this type of medical care. Diarrhea is an ailment defined as an escalation in the frequency of bowel movements, unformed stool, abdominal discomfort, and pain. These symptoms can be extremely debilitating for patients, and effectuate frustration as well as severely dampening mood and overall well-being. This narrative review aims to explore the use of charcoal in diarrhea management and its possible benefits in alleviating discomfort associated with these symptoms.
Methods: The authors used PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar searches on recent literature available on the role of activated charcoal in diarrhea management.
Results: It was found that the main precursors of diarrhea include drugs and bacterial infection. Activated charcoal has a firm history in its ability to attract and expel ingested toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. It acts to prevent system absorption of these adverse entities, adsorbing them on the surface of its particles, making it a suitable diarrheal treatment.
Conclusions: Diarrhea can present itself alongside a multitude of treatments and conditions, such as chemotherapy, primary malignancy, intestinal, colorectal and pancreatic cancer, bacterial infection, and irritable bowel syndrome, making activated charcoal a potential therapy in these conditions. In comparison, with other common anti-diarrheal treatments, activated charcoal has exceptionally few side-effects. Overall, further research is necessary in order to wholly determine the effectiveness of charcoal in the management of diarrhea.
Curr Med Res Opin, 34 (7), 1253-1259 Jul 2018
Air Fresheners
Air Fresheners Leave Your Indoor Air Anything But There’s always been a something a little unsettling about the idea of revitalizing the air inside our homes by spraying things with names like Meadow Mist and Mountain Breeze all over the place, especially when such products hardly smell like either.
Now two new studies have found that our suspicions were correct: synthetic air fresheners are coating our homes and filling our air with unsafe chemicals.
Used in 75% of American households, air fresheners are a huge industry that generates sales of $1.72 billion a year. Found in everything from plug-in disposable appliances and fake candles to sprays and peel-and-stick evaporative disks, these products don’t actually eliminate odors but merely use one of several strategies to make you think they’ve vanished.
Some products simply cover up bad smells with stronger chemicals. Some use a nerve-deadening agent to reduce your ability to smell in the first place; while others coat the inside of your nasal passages with a film that stops smells from getting through.
Now a new study from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) finds they’re doing something else as well: polluting our indoor air whenever we use them.
The NRDC tested 14 different air fresheners, including those labeled ‘all-natural’, and found that all but two contained measurable levels of phthalates, synthetic chemicals linked to asthma, endocrine disruption, and other serious health problems.
(For more about phthalates see the February 2006 issue of the Non-Toxic Times at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/making_difference/newsletter_article.php?article=110&issue=25.)
The amounts of phthalates found ranged from 0.12 parts per million (ppm) to an extraordinary 7,300 ppm. Only two of the tested products contained no phthalates at all.
Researchers said that though the number of products tested was small and couldn’t be said to form a representative sampling, the study’s results clearly indicate the need for more comprehensive testing of these common consumer products, especially in light of the fact that the federal government neither tests air fresheners nor requires their manufacturers to list product ingredients or adhere to any specific safety standards.
In response to the study, Walgreens stores, whose private label air fresheners contained the highest levels of phthalates reported by the study, removed the offending products from their shelves in a commendable example of a company taking swift action to right a toxicological wrong.
Hot on the heels of that decision came news of a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which found that the use of spray cleaners in general greatly increases the risk of contracting asthma. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain found that test subjects who used spray cleaners at least once a week had a 30-50% greater chance of developing this respiratory disease and concluded that as many as one in seven cases of adult asthma could be blamed on exposure to spray cleaners. The study singled out conventional glass cleaners, furniture sprays, and air fresheners as particularly likely to trigger the ailment.
Clearly, conventional air fresheners have no place in a healthy home. In addition to phthalates, air freshener toxins can include naphthalene, phenol, cresol, dichlorobenzene, and xylene among many others. These chemicals have been implicated in cancer, neurological damage, reproductive and developmental disorders and other conditions.
For these reasons, indoor air quality experts recommend against using air fresheners or room deodorizes of any kind. Instead, try these safe methods to freshen the air in your home:
Locate sources of odors and eliminate them when and wherever possible. Since many odors are the result of microbial action, spraying trouble spots and potentially problematic areas (like trash cans, compost containers, etc.) with an undiluted 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide (the concentration typically available in stores) will remove many odors.
Use natural minerals like baking soda and borax to control common odor sources and to deodorize when you clean.
