On Christmas Eve, my husband came down with a violent, highly contagious stomach bug, which of course ruined his holiday eating.  My daughter succumbed to it the next day and was even sicker. Fearing it would spread to the rest of us, I sprayed Thieves Oil around the house.  What is Thieves Oil?  A powerful blend of germ-killing essential oils - clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary - that help eliminate airborne bacteria and boost the immune system. Research conducted at Weber State University, as well as other documented research, shows that most viruses, fungi, and bacteria …

Many foods and spirits can be used as green alternatives to conventional household and personal care products.  Below are some ideas sent to me from a couple of readers. Cucumber is a nutritious vegetable with many more medicinal uses than listed here. Cucumbers are loaded with vitamins and minerals and make an energy-boosting snack.  Rubbing a cucumber slice on a fogged up mirror will eliminate the fog and provide aromatherapy at the same time.  Cucumber slices in an aluminum pie tin will repel grubs and slugs from your garden.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give …

Exposure to cold germs is inevitable and most people get at least one or two colds per year.  My husband and I recently felt the symptoms of the common cold coming on - scratchy throat, sneezing, slight headache, runny nose – and we stopped it dead in its tracks!   Besides following a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables to maintain a strong immune system, the key is to attack it with natural remedies the minute you feel those initial symptoms. The first thing I do is take Coldcalm, a homeopathic medicine you can buy at CVS. Follow the directions exactly.  I also take extra Vitamin C (…

Need an unusual and green holiday gift idea?  Consider giving organic or natural fiber sheets and blankets.  We spend one third of our life sleeping, so go for the healthier option. Permanent press, easy care, no iron and cotton/polyester blends have usually been treated with formaldehyde, which has been linked to cancer, asthma and other ailments. Some sheets are labeled formaldehyde-free, but most do not indicate whether or not they contain formaldehyde.  Conventional cotton is often bleached and treated with dyes and is one of the most heavily sprayed products, accounting for up to 25% of …

This year I have noticed a proliferation of mice in my house and even had a squirrel yesterday!  A recent article in the Boston Globe entitled, “Where did all the acorns go?” by David Abel, maintains that acorns have all but disappeared this fall, a phenomenon that affects the ecosystem, devastating everything from chipmunks to owls, with mice, chipmunks and squirrels most affected. Typically, a mature oak tree will produce about 250 pounds of acorns, serving as seeds for saplings and food for rodents and other animals. The oaks this year have each produced less than half a pound of acorns. …

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural states in order to extend their shelf life.  Foods that come in a box, can, bag or carton are processed. They are often poor quality and usually cheap.  About 90% of the money Americans spend on food is used to buy “edible foodlike substances” as Michael Pollen, well-known author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and professor, calls them. Processed foods have been implicated in most of today’s chronic diseases and health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  What makes processed foods so bad?  Many …

The holidays are fast approaching, and it’s time to start thinking about holiday shopping.  In these tough economic times with so many Americans unemployed, consider buying “Made in America” products. American manufacturing companies have been especially affected by the economic downturn, and it’s important for each of us to do what we can to help turn this around. Most of our home goods, clothes, shoes, appliances, computers, trinkets, etc. are made in China and other Asian countries.  We buy them because not only are they often the only option, but also they are cheaper.  At what cost …

An interesting new eco-friendly phenomenon is happening with wine by the glass. Restaurants are starting to serve wine on tap. Wine-by-the-keg has been around for at least a decade in the U.S. and abroad (I actually bottled my own wine from a keg when I lived in France in 1982) and restaurants in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, New York and Detroit are doing it. With keg wine, wineries save money on production, packaging and shipping costs, by reducing the need for bottles, labels, corks, capsules, cardboard boxes, storage area, etc.  These cost savings can be ultimately …

For years I wanted a blender that you simply turn on and off, like the kind I remembered having as a child. I was tired of the plastic, LED readout variety with so many different blending options. All those options seemed to do the same thing, and the blenders broke often. I finally found a good, solid old-fashioned Waring Blender. I work my blender hard with chock-filled smoothies every morning, homemade soups and other liquefied food items, and even my Waring blender had a part wear out. I didn’t want to buy a new one because basically it still worked.  I wanted to replace the part that …

Anti-bacterial products are the craze these days. About 75 percent of liquid soaps and 30 percent of bar soaps contain an anti-bacterial agent, with triclosan the most common.  More and more personal care and cleaning products contain anti-microbial agents.  Is anti-bacterial soap really better? Or necessary?  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, anti-bacterial soaps are not necessary for several reasons.  The anti-bacterial components need to be left on for two minutes in order to work. Most people do not do this. Bacteria can possibly develop a resistance to the …

