Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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We put our home made cleaners to the test this weekend and spent six hours cleaning our office from top to bottom. In the past we’ve used vinegar and baking soda which are well known chemical-free and safe cleaning products. But this weekend we used the Eco-Me Home Kit cleaners and put them to work.
Eco-Me recipes are better
We found that the Eco-Me products not only cleaned better but with only three cleaning products we were able to clean the entire space. The Eco-Me home kit contains reusable bottles (with recipes printed on the side) for a general purpose cleaner, wood cleaner, and scrub. The key ingredient is an essential oil blend made from all natural plant based essential oils which is very fragrant but pleasant. The scrub was especially good at removing stains that we simply couldn’t remove with just vinegar alone.
Safe and chemical-free
We used these products for many hours in a small space and never once felt overwhelmed by the scent. On several occasions, we even accidently got spray in our eyes and it didn’t slow us down. What we liked best was that after using these products for so many hours with no gloves, at the end of the day our hands actually felt clean and soft. We usually run for the moisturizer after using even natural cleaning products.
If you’d like to know exactly what goes into your cleaning products then consider making your own at home! There’s lots more information here about the Eco-Me house cleaning kit.
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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Recently I had a chance to ask a few questions of Kim Nadel, NCIDQ certified interior designer, LEED Accredited Professional, and co-founder of the Brooklyn-based NICHE environmentally smart design group. Kim is currently on the MFA faculty of the New York School of Interior Design teaching Green Design, and co-authored The Green Pages: The Contract Designer’s Guide to Environmentally Responsible Materials and Products.
Kim was chosen by Hospitality Design magazine as one of the top 20 leaders in the industry to influence design in a positive direction. She has enjoyed lecturing throughout the country to designers and architects on green living since 1995 and her work has been published in a variety of publications including Interiors and Natural Home and Garden. Kim’s broad knowledge allows her to work within a diverse range of creative projects that promote green living and inspire others to create in a sustainable way. Presently Kim is incorporating the principles of Vastu into her work, and her designs are featured in Kathleen Cox’s Vastu book Space Matters.
What is the single most important thing individuals can do (in terms of interior decorating) to improve the feng shui or vastu of their home, if budget is a primary concern?
Kim: I would say the most basic things to do are one, to clear out the clutter, and two, to make sure everything is in working order. One particular area to work on is the entry area — it is so important because it is instrumental in determining how people perceive you, and also what you yourself experience as you enter your own personal space. It is important to clear the clutter there and have appropriate storage (a place for keys, etc.). I usually place a mirror at the entry.
I asked my Feng Shui consultant, Sanna Plaskon, to elaborate on one thing people can do in terms of interior decoration. “In terms of budgetary concerns, everything begins and ends in the bedroom because we spend most of our sleeping hours there - this is where we go to relax and recharge. Furniture placement is very important - where the bed is positioned is critical. “It is best to keep the electronics, such as the TV, in a storage cabinet to resist that visual pull,” advises Sanna.
What can individuals can do (in terms of interior decorating) to reduce the environmental impact of their home, if budget is a primary concern?
* Try energy-efficient lightbulbs and mix the different light sources in each room.
* Purchase used furniture, i.e. antiques, and/ or purchase local furnishings to decorate your space.
* Reduce your environmental impact by purchasing local products which minimizes packaging and freight pollution.
* Existing furniture can be updated by either refinishing, repainting, applying another material, like wallpaper, or adding interesting hardware.
* Purchase pieces that are multi-functional are longer lasting because they can be moved around to different rooms, like my coffee table with scoop, which acts as a seat or bench, or a coffee table, or both!
What are the biggest challenges you face when a residential client approaches you for help in “green” decorating?
When a client approaches me for green design, I already have a receptive client. They are ‘envies’ themselves and are open to new ideas. It’s all about having that change in consciousness — having that inner lens with which to make priorities that make sense simultaneously for the individual and the planet.
I would say that the biggest challenge is finding a contractor that understands and has the knowledge to implement a green renovation. Here’s a simple example — one client had hired a contractor, (BK - “before Kim!”), to plaster her walls in her living room, and since the contractor didn’t seal off the doors and openings to the other spaces, a large amount of plaster dust permeated a thin layer throughout her entire house!
You’ve been a pioneer in the burgeoning “green” design industry, consulting for homes, businesses, hospitals, and spas. As awareness grows, how do you see the market changing in the next few years?
It is easier to locate eco-friendly materials, fabrics, etc to work with now as opposed to five years ago. Because of the green buzz, I have found that almost all companies have at least one earth-friendly line (or are working toward a green line in the near future), because they realize they will be behind in this competitive market.