Keep windows open as much as possible to let bad air out and good air in. If odors are still troubling, invest in an air purifier with activated carbon filtration, a strategy that can remove odors.
To scent indoor air, place a drop of a natural essential oil like lavender or mint on a cold light bulb, or add a dozen drops to a bowl of water placed on a radiator or wood stove. You can also boil fragrant dried herbs in a pot of water to release a fresh smell.
A natural mineral called zeolite is available in packets that will absorb odors when hung in problem areas like musty basements and closets.
Make your own sprays from essential oils and other natural ingredients. For recipes and more information, we recommend the book Better Basics for the Home, by Annie Berthold Bond.
To learn more about the NRDC study, visit http://www.nrdc.org/health/home/airfresheners/contents.asp. For more information about the research published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, please see http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/176/8/735.
The Non-Toxic Times Newsletter – Seventh Generation
Vol 8 No 12, October 2007
__________________________________________________________________________
J Toxicol Sci, 40 (5), 535-50 2015
Characterization of Air Freshener Emission: The Potential Health Effects
Sanghwa Kim 1, Seong-Ho Hong, Choon-Keun Bong, Myung-Haing Cho
PMID: 26354370 DOI: 10.2131/jts.40.535
Abstract
Air freshener could be one of the multiple sources that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor environment. The use of these products may be associated with an increase in the measured level of terpene, such as xylene and other volatile air freshener components, including aldehydes, and esters. Air freshener is usually used indoors, and thus some compounds emitted from air freshener may have potentially harmful health impacts, including sensory irritation, respiratory symptoms, and dysfunction of the lungs. The constituents of air fresheners can react with ozone to produce secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde, secondary organic aerosol (SOA), oxidative product, and ultrafine particles. These pollutants then adversely affect human health, in many ways such as damage to the central nervous system, alteration of hormone levels, etc. In particular, the ultrafine particles may induce severe adverse effects on diverse organs, including the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Although the indoor use of air freshener is increasing, deleterious effects do not manifest for many years, making it difficult to identify air freshener-associated symptoms. In addition, risk assessment recognizes the association between air fresheners and adverse health effects, but the distinct causal relationship remains unclear. In this review, the emitted components of air freshener, including benzene, phthalate, and limonene, were described. Moreover, we focused on the health effects of these chemicals and secondary pollutants formed by the reaction with ozone. In conclusion, scientific guidelines on emission and exposure as well as risk characterization of air freshener need to be established.
Air Fresheners Leave Your Indoor Air Anything But There’s always been a something a little unsettling about the idea of revitalizing the air inside our homes by spraying things with names like Meadow Mist and Mountain Breeze all over the place, especially when such products hardly smell like either.
Now two new studies have found that our suspicions were correct: synthetic air fresheners are coating our homes and filling our air with unsafe chemicals.
Used in 75% of American households, air fresheners are a huge industry that generates sales of $1.72 billion a year. Found in everything from plug-in disposable appliances and fake candles to sprays and peel-and-stick evaporative disks, these products don’t actually eliminate odors but merely use one of several strategies to make you think they’ve vanished.
Some products simply cover up bad smells with stronger chemicals. Some use a nerve-deadening agent to reduce your ability to smell in the first place; while others coat the inside of your nasal passages with a film that stops smells from getting through.
Now a new study from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) finds they’re doing something else as well: polluting our indoor air whenever we use them.
The NRDC tested 14 different air fresheners, including those labeled ‘all-natural’, and found that all but two contained measurable levels of phthalates, synthetic chemicals linked to asthma, endocrine disruption, and other serious health problems.
(For more about phthalates see the February 2006 issue of the Non-Toxic Times at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/making_difference/newsletter_article.php?article=110&issue=25.)
The amounts of phthalates found ranged from 0.12 parts per million (ppm) to an extraordinary 7,300 ppm. Only two of the tested products contained no phthalates at all.
Researchers said that though the number of products tested was small and couldn’t be said to form a representative sampling, the study’s results clearly indicate the need for more comprehensive testing of these common consumer products, especially in light of the fact that the federal government neither tests air fresheners nor requires their manufacturers to list product ingredients or adhere to any specific safety standards.
In response to the study, Walgreens stores, whose private label air fresheners contained the highest levels of phthalates reported by the study, removed the offending products from their shelves in a commendable example of a company taking swift action to right a toxicological wrong.
