Posts filed under ‘Miscellaneous’
Conquer Your Holiday Cold with Natural Remedies
What’s one way you don’t want to be spending the holidays? Being sick. Every year, like clockwork, I catch a cold or flu before Thanksgiving or Christmas. I used to just swallow some over-the-counter drugs, drink a little tea and try to sleep it off. But I’ve slowly seen that supporting your body with natural remedies can actually speed up recovery time and bring you back more ready to rejoin the holiday whirl.
Here are my five tips for conquering your cold the natural way:
- Use a Neti Pot once or twice a day. It’ll help flush out some of the mucus that keeps you hacking and barely able to breathe. I recommend the Baraka Neti pot, which I’ve been using for years.
- Mix up a blend of flu-fighting essential oils.* If you’re feeling feverish, stuffy or sore, blend 5 drops of tea tree oil, 2 drops of lavender and 2 drops of thyme and add either to a warm bath or disperse using a diffuser. I strongly believe in using a cold-air diffuser so that the oil molecules aren’t manipulated. My top pick: the Aroma-Breeze, which I will be writing about soon.
- Heat up a towel and rub on Gaia Kids Warming Chest Rub. I like to bypass the conventional chemical mixture know as Vicks VapoRub and use the herbal, organic alternative. Though it’s pricey – around $20 – it has lasted me a few flu seasons and really works.
- Drink warm liquids throughout the day, including a homemade Ginger, Lemon and Honey Tea. To make, pour 8 cups of water into a sizeable pot. Peel a two-to-three-inch section of fresh ginger and cut into ¼ to ½-inch slices. Add to pot and bring to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, set a timer for 20 minutes and continue boiling. After 20 minutes, scoop out the ginger slices and add 3-4 heaping tablespoons of honey and the juice from one lemon to the hot water. Sip and enjoy.
- Swallow a teaspoon of Gaia Herbs’ organic Black Elderberry Syrup daily. Mary Poppins may have needed a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, but you’ll actually look forward to taking this antioxidant-rich syrup, which studies have shown reduces the duration of colds by at least a few days.
And, of course, make sure you stay warm (wear a hat!), gargle with salt water and get ample rest.
*Only use quality organic oils since you are breathing them in. I buy mine from Mountain Rose Herbs. The blend I provided is from Valerie Ann Worwood’s phenomenal guide “The Complete Books of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.”
How To Win the Sniffle Battle Naturally
Image Courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk
Our immune systems are taking a hit this spring. Sniffles and coughs are rampant among my colleagues, family and even fellow MUNI passengers – and it seems that both allergies and persisting winter viruses are to blame. But instead of popping Benadryl like you do your daily multivitamin, try to bring your body back to balance the natural way. I have three chemical-free, healthy options that just might do the trick.
For stuffy noses and mucus, try flushing out your sinus and nasal passages with a Neti Pot. The warm saline mixture gently removes impurities so you can breath free and clear. I’ve been using one since last year and have seen the benefits firsthand (see my review on the great Baraka Neti Pot).
Image Courtesy of www.abcnews.go.com
An old wives’ tale claims that eating a spoonful of local honey lessens allergy symptoms. The reasoning behind this remedy is similar to homeopathy, in that you ingest small amounts of the substance (in this case, pollen in the honey for allergies) that is irritating you. If you live in the City, a great place to purchase local California honey is Beekind at the Ferry Building.
And lastly, I’ve become a big fan of Gaia Herbs’ organic Black Elderberry Syrup. Studies have shown that elderberry boosts the immune system and is full of anthocyanins, which are a class of powerful antioxidants that protect cells and help them heal. I’ve been swallowing a teaspoon of the syrup for a few days at a time when I feel a little rundown and have been able to keep colds and allergies at bay so far. Here’s to hoping you score some sniffle-free days!
Celebrate Earth Hour This Saturday!
Great success is usually preceded by smart preparation. That is the reasoning behind World Wildlife Fund and Earth Hour’s new “Beyond the Hour” platform, which challenges individuals to reflect and think of eco actions they can take during Earth Month (April) and continue for the rest of the year. Whether it’s expanding the idea of Earth Hour on March 26 – i.e. turning off lights for an hour – and applying that to every Saturday evening, or bringing a homemade lunch to work most days of the week, Beyond the Hour lets families, citizens, companies and even governments publically pick, share and commit to one or more green actions.