Yet, I have never found green products to be more expensive across the board, except for building products, which are inexpensive to start with. For example, plywood is so cheap, but wouldn’t you spend twice as much to purchase a more environmentally-sound product? For example, formaldehyde-free plywood vs. toxic plywood, or waste-wood plywood vs. luan mahogany plywood from exploited rainforest land? Although I focus on green products, and I continue to do research to help companies to re-green their products, I think we are still 10 years away from a true public awareness or a real general population eagerness for things like Anna Sova’s chem-free paints, earth-friendly carpets, solar panels, etc.
Also, it is important to do your research, or have others help you navigate…I have been tracking materials for 15 years, and I can decipher between the line of green-washing and legitimate progress.
You’ve started your own line of furniture, which has been featured in the book “Space Matters.” What’s up next for you, design-wise?
I recently launched a new look to the furniture line with the introduction of new finishes. I wanted to experiment with an eco-friendly concrete because the material can be molded to create the curves and scoops, so I searched for an eco-friendly material that is lightweight and has a high concentration of recycled content, and found this newly conceived version in Colorado.
It’s 30% lighter than conventional concrete. What is so fabulous about this material is that it does not contain portland cement - the main ingredient that is the cause of most of the CO2 emissions in the design/build industry, rather, it is ceramic based. I also wanted the versatility of an indoor-outdoor line, and the concrete is perfect for outdoors and beautiful enough to go indoor applications. Now, I am working on a soft line of furniture (upholstered) that is green, with lasting value, that can be disassembled and recycled, and can be also be placed indoors or outdoors. I am always dragging my chaises outside for parties…
As a designer, there is a dichotomy for me, which is: do we need more stuff to be created in the world… don’t we have enough furniture to work with? Yet I have a desire to create and to create useful products with lasting qualities and value.
Read more about Kim Nadel and her green interior design services here.
- Deb Hiett
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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I like to think of wellness as simply life! Its how we work and play it’s about our friends and family, our purpose, and of course the basics such as what we breathe, drink, and eat. May I be so bold as to say wellness is as nature intended -- the ebb and flow of life from birth through death and perhaps beyond?
If wellness is so simple then why does it seem to have become overly complex? What to take, when to take it, who to see, what not to do, who to trust – the list is endless. Sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back from it all, even if we’re dealing with a major wellness challenge, and look at the basics. The following wellness tips were designed to do just that. To re-connect us with what’s really important in life and to realize that everyday includes an abundance of wellness. It’s in a laugh, in a thought, in a sip of water … its life. When we tune into our life and tune out the noise, everything becomes so much clearer!
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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Green, eco, environmentally friendly, earth friendly, green footprint, carbon footprint – what’s it all about? It’s common sense that we depend on the planet for life and “green” sounds like a good idea. But what is “green”? Well, you get to decide! Because if we don’t decide what’s important in our lives then others will do so for us. A prominent green magazine has a recent article titled “Is it better to serve soda in 12-ounce cans or from two-liter bottles?” Hang on, isn’t it better not to serve soda at all? And there lies the issue with “green”. It’s starting to distract us from what’s really important!
There appears to be an agenda to convince us that the earth is more important than ourselves and that we’re responsible for its demise. Yes, guilty as charged for using too many plastic bags throughout life and adding to the plastic island in the sea that’s as big as Texas. But let’s get things in perspective. The plastic bag company is probably doing very well financially. There are global companies taking control of the worlds food supply with harmful GMO technology. Why do we let the gas companies make billions of dollars in profits when they’re extracting it from “our earth” that we should all have equal rights to? I wonder what the world would look like if the war budget was instead used to research non-polluting energy sources. There are just too many examples to list here!
The reality is that large companies and the super rich get to live by different rules and then point the finger at us. So instead of following wherever the “green” agenda is headed let’s make “green” about ourselves, our family, and our friends and about making healthier choices everyday. In that way, we can’t help but improve the earth as well. There may be a hundred things more important to our overall wellness than deciding whether to serve soda in cans or bottles?
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
I was surprised to find an article on the first page of Google when searching for whole house air purifiers titled “Whole House Air Cleaners – Why They Do Not Work”. Perhaps it’s not so unusual given the number of products on the market and the fact that they don’t necessarily work as advertised. Air is so fundamentally important to our health that I was compelled to write an article about IQAir’s Perfect 16 titled “Whole House Air Cleaners Report, Why They Can and Do Work”.