Hot on the heels of that decision came news of a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which found that the use of spray cleaners in general greatly increases the risk of contracting asthma. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain found that test subjects who used spray cleaners at least once a week had a 30-50% greater chance of developing this respiratory disease and concluded that as many as one in seven cases of adult asthma could be blamed on exposure to spray cleaners. The study singled out conventional glass cleaners, furniture sprays, and air fresheners as particularly likely to trigger the ailment.
Clearly, conventional air fresheners have no place in a healthy home. In addition to phthalates, air freshener toxins can include naphthalene, phenol, cresol, dichlorobenzene, and xylene among many others. These chemicals have been implicated in cancer, neurological damage, reproductive and developmental disorders and other conditions.
For these reasons, indoor air quality experts recommend against using air fresheners or room deodorizes of any kind. Instead, try these safe methods to freshen the air in your home:
Locate sources of odors and eliminate them when and wherever possible. Since many odors are the result of microbial action, spraying trouble spots and potentially problematic areas (like trash cans, compost containers, etc.) with an undiluted 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide (the concentration typically available in stores) will remove many odors.
Use natural minerals like baking soda and borax to control common odor sources and to deodorize when you clean.
Keep windows open as much as possible to let bad air out and good air in. If odors are still troubling, invest in an air purifier with activated carbon filtration, a strategy that can remove odors.
To scent indoor air, place a drop of a natural essential oil like lavender or mint on a cold light bulb, or add a dozen drops to a bowl of water placed on a radiator or wood stove. You can also boil fragrant dried herbs in a pot of water to release a fresh smell.
A natural mineral called zeolite is available in packets that will absorb odors when hung in problem areas like musty basements and closets.
Make your own sprays from essential oils and other natural ingredients. For recipes and more information, we recommend the book Better Basics for the Home, by Annie Berthold Bond.
To learn more about the NRDC study, visit http://www.nrdc.org/health/home/airfresheners/contents.asp. For more information about the research published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, please see http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/176/8/735.
The Non-Toxic Times Newsletter – Seventh Generation
Vol 8 No 12, October 2007
__________________________________________________________________________
J Toxicol Sci, 40 (5), 535-50 2015
Characterization of Air Freshener Emission: The Potential Health Effects
Sanghwa Kim 1, Seong-Ho Hong, Choon-Keun Bong, Myung-Haing Cho
PMID: 26354370 DOI: 10.2131/jts.40.535
Abstract
Air freshener could be one of the multiple sources that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor environment. The use of these products may be associated with an increase in the measured level of terpene, such as xylene and other volatile air freshener components, including aldehydes, and esters. Air freshener is usually used indoors, and thus some compounds emitted from air freshener may have potentially harmful health impacts, including sensory irritation, respiratory symptoms, and dysfunction of the lungs. The constituents of air fresheners can react with ozone to produce secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde, secondary organic aerosol (SOA), oxidative product, and ultrafine particles. These pollutants then adversely affect human health, in many ways such as damage to the central nervous system, alteration of hormone levels, etc. In particular, the ultrafine particles may induce severe adverse effects on diverse organs, including the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Although the indoor use of air freshener is increasing, deleterious effects do not manifest for many years, making it difficult to identify air freshener-associated symptoms. In addition, risk assessment recognizes the association between air fresheners and adverse health effects, but the distinct causal relationship remains unclear. In this review, the emitted components of air freshener, including benzene, phthalate, and limonene, were described. Moreover, we focused on the health effects of these chemicals and secondary pollutants formed by the reaction with ozone. In conclusion, scientific guidelines on emission and exposure as well as risk characterization of air freshener need to be established.
Indoor Air
Excerpts from an article in Non-Toxic Times, 2/04
The real power of plants lies in their ability to remove unhealthy chemicals from our indoor air.
Studies have shown that the atmosphere in rooms filled with houseplants typically contains between 50% to 60% fewer mold spores and bacteria.
Plants accomplish this task in two main ways.
The first is by literally absorbing chemicals in the air via microscopic leaf openings called stomata. Once absorbed inside, the plant either breaks down the pollutant in question, or it sends the contaminant down to its roots where it’s released as food for the colonies of microbes that typically live in a plant’s root zone.
These harmless organisms are a key factor in a plant’s ability to purify air. Plants of all kinds have evolved to depend on bacteria to break down soil debris into food that can then be taken up by their roots. It’s a symbiotic relationship in which plants have developed the ability to actually culture their own microbial colonies. In this ancient system, plants provide food to the bacteria and the bacteria convert this and other food sources into nutrients the plant itself can then utilize.