Essentially, the online interactive platform takes Mother Nature Network’s recently-launched Idea Lab to the next level, embracing numerous social media avenues to inspire people to proactively think about long-term sustainable living changes and share them with peers around the world. This helps keep us accountable to our eco promises and provides a measuring tool to see which changes are resonating most with individuals and societies.
Beyond the Hour is a great example of how New Year’s goals for the eco-conscious crowd have morphed into Green Resolutions for Earth Month. But these ideas aren’t relegated to personal journals or put up on the home refrigerator. Instead, they’re posted on the web for all to see on Facebook, Twitter, via an iPhone app or even as a blog widget, keeping us honest with ourselves and our fellow human beings who, in the long run, will benefit from our eco promises.
So where to start? Turn off your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time this Saturday, March 26. With households participating from countries all over the world, you’ll be able to see a “wave of darkness” sweep the Earth. For my part, I’ll be lighting a few organic beeswax candles and bringing out the board games!
San Francisco’s First Green Film Festival Is Here!
The first San Francisco Green Film Festival kicked off last night! The entire event is plastic-free and launched with an entertaining and enlightening look at America’s addiction to plastic. I’ll be posting my reviews of select films throughout the weekend, but here’s something to whet your appetite: the awesome parody music video “Plastic State of Mind” produced by Green Sangha. It’s time to kick our nasty single-use plastic habit!
Greenista.com: Deals for the Eco-Minded
Image Courtesy of Shopsland
Deal sites like Groupon and Living Social are great for exploring your city on a budget. We’ve signed up for everything from photography classes to buying a mini-freezer’s worth of Let’s Be Frank hotdogs. Occasionally we’ve even come across an organic spa deal or a natural foods grocery store discount – but they alone weren’t enough to satisfy our green needs. We secretly hoped for a deals site that took into account our pocketbooks along with people and the planet.
Well, two gradates from the University of Southern California must have heard our prayers. Roozt.com, which defines itself as “the hatchery for responsible shopping,” is the perfect deal site alternative for the Greenista crowd. With offers that let you save up to 80 percent on three deals per week (sent via email, like the other popular sites), you can indulge in organic chocolate or buy sunglasses for a cause with the knowledge that your purchase is supporting an environmentally and socially-responsible enterprise. In addition, 1 percent of everything purchased on Roozt.com is donated to the nonprofit of your choice.
One of Greenista Girl Sasha’s favorite purchases from Roozt.com was…
Click here to read the rest of my guest post on Greenista.com
Greener Pastures Ahead: Design Your Life in 2011
Image Courtesy of www.Green-masters.com
That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least.
We are the designers of our time or, more broadly, our life. This is a key insight I took away from my first semester of graduate school. The topic came up during my “Critical Thinking For Business Redesign” class, and I’ve decided to reframe the lessons I learned into a 2011 “Critical Thinking for Life Redesign” mission. Now, this type of thinking doesn’t require making sweeping resolutions you probably won’t keep, or tackling a complete life overhaul. Rather, it requires looking inward to tap into what simply makes you happy. Or makes you tick. Or makes you want to get up in the morning, excited for another day. Basically, it’s the best (and most fulfilling) use of your time.
Seem unrealistic or too difficult? After all, you’ve probably written down your 2011 Resolutions already and stuffed them in a drawer, glad to be done with that task. Well, go find your list or a clean piece of paper if you haven’t made one. I’ve boiled down Life Redesign to three steps that can be applied to any area of your life – from going green to becoming better at your job.
- Define your Higher Purpose. This doesn’t have to be saving the world from starvation, or rescuing every stray kitten. It could be something like “Improve my eating habits,” “Switch to clean, non-toxic personal care products” or “Travel to Spain.” You can have many Higher Purposes – you are not limited to one! – though I would recommend focusing on no more than two at a time.
- Write down relevant Opportunity Statements. These are concrete and well-defined actions you must take to further your Higher Purpose. For “Improve my eating habits,” an opportunity statement could be “Make dinner at home four nights a week” or “Allow only 25 percent of my shopping cart to contain pre-made, processed food.” By being specific and concise (write down a single action – no and’s allowed), these statements give you an easy framework of next steps to make your Higher Purpose a reality. Aim to start with two or three, and then add on (or revise) as needed.