In summary here’s what we like best about the IQAir’s solution and it’s important to note that you must have a heating ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) to be able to use the Perfect 16.
- Guaranteed 90% reduction of airborne allergens and pollutants such as dust, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. A laser particle counter is used to show you air quality levels before and after installation.
- Simple effective filter design that requires filter changes approx once every three years.
- Before any installation, an authorized installer will determine if the Perfect 16 whole house air purifier is suitable for your home (at no cost).
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
Monday, June 02, 2008
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When I decided to move to Southern California, well-meaning friends worried about my fair complexion. “I’ll just be known as ‘the girl with the hat,’” I replied breezily, while thinking to myself “…and the long sleeves, and the bandana around my neck.” And while I’ve been very successful at keeping my skin protected from the sun, I never imagined how freaking dry it is out here. Really dry. Desert dry.
I’m happy to report I’ve found a new oil that helps soothe and heal my dry and irritated skin: organic neem oil. Of course, it’s not new to everyone in India, where it’s been used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. All parts of the neem tree (seeds, leaves, flowers, and bark) are used for preparing many different medical preparations, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and sedative.
Organix-South is a small natural products company in rural Florida which creates therapeutic skin care and herbal remedies. Their wild-crafted TheraNeem Oil is perfect for soothing itchy or irritated skin with essential fatty acids and natural antioxidants. You can use it directly on the skin, or add a few drops to your favorite skin care products (or even shampoo). There’s also an Herbal Outdoor Spray that repels mosquitoes naturally (with its unique blend of neem and other essential oils), TheraNeem Oil Soap, TheraNeem Lip balm, even TheraNeem Pet Shampoo!
Now I’m still referred to as “that girl with the hat,” but no longer “that itchy, splotchy girl with the hat.” That’s progress.
- Deb Hiett
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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In keeping with our ongoing efforts to bring you the best in personal wellness, eZoetic.com is proud to offer the services of expert homeopath and herbalist Kimberly Woods.
25 years experience and training
With 25 years of experience and extensive training by world renowned master homeopaths and herbalists, she has helped thousands of individuals suffering from acute and chronic disorders, from severe physical problems to psychological illnesses. Kimberly's methodology allows her to work with clients via phone, e-mail, or in person.
Simple as ordering a product online
All you do is visit our homepathic practitioner page on eZoetic.com, and order a consultation with Kimberly just like you would any eZoetic.com product. You'll receive instructions via e-mail for scheduling your appointment and providing Kimberly with the information she'll need to help you.
eZoetic.com will be adding more natural wellness expert services in the coming months, so stay tuned!
- eZoetic.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon and perhaps you’ve noticed it to? I call it the “Nobody Knows Anything” phenomenon. Pick an important topic and chances are there are a group of people on either side of the fence with opposing arguments. The web seems to magnify the phenomenon since everybody is allowed to chime in with an opinion or agenda.
The conundrum of health in the media
This phenomenon is particularly evident in the health industry and perhaps it’s because health is somewhat intangible. Vaccines, homeopathy, pharmaceutical drugs, even raw cacao are examples of this. Perhaps it’s also because we seem to have lost touch with what it is to be truly healthy? We’re told that we’re living longer and that means we’re healthier in general. But we’re also currently experiencing an epidemic of life threatening ailments (and in our children). Hence the conundrum!
Perhaps this is too simplistic an approach but I think we need to listen to ourselves more and to “experts” less. After all, very little of what we see, read, or hear can actually be validated. When I read an article or study, I don’t know if it was one of the “good” experts or one of the “bad” experts that conducted the study. I imagine there are good and bad experts just as there were good and bad teachers at school. Maybe it was a good expert having a bad day or maybe they just got it plain wrong? After all, we’re all human! Who’s funding the information, what’s their agenda, is it in my best interest, or is it the bottom dollar that’s more important? In most cases, I’ll simply never know!
Trust yourself
I believe that each of us is qualified to look after our own health and wellbeing. Draw on experts and expert information by all means but only if it agrees with our own beliefs, judgments, experience, intuition, and common sense. Personally, I like the basics. Clean air, pure water, nutritious food, and what nature provides us – you can’t go wrong with these!
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home is the new book that helps every parent “de-tox” their home and make a safer, greener environment for their children. It’s filled with simple steps and easy solutions you can implement in your home now. This guide covers all areas including indoors and outdoors, cleaning products, toys, and clothes, as well as cleaner air and water. There is even a chapter about raising a “green” pet!
