Clean Up Your Air With Indoor House Plants

Not only do plants bring beauty to our homes and offices they are also useful in cleaning the air we breathe of pollutants.

A joint NASA and ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) study proved that plants can actually remove harmful gases and pollutants from the air in buildings, including carbon monoxide. As part of the study, different plants were sealed in Plexiglas chambers with various chemicals.

Philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos were labeled the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the chamber atmosphere. Other good performers are Dracaena Massangeana, Spathiphyllum, and Golden Pothos. “Plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves,” Wolverton said. “But research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors”.

THE BEST POLLUTANT-REMOVING PLANTS ARE:

Bamboo Palm- absorbs the formaldehyde that furniture emits.

Chrysanthemum- can absorb the trichloroethylene from inks and benzene from any plastic product.

Corn Plant- is good at absorbing the formaldehyde from paper goods.

Gerbera Daisy- also absorbs benzene from ink

Philodendron- can also absorb formaldehyde from wood (particleboard).

Other useful plants include the Peace Lilly, English Ivy, Spider Plants, Chinese Evergreen, and Dracaena.

Any of these plants, or a combination of several or all, should do the trick.

Add some green to your environment and clean up your air at the same time. Your lungs will thank you.

Patience Is A Virtue

This is a beautiful, poignant little 5 minute short film about patience, and our lack of it, especially when it comes to our older parents.

Get Rid Of That Wart The Natural Way

When we think of warts, the first images that come to mind are those ugly bumps on the noses of witches. And no, you can't get them by touching frogs and toads, but they are contagious, if you happen to be susceptible. And they are actually quite common, mostly with children, though adults can get warts too.

Caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), there are a variety of different warts including:

1. Plantar Warts- lumps on the sole of the feet, and are usually very painful.

2. Common Warts- elevated, granular bumps that are usually found on hands, elbows and knees.

3. Filiform/Digitate Warts- have a finger-like shape and can be found on the face, normally around the lips, eye-lids and nose.

4. Flat Warts- are cluster-type warts. Small, smooth, and can occur on the face, hands, knees, neck, wrists. They like company, so you can have as many as a 100 clustered together.

5. Genital Warts- are, obviously found on the genitalia. (I would check with your doctor before trying any of these remedies on these kinds of warts.)

SOLUTIONS:

The most common, popular and effective home-remedies are:

DUCT TAPE: Take a small piece of silver duct tape and place on wart. Leave for a few weeks and it should disappear.

LEMON JUICE: Put some lemon juice on the wart three or four times a day, until they fall off.

CASTOR OIL/LISTERINE/VINEGAR: Dab these individually or as a mixture on warts.

BANANA PEEL: Tape a piece of banana peel to the wart (flesh side to the skin) or rub it on wart every night before bed.

PREVENTION:

Like colds, some people are more apt to get warts than others. It's all about your immune system and how strong it's able to fight infections. But there are some things you can do to help. Because HPV thrives in warm, moist places

-Make sure you wash regularly and keep clean and dry, and do not touch or pick at your friend's wart, or your own, if you happen to have one. By picking, scratching etc. you can spread the virus.
-Don't share towels. You can pick up the virus from using infected towels.
-Don't walk barefoot in a gym, or in other public places. Use waterproof shoes or sandals.
-Keep feet and skin dry.
-Change socks daily.

For more natural wart remedies, check out health911.com

Hat Tip: Earth Clinic Folk Remedies