Essential oils: Lavender June 26, 2007

Lavender actually gets its name from Latin lavare, meaning, to wash. It was actually used in WWII to disinfect hospital walls and floors – I’d say that’s pretty potent, with what was going on in those hospitals! As fas as the essential oils go, it’s pretty popular for its clean, pure aroma. It promotes nervous system health and balance, and has lots of other healthy uses.

It has been used for nerves, migraines, headaches, tension, emotional stress, sore muscles or tense muscles. Other uses include benefits for the skin, immune and circulatory systems. The medicinal uses make it popular as a general additive for aromatherapy, but you can just as well add some lavender essential oil to your regular cleaning products, or add some to a damp rag to rub into your hardwood floors. It’ll leave your home smelling fantastic, promote health for your family, and do hard work as a disinfectant.

You can purchase essential oils at your local natural foods store, or Google it and purchase online. You’ll want to aim for Lavandula angustifolia, also known as Lavender Fine, as that’s the better type of lavender on the market. Happy cleaning! 

Please note: Lavender is not recommended for early pregnancy. When pregnant, please use caution when handling any essential oils, as most have not been tested for their effect on baby development. 

The Green Book featured on the Today Show June 19, 2007

The Today show featured a new book on the market that you may be interested in. The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen gives consumers simple ways to conserve energy, conserve water, and generally green your life. Tip come from the authors’ lives, general news, and celebrities too!

Tips include unplugging appliances when you’re not using them (because they still use energy when not in use), bringing your own toiletries when you travel to avoid the cheapo disposable hotel toiletries, and installing a water-conserving toilet (or flushing once less a day).

Check it out! And if when you do, let me know what you think!

Phthalate ban in California June 13, 2007

Thanks to the Healthy Child Healthy World Blog for keying us in to the bill passed by the California Assembly! The legislature in California passed a bill that requires toys sold in California to phase out phthalates. Why is this a good thing?

Phthalates are known to leech into the body from products we use – from shampoos and lotions (where they’re used to bind fragrances and enhance textures), to any PVC or plastic item (where they improve elasticity and flexibility) . And they do some pretty bad stuff to your body:

1. They are hormone disruptors
2. Phthalates cause reproductive disorders and genital defects
3. Exposure is linked to premature birth and early onset of puberty
4. Phthalates may lower sperm count and are associated with risk factors for testicular cancer

Knowing that, I’d say phasing out phthalates is a pretty good thing. If you’re a parent looking for phthalate-free toys, I’d recommend Discovery Toys (which generally have to be purchased through independent consultants, much the way you’d buy Avon), or wooden toys (such as those made by Haba or Melissa & Doug).  Smart mom Jewelry also has Teething Bling, which is phthalate free and pretty cool.

Klean Kanteen stainless bottles June 12, 2007

Did you know that in most cities the municipal water supply goes through much greater scrutiny than bottled waters? That means your tap water may be healthier than bottled water. And frankly, the plastic used in bottled waters is atrocious for the environment. Really, if you’re drinking bottled water – especially from those little throw-away single use bottles – consider switching to something a little more earth friendly. Either get yourself a water cooler if you’re too cool for tap water, or if you just don’t like the taste, get a decent filter for your tap. And spend the money you would have used on bottled water to get yourself a nice reusable bottle to keep with you on the go. It wouldn’t hurt if it was pretty too, right?

Klean Kanteen has sippy adapters now for use with toddlers and preschoolers. Turn your stainless steel Klean Kanteen into your child’s spill-proof sippy, and you won’t have to worry about the carcinogenic hazards of poor quality plastics leeching into little Johnny’s juice. They’re on sale now at Reusable Bags. And while you’re there, pick up a tote bag for your groceries. Save us from plastic-bag-dependency!

Best water bottle May 9, 2007

Here it is. Featured on Oprah. Called the toughest water bottle by Backpacker Magazine.