Contributions from environmental science and public-health experts such as Dr. Phil Landrigan, Dr. Harvey Karp and Dr. Alan Greene (as well as from celebrity parents such as Meryl Streep, Sheryl Crow, Gwenyth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, and Kate Hudson) make for a variety of insightful information.
The 336-page, hardcover book is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. For more info, check out healthychild.org/book.
- Deb Hiett
Friday, May 16, 2008
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I recently spent three wonderful days backpacking at a high altitude, but neglected to use any sun/wind protection on my lips. One day later, 80% of my lower lip was chaffed, cracked, split, and a large fever blister had formed. Hardly what you’d consider a crisis, but considering it was four days before my wedding and I was required to “kiss the bride” (and be featured in photos that would be displayed forever), it constituted a minor medical emergency. The word “stupid” comes to mind, but I thought it was worth sharing the story in the hopes that it might be of some benefit to others. I’m also aware that this problem was a small drop in the ocean compared to bigger issues afoot, but sometimes it’s the little things. Please note that this is my unique experience and does not constitute medical advice. It’s simply the approach I chose to take.
Get informed
It seems everyone has strong opinions when it comes to handling complaints of a medical nature. My first task was to simply stay calm, set a clear objective (a perfectly healed lip in four days), and go about collecting and evaluating information coming from people, books, and the Web.
Back to basics
I immediately turned to the basics (cleansing and nutrition) and decided I would juice fast with SuperFood, and start on Intestinal Formula #1 and Intestinal Formula #2 every day. I’ve done a lot of fasting and cleansing in the past so this was an easy way to begin.
An orthodox approach
Meanwhile, we had a tip from another bride that there was a drug called Valtrex that would heal the cold sore within 24 hours but that it was only available via prescription. My loving bride and I agreed that it was worth trying almost anything to accomplish our objective. The last time I had seen a doctor was a decade ago to get a prescription for an organic mattress! However, I was hoping that modern medicine could produce a small miracle. It’s also worth noting that I’ve had fever blisters in the past and it’s one of the few health challenges I’ve yet to overcome.
Rather than explain the tedious details, I’m simply going to present a summary of my natural wellness vs. my orthodox medicine approach and conclude with the outcome. Note that I choose not to have medical insurance but that’s a topic for later discussion. Those with medical coverage would obviously pay less for orthodox medical care. Note also that I have not included sales tax, shipping, gas, time etc. into this equation.
Natural wellness approach and cost
I decided that I would purchase every natural product that my research indicated might help (a “better safe than sorry” approach) and then be guided by my intuition day by day as to what to take, how much, and when. As always with intuition, it’s difficult to validate, and interestingly, some of the items below I took large doses of for a day or two and then none for the remaining period. Another challenge was that the cold sore needed drying out while the other areas that were split and blistered needed moisture. I was fortunate enough to have a number of items on my shelf (including a homeopathy kit) and it was a good reminder to always keep some basics on hand.
$20 Intestinal Formula #1 – herbal colon cleanser.
$24 Intestinal Formula #2 – bowel cleanser and intestinal vacuum.
$36 SuperFood Plus – food/herbal based vitamin and mineral concentrate.
$9 Vitamin C - I was out of the food-based vitamin C but had some old ascorbic acid. I simply mixed this with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
$30 Echinacea – I used 1/3 of the bottle I had on hand in the first two days. I wish I had had more for the remaining days. There’s very few Echinacea brands that I find effective and none of them are available at local stores.
$34 St John’s Wort – well known to be good for treating cold sores. I happened to have a number of excellent brands on hand (Herbalist & Alchemist and Blessed Maine Herbs) and consumed two bottles in four days.
$8 Lysine – an amino acid well known for treating cold sores.
$26 Probiotic – Simply following my intuition, I took up to 10 first thing in the morning with a small amount of organic raw milk.
$12 Raw Nori Seaweed – additional source of B vitamins including B12.
$7 Licorice root – the licorice twigs you chew and then discard. I’d simply read it was beneficial.
$7 Mercurius Vivus – homeopathic remedy.
$7 Natrum Muriaticum – homeopathic remedy.
$11 Shea Butter – used continually for the last 24 hours once the fever blister had dried up.
$16 Organic Whole Ginger Root – for whatever reason it seemed appropriate to consume as much as possible. I made a smoothie (based on a liver cleanse recipe): a blend of fresh organic apple juice, distilled water, fresh organic ginger root, organic olive oil, and a clove of garlic. I consumed over 3 lbs. of ginger over four days.
$18 Organic Vegetables - for juicing, including a few cloves of garlic.
$0 Hands on Self-Healing - approx 2 hours (although I wish I had had time for more).