As luck would have it, this food cycle can include toxic chemicals absorbed by the plant. Once absorbed by stomata and transferred to the roots, microbes are able to break down a wide variety of unhealthy compounds into materials the plant can then re-absorb as food.
These pollutants are also delivered to soil bacteria by a mechanism known as transpiration. In this process, the water vapor a plant emits through its leaves rises away from the plant and into the atmosphere. As it does so, it creates convection currents of air that move in the opposite direction. Heading down toward the base of the plant, these currents draw pollutants into the soil where they’re rendered harmless by bacteria living there.
Using plants to effectively purify indoor air requires more than a few.
Homes with indoor air problems as well as healthy homes seeking to stay that way won’t be able to accomplish their aims with a handful of potted plants on a windowsill. On the other hand, it’s by no means necessary to live in a virtual jungle in order to realize appreciable atmospheric benefits.
Placing houseplants in reasonable abundance throughout the home will result in a healthier atmosphere than that found in a home where no plants are present at all.
(It should also be noted that while houseplants can remove many VOCs and other gaseous compounds, they don’t do anything to help with other indoor air hazards like particulates, dust, radon, etc.)
Because the amounts and types of individual pollutants removed by plants differ from species to species, and because the levels of specific pollutants often vary significantly from home to home, there’s no set number of plants recommended by experts for maximum results.
Instead, the general rule of thumb is the more plants the healthier the air. This purification power can be maximized by choosing those plants found to have the greatest air cleaning abilities. Following is a list of 20 of the top choices for removing gaseous pollutants from indoor air. Exceptional abilities are noted where applicable.
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis) – This plant is number one plant in overall purifying performance.
Areca palm (Chyrsalidocarpus lutescens) – Another top overall performer.
Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) – One of the top rated plants for formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene removal. Also noted for high transpiration rates.
Rubber plant (Ficus robusta) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
Dracaena Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
English Ivy (Hedera helix) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) – Expecially recommended for xylene removal.
Ficus alii (Ficus macleilandii alii)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) – Excellent for removing alcohols, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.
Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans Massangeana) – Another good choice for formaldehyde.
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata) – Good for formaldehyde and alcohols.
Florists mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) – A good seasonal choice for formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia removal.
Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) – Has a high transpiration rate.
Dracaena warneckei (Dracaena deremensis warneckei) – Excels at benzene removal.
Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) – A top choice for xylene and trichloroethylene.
Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
For more information, we recommend reading How to Grow Fresh Air, 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office, by B.C. Wolverton.
Rev Environ Health, 33 (1), 63-76 2018 Mar 28
Antifungal Properties of Essential Oils for Improvement of Indoor Air Quality: A Review
Harriet Whiley 1, Sharyn Gaskin 2, Tiffany Schroder 1, Kirstin Ross 1
PMID: 29077554 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2017-0023
Abstract
Concerns regarding indoor air quality, particularly the presence of fungi and moulds, are increasing. The potential for essential oils to reduce, control or remove fungi, is gaining interest as they are seen as a "natural" alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides. This review examines published research on essential oils as a method of fungal control in indoor environments. It was difficult to compare the relative performances of essential oils due to differences in research methods and reporting languages. In addition, there are limited studies that scale up laboratory results and assess the efficacy of essential oils within building environments. However, generally, there appears to be some evidence to support the essential oils clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano, thyme and lemon as potential antifungal agents. Essential oils from heartwood, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon basil, caraway, bay tree, fir, peppermint, pine, cedar leaf and manuka were identified in at least one study as having antifungal potential. Future studies should focus on comparing the effectiveness of these essential oils against a large number of fungal isolates from indoor environments. Studies will then need to focus on translating these results into realistic application methods, in actual buildings, and assess the potential for long-term antifungal persistence.
Excerpts from an article in Non-Toxic Times, 2/04
The real power of plants lies in their ability to remove unhealthy chemicals from our indoor air.
Studies have shown that the atmosphere in rooms filled with houseplants typically contains between 50% to 60% fewer mold spores and bacteria.
Plants accomplish this task in two main ways.
The first is by literally absorbing chemicals in the air via microscopic leaf openings called stomata. Once absorbed inside, the plant either breaks down the pollutant in question, or it sends the contaminant down to its roots where it’s released as food for the colonies of microbes that typically live in a plant’s root zone.