Everyone wants to give his or her baby the best possible start in life. To me, that means healthy, green living with minimal chemical exposure, fresh organic food and lots of love. Babies use approximately 6,000 diapers before toilet training. That’s a lot of disposable diapers in the landfill where they take 200-500 years to decompose. Hence the debate over disposable vs. cloth, which takes water, energy and chemicals to wash. Cloth diapers (and now bamboo) have been shown to have a lower environmental impact. With today’s busy families, however, many prefer the convenience of disposables. …

We all want a beautiful smile with pearly white teeth, but years of drinking tea and coffee, smoking or just plain aging can discolor teeth.  Teeth whitening is popular right now, especially since so many celebrities are doing it, yet whitening teeth is not a new discovery. It was practiced in Greece and India for thousands of years.  The Greeks actually used urine to whiten their teeth and as a disease cure.  While there are many more modern products today, some are safer than others.  Harsh bleaching agents used to whiten teeth can burn the teeth and wear down tooth enamel, erode gum tissue…

Honey is an excellent sugar substitute, but it is so much more! Doctors have been using honey for centuries, but with the introduction of antibiotics, its usage declined.  Honey is a natural antiseptic and promotes healing of minor cuts, scrapes and skin wounds. Its natural sugar (fructose) absorbs the moisture in the wound and draws out the pus, making it hard for bacteria to grow. As it dries it forms a natural bandage. Propolis found in some honeys also kills bacteria. I applied it to my kids’ scrapes and cuts and it not only healed the wounds, but seemed to eliminate scarring as well. …

I’m amazed at how quickly the move towards reusable shopping bags took off. Most people seem to understand the importance of reducing trash and bring their own bags when shopping. It’s great we are keeping lots of plastic bags out of the landfill, but the reusable shopping bags could carry dangerous levels of bacteria, which can be harmful to human health.   According to one study, cross-contamination is the culprit. Juices from uncooked meat, poultry or eggs can leak onto a fabric bag, which can contaminate food put in the bag on the next trip. I read some great tips recently from the …

A lot!  Styrofoam, the trademark name of the Dow Chemical Company for polystyrene foam, and used for disposable cups and plates, food packaging, mailing material, appliance packaging and much more, is manufactured from petroleum as well as other chemicals, one of which, benzene, is a known carcinogen. Because polystyrene is so prevalent, many of us assume it is safe, but according to a Foundation for Achievements in Science and Education fact sheet, long-term exposure to even small amounts of styrene can cause fatigue, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, low platelet and hemoglobin values, …

Does your pet have fleas? Fleas are more than just a nuisance to your pets (and humans); they can also result in severe skin problems.  As with everything, prevention is key. Once they take hold, it’s hard to get rid of them. Bathing your pet regularly, using a flea comb daily, regular vacuuming of pet areas and washing pet bedding will help stop fleas. You don’t need chemical shampoos either – the lather will drown them. Fleas attack weaker pets, so it’s important to keep your pet healthy with regular check ups and nutritious food. Garlic and yeast supplements in your pet’s food help repel …

I can’t imagine preparing a meal without garlic. But garlic is so much more than a flavor enhancement! Just as some foods can harm our health, others have the ability to heal and garlic is one of those foods. Garlic’s healthful and healing properties are numerous and go back thousands of years. It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties, which make it a powerful remedy for colds and flu. It also eases ear infections and may relieve asthma symptoms. It is an effective, broad-spectrum antibiotic, which can heal infections. In World War II, garlic earned the …

One of my readers contacted me for a natural solution to a common but embarrassing problem, smelly feet.  Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes, when you exercise or during the hot weather.  Wearing shoes and socks that don’t breathe or rough, dry skin on your feet can promote foot odor.  Bromhidrosis, foot odor, is due to bacteria that breed and multiply in warm feet, socks, and shoes.  The soles of your feet have thousands of sweat glands that produce perspiration, which can breakdown in contact with certain bacteria, causing an odor. Bunions, …

How can you have an eco-correct cookout this Labor Day? It's easy. First, visit your local farmers' market for fresh local fruits and vegetables, which are so abundant this time of year.   Then, a charcoal chimney is an easy way to start your grill and much safer than lighter fluid if you don’t have a gas grill. Make sure you use natural, hardwood charcoal instead of the conventional briquettes.  Fill at least half your grill with produce.  Produce is not only healthy and low calorie, but also doesn’t produce the carcinogens that can form on grilled meats.  Always cook over a low-to-medium …

My last child is about to start her senior year in college. Over the years I have noticed colleges getting greener and instigating some innovative practices to help the environment, but there are lots of things students can do individually to reduce carbon emissions and lead a greener lifestyle.   Moving in and out of dorms creates a lot of waste. The amount of cardboard and plastic packaging for the new bedding, bath and personal care products, school supplies, etc. is overwhelming and recycling bins are not always available. Instead of always buying new, reuse some things from home and try …