Sigg water bottles are a great looking, fully-functional way to tote your water and be kind to the earth. They keep your water tasting like water and don’t allow particles to seep into it.

They’re dishwasher safe. And the rest of the good news? After 10-15 uses, it pays for itself! Yes, your tap water is most likely perfectly safe and clean, and if you filter it well you can be sure it is. In fact, it’s probably cleaner than most bottled waters. And… no more putting plastic water bottles in the landfills. Check it out here!

Oprah’s Green show April 23, 2007

Oprah had a great show on Friday about making environmentally-friendly choices. The goal of the show was to show viewers small things they can be doing in their every day lives to help the environment. A few highlights -

• Paper or plastic? Neither! Bring your own reusable bags when you shop. The plastic bags take eons to biodegrade, and paper bags use a staggering amount of trees every year. So, BYOB! Bring your own Bag!
• Water – one liter of bottled water takes 5 liters of water to produce. Use tap water – filter it if you feel the need, and buy a reusable aluminum bottle.
• “Fake” Clean: Clean doesn’t smell like pine or lemon. Clean doesn’t smell! The chemicals in regular cleaners aren’t healthy for people, animals, or the earth. Use natural cleaners and a natural cleaning company (need we say, like Broom Huggers!)
• Did you know that appliances and electronics still use 40% of their power when they’re not in use? Your toaster, lamps, tv – they all use 40% of their power as long as they’re plugged in, on “standby.” The solution? Use a Smart Power Strip. Turn of the power strip and it’ll keep those appliances from sucking energy. Also, it groups your electronics in ‘clusters,’ so that when you turn off your TV, it also turns off your DVD player and surround sound too. Clever!

There are some awesome resources at Oprah’s website, along with some video feed. Check it out!

Tea tree oil shampoo? Can it really be? April 18, 2007

Thanks to The Alternative Consumer for pointing out Boo! Shampoo, infused with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is one of the most widely used essential oils out there – it has great antiseptic, antiviral, anti fungal, and disinfectant properties. You can use it to clean all sorts of surfaces, from wood floors to scraped knees. We’ll take a jaunt into all the many uses of tea tree oil another day, but for now, did you know it’s an insect repellent?

Amazingly, tea tree oil can be used to prevent head lice. Because of this, it’s been used as an additive in Boo! Shampoo, to be used for daily shampooing for all hair types. The formula also contains calendula, lavender, ginseng, wheat protein, rosemary, and honeysuckle. Mmmm… Sounds like a treat for hair, mind, and body! This is the perfect thing to send the kids off to camp with this summer, and if you like it, keep using it through the school year. How much easier it is to prevent lice than to get rid of the nasty buggers!

Safer plastics – baby bottles and sippy cups April 3, 2007

Just when you think it’s safe to come out of your bubble-like, self-sustaining bunker, someone dishes on Sippy cups! Who knew my kids’ beloved sippies could be leeching harmful phthalates and carcinogens into their vulnerable little bodies! I’ve switched their teethers to phthalate free, and I try to stock up on phthalate free toys (and battery-free too, but that’s another post all together). Thanks to Umbra over at Grist for tacking the issue of sippy cups and baby bottles. Umbra linked me over to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, which had this helpful PDF about all sorts of plastics, and even naming names for good and bad sippy cups and bottles.  It just so happens that both my kids used polycarbonate bottles – those were their favorites! My poor, polycarbonate-loving kids…

Take a look at that PDF – it’ll help you evaluate the plastics you buy and the way you use them.

Plant love April 2, 2007

Check this out! It’s biodegradable, earthy-friendly, plant based lipstick. The packaging is plant-based and biodegradable too. And what’s best? Plant the box it came in, and it’ll sprout flowers! Plant Love lipstick by CARGO is available exclusively at Sephora. Reviewers say the lipstick feels great on, so I can’t wait to buy mine. And try it. And plant it!

Now that’s clever.