These harmless organisms are a key factor in a plant’s ability to purify air. Plants of all kinds have evolved to depend on bacteria to break down soil debris into food that can then be taken up by their roots. It’s a symbiotic relationship in which plants have developed the ability to actually culture their own microbial colonies. In this ancient system, plants provide food to the bacteria and the bacteria convert this and other food sources into nutrients the plant itself can then utilize.
As luck would have it, this food cycle can include toxic chemicals absorbed by the plant. Once absorbed by stomata and transferred to the roots, microbes are able to break down a wide variety of unhealthy compounds into materials the plant can then re-absorb as food.
These pollutants are also delivered to soil bacteria by a mechanism known as transpiration. In this process, the water vapor a plant emits through its leaves rises away from the plant and into the atmosphere. As it does so, it creates convection currents of air that move in the opposite direction. Heading down toward the base of the plant, these currents draw pollutants into the soil where they’re rendered harmless by bacteria living there.
Using plants to effectively purify indoor air requires more than a few.
Homes with indoor air problems as well as healthy homes seeking to stay that way won’t be able to accomplish their aims with a handful of potted plants on a windowsill. On the other hand, it’s by no means necessary to live in a virtual jungle in order to realize appreciable atmospheric benefits.
Placing houseplants in reasonable abundance throughout the home will result in a healthier atmosphere than that found in a home where no plants are present at all.
(It should also be noted that while houseplants can remove many VOCs and other gaseous compounds, they don’t do anything to help with other indoor air hazards like particulates, dust, radon, etc.)
Because the amounts and types of individual pollutants removed by plants differ from species to species, and because the levels of specific pollutants often vary significantly from home to home, there’s no set number of plants recommended by experts for maximum results.
Instead, the general rule of thumb is the more plants the healthier the air. This purification power can be maximized by choosing those plants found to have the greatest air cleaning abilities. Following is a list of 20 of the top choices for removing gaseous pollutants from indoor air. Exceptional abilities are noted where applicable.
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis) – This plant is number one plant in overall purifying performance.
Areca palm (Chyrsalidocarpus lutescens) – Another top overall performer.
Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) – One of the top rated plants for formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene removal. Also noted for high transpiration rates.
Rubber plant (Ficus robusta) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
Dracaena Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
English Ivy (Hedera helix) – Excels at formaldehyde removal.
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) – Expecially recommended for xylene removal.
Ficus alii (Ficus macleilandii alii)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) – Excellent for removing alcohols, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.
Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans Massangeana) – Another good choice for formaldehyde.
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata) – Good for formaldehyde and alcohols.
Florists mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) – A good seasonal choice for formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia removal.
Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) – Has a high transpiration rate.
Dracaena warneckei (Dracaena deremensis warneckei) – Excels at benzene removal.
Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) – A top choice for xylene and trichloroethylene.
Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
For more information, we recommend reading How to Grow Fresh Air, 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office, by B.C. Wolverton.
Rev Environ Health, 33 (1), 63-76 2018 Mar 28
Antifungal Properties of Essential Oils for Improvement of Indoor Air Quality: A Review
Harriet Whiley 1, Sharyn Gaskin 2, Tiffany Schroder 1, Kirstin Ross 1
PMID: 29077554 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2017-0023
Abstract
Concerns regarding indoor air quality, particularly the presence of fungi and moulds, are increasing. The potential for essential oils to reduce, control or remove fungi, is gaining interest as they are seen as a "natural" alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides. This review examines published research on essential oils as a method of fungal control in indoor environments. It was difficult to compare the relative performances of essential oils due to differences in research methods and reporting languages. In addition, there are limited studies that scale up laboratory results and assess the efficacy of essential oils within building environments. However, generally, there appears to be some evidence to support the essential oils clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano, thyme and lemon as potential antifungal agents. Essential oils from heartwood, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon basil, caraway, bay tree, fir, peppermint, pine, cedar leaf and manuka were identified in at least one study as having antifungal potential. Future studies should focus on comparing the effectiveness of these essential oils against a large number of fungal isolates from indoor environments. Studies will then need to focus on translating these results into realistic application methods, in actual buildings, and assess the potential for long-term antifungal persistence.
Mercury Issues
1/08 Mercury can be detoxed out of the body in a variety of ways – parsley, cilantro and dandelion leaves will bind mercury and it can then pass out of the body. Isn’t it interesting that fish is served garnished by parsley?