$0 Immune Homeopathic - my mother shared her immune-boosting homeopathic remedies with me. I simply added these to the pile.
Total Cost: $265
Orthodox medicine approach and cost
$130 (15 minute consultation) - Emergency Care Doctors visit. You know you’re in trouble when the first thing your doctor suggests is “makeup.” The list I walked away with (ordered as written): chakras/meditation/visualization, vitamin B complex & C, Lysine 4-6 grams/day, valtrex, chapstick, GNC products – topical/systemic. My doctor explained that the Valtrex may result in the fever blister improving one day sooner.
$150 valtrex - 12 pills (to be taken 3 per day until cold sore gone). Note, intuitively it felt appropriate to only take two pills per day for three days only (once the cold sore had dried up). Due to the cost, I purchased only enough pills to get to the wedding day.
$15 abreva – topical fever/cold sore blister treatment.
Total Cost: $295
Outcome in a nutshell
Bottom line: my lip was 85% better on the big day. A disappointing outcome based on the 100% objective, but each day saw a 20% improvement and perhaps another day would have done the trick. I stopped all treatment after the wedding and my lip was 100% healed with no sign that anything had happened 5 days later. Would I have done anything differently? I’d skip the doctor’s visit and medications due to cost vs. benefit and possible side effects. And no modern medicine miracle! Even though the cost was similar, the amount of nutrition by taking a natural approach was far superior and in my opinion provides long term benefit (even if it does require more effort than simply taking a few pills).
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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The “green” cleaning products on the market are great, but they can be pricey. You know you should mix all your own house cleaning solutions, but it can be a hassle, and who knows if you’re using the right ingredients in the proper amounts? Finally, we found an easy way to make all the healthy “green” home cleaning products you need, all in one handy kit.
With the Eco-Me Home Kit, you provide the white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, and water, and you’ve got everything you need to make an all-purpose cleaner, a wood polish cleanser, and a scrub cleanser, too — at a fraction of the cost of most store-bought non-toxic cleaners.
The Eco-Me Home Kit contains:
2 spray bottles for mixing spray cleaner and polish
1 jar for mixing scrub cleanser
1 natural bristle scrub brush
1 handy mixer
1 microfiber cleaning cloth
1 bottle Eco-Me Home Cleaning Essential Oil
1 natural fiber storage bag
Easy to follow instructions on how to mix ingredients (right from your own kitchen).
The essential oil contains tea tree, lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender pure plant oils, and helps purge surfaces of mold, mildew, grime, and water stains (plus it smells great!). The kit is available at eZoetic.com for $26.00, and you’ll also find an Eco-Me Baby Kit, Eco-Me Cat Kit, and Eco-Me Dog Kit there, too. Now it’s easier than ever to “green-it-yourself!”
- Deb Hiett
Monday, May 12, 2008
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During the Natural Products Expo West, I was talking with a manufacturer of organic baby clothing/blankets, and we discussed the importance of chemical-free natural fibers for newborn babies. Together we started to prioritize which products were most critical for parents to focus on, and concluded that any clothing worn for long periods (i.e. diapers) should take precedence. But because babies love to put toys in their mouths, we decided chemical-free toys (e.g. wooden rattles, stuffed animals etc.) are likely to be even more important. Then we determined that since babies spend so much of their time sleeping, a chemical-free sleeping environment should be the first and most important place to start.
We believe one of the best investments for a newborn is in an organic Moses basket (or organic mattress) made with natural fibers since conventional bedding typically contains highly toxic chemical fire-retardants. Next step is to invest in organic (natural fiber) mattress protectors, sheets, and blankets. When babies are old enough, an organic pillow is an excellent addition.
Of course, any aspect of a baby's environment that is not conducive to their health could be the most important place to start. Take some time to investigate your child's environment and minimize contact with all chemicals and maximize natural alternatives.
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder
IQAir has just released a handy air purifier selection tool that helps you find the best IQAir air purifier for your needs, based on a series of simple questions. The tool helps determine which model and which type of air purifier (floor or whole house) is the most appropriate, and also suggests the number of air purifiers required based on the dimensions of your room or whole house. It also provides basic information on air quality issues based on your specific answers.
We also have an air purifier report with general information to help you choose the best purifier for your needs. It contains a lot of information on air purifiers (and air filtration) in general including different technologies and what to consider when purchasing an air purifier (no matter which brand you choose to buy).
The residential series of IQAir purifiers is available for purchase here. For additional help and information simply contact eZoetic.com.
- Matthew, eZoetic.com Founder