There are homeopathic detoxes as well as herbals.
Yesterday, 8/23/99, my husband read a one-liner to me from the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. It stated that there was nothing to worry about with mercury in one’s mouth.
My response to my husband was ” that since dentists and their assistants have to handle mercury as a toxic substance while it is in their offices, storing it in tightly sealed containers, wearing masks, gloves and recycling it in a special way; I couldn’t see how it lost its toxicity once it was in your/my mouth.” Can you?
My problem with removing the mercury fillings is that it is such a difficult procedure to accomplish without stirring up a flood of toxicity in the body. But studies have indicated that mercury can enter and spread into organs and it never flushes out of the body normally. Researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada, Dr. Leszek J. Hahn and others showed this in 1989.
Sweden does not allow mercury amalgam fillings. Germany has limited them to molars only, with none in pregnant women or toddlers. A study at Temple University in Philadelphia found that dentists who work with mercury filligs have evidence of high concentrations of mercury in their pituitary glands, with double the number of brain tumors as the rest of the population.
A study in the journal of Epidemiology and Community Health; vol32:155, 1878 and one in the Swedish Journal of Biological Medicine (January 1989) both showed an association between high mercury levels and multiple sclerosis.
The effects of mercury are said to be slow and gradual but varied, symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, bleeding gums, loosening of teeth, excessive salivation, foul breath, metallic taste, burning sensation in mouth or throat, tinnitis (ringing in the ears), allergies, asthma, sinusitis, anemia, joint pains, numbness and tingling of hands, feet or lips are all part of the problem (maybe).
There are several different types of tests to see if you are experiencing mercury poisoning. One can be done at home by sending saliva samples to a lab.
1/08 Mercury can be detoxed out of the body in a variety of ways – parsley, cilantro and dandelion leaves will bind mercury and it can then pass out of the body. Isn’t it interesting that fish is served garnished by parsley?
There are homeopathic detoxes as well as herbals.
Yesterday, 8/23/99, my husband read a one-liner to me from the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. It stated that there was nothing to worry about with mercury in one’s mouth.
My response to my husband was ” that since dentists and their assistants have to handle mercury as a toxic substance while it is in their offices, storing it in tightly sealed containers, wearing masks, gloves and recycling it in a special way; I couldn’t see how it lost its toxicity once it was in your/my mouth.” Can you?
My problem with removing the mercury fillings is that it is such a difficult procedure to accomplish without stirring up a flood of toxicity in the body. But studies have indicated that mercury can enter and spread into organs and it never flushes out of the body normally. Researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada, Dr. Leszek J. Hahn and others showed this in 1989.
Sweden does not allow mercury amalgam fillings. Germany has limited them to molars only, with none in pregnant women or toddlers. A study at Temple University in Philadelphia found that dentists who work with mercury filligs have evidence of high concentrations of mercury in their pituitary glands, with double the number of brain tumors as the rest of the population.
A study in the journal of Epidemiology and Community Health; vol32:155, 1878 and one in the Swedish Journal of Biological Medicine (January 1989) both showed an association between high mercury levels and multiple sclerosis.
The effects of mercury are said to be slow and gradual but varied, symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, bleeding gums, loosening of teeth, excessive salivation, foul breath, metallic taste, burning sensation in mouth or throat, tinnitis (ringing in the ears), allergies, asthma, sinusitis, anemia, joint pains, numbness and tingling of hands, feet or lips are all part of the problem (maybe).
There are several different types of tests to see if you are experiencing mercury poisoning. One can be done at home by sending saliva samples to a lab.
Skin brushing for Detox
Bodybrushes (for DRY brushing) are available in health food stores.
The idea is to get rid of surface toxins, ‘energize’ your skin to get blood flow going, and in general to make it easier for your body to shed wastes. It revitalizes the lymph system and sort of gives your whole body a mini-acupressure workout, since you’re actually brushing over every piece of skin you have.
The skin being your largest organ, it’s a good place to start detoxing
Bodybrushes (for DRY brushing) are available in health food stores.
The idea is to get rid of surface toxins, ‘energize’ your skin to get blood flow going, and in general to make it easier for your body to shed wastes. It revitalizes the lymph system and sort of gives your whole body a mini-acupressure workout, since you’re actually brushing over every piece of skin you have.
The skin being your largest organ, it’s a good place to start detoxing