- Remind yourself frequently of your Higher Purpose and track the progress of your Opportunity Statements. Whether you want to make an eye-popping dream collage to hang on your wall (see Sophie Uliano’s recommendation on GorgeouslyGreen.com), or prefer to go the journaling route, find the inspiring method that keeps you accountable and moving forward. Take a picture of your list and have it as your computer background, or put up Post-It notes around the bedroom mirror – use your imagination!
Though I must admit it isn’t made from recycled materials, I received Moleskin’s Wellness Journal, which is part of the company’s limited edition Passion series, for Christmas and it has been perfect for my 2011 Life Redesign plan. The majority of the notebook is focused on health-related goals (such as diet and an exercise log), but there is also a section for Inspiring Quotes and Images, as well as empty tabs and pages to fill with whatever I like, such as keeping a list of books to read or jotting down random business ideas. I keep the journal in my purse and update it as needed, but if you aren’t looking to be as dedicated, keep it by your bedside for a morning or evening recording session. Any tiny step towards realizing and creating the life that makes you happy is worthwhile.
When we respect and take care of ourselves, we will – by extension – be taking care of the planet. And you can’t get any more green than that!
Greenista’s Healthy Brain Candy: What feeds your passion?
Eyeopener: Greenista’s Video Pick of the Week
Egg shells as architectural buttons? A beer tap as a faucet? Dan Phillips, a daring builder and founder of The Phoenix Commotion, creates unique homes from recycled and reclaimed materials. His philosophy and design aesthetic urge us to seek abodes that veer from safe, predictable models and instead embrace the perfection in imperfection.
Find Balance with Yoga Superstar Tara Stiles
Image Courtesy of TaraStiles.com
If you think yoga means turning yourself into a human pretzel, it’s time to get enlightened. Model-turned-yogi Tara Stiles - who also happens to be Deepak Chopra’s personal trainer and Women’s Health Yoga expert– has taken the ancient mind-body practice and made it accessible, relevant and fun.
Dubbing her philosophy “yoga for everyone,” Tara founded Strala Yoga Studio last year in New York and recently authored the book Slim. Calm. Sexy. I first came across Tara in ELLE magazine’s “Make Better” DVD series (yes – I do exercise videos at 6am) and immediately felt energized after her routine. Fast forward to the launch of her book in late August, and I haven’t been able to put it down since. Slim. Calm. Sexy. offers up routines that slim down your body, promote relaxation and, when needed, rev up your engines – all in 15 minutes a day.
Image Courtesy of TaraStiles.com
In the mornings, I grab the book and my Manduka mat and start the day with a mix of the A.M. Metabolism Kickoff and Fat Burning routines. To de-stress after a busy workday, the Insomina poses help me nod off quickly. I highly recommend Tara’s book if you’re looking for a way to balance your life and emotions in a natural way – and with more than 200 poses, mix-and-match routines, and life-changing sections on meditation and breathing techniques, there will always be room to grow. Plus a vigorous home routine saves on gym costs and doesn’t require energy-intensive equipment to stay fit.
And I’m excited to announce that Tara is going to be the latest guest in the Tom’s of Maine* “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” video chat series! Come ask her questions live TODAY on Facebook or UStream.tv at 5pm PST. She’ll share her tips on creating a stress-free holiday through fitness and demonstrate some energizing and relaxing poses. Can I get an “Om?”
If I’m on the road, Tara’s “Authentic Yoga” joint iPhone app with Deepak Chopra is always a good fitness traveling buddy. Or I check out her free videos on the Tara Stiles YouTube Channel.
*FULL DISCLOSURE: Tom’s of Maine is a client of my firm.
Tech Trouble: The Story of Electronics
In her latest “The Story of Electronics” video, Annie Leonard tackles the toxic tech industry and explores the inherent, disposable nature of electronics – what she calls “designed for the dump.” Now, we’ve all been tempted by the affordable upgrade-your-mobile-phone offers every two years, or the sleek and shiny new gadget from Apple. But behind all the innovation and cool features is a production system comprised of dangerous chemicals and materials all destined for the landfill in a short period of time. The laptop-we-can’t-live-without is actually chockfull of toxic components we should be avoiding – at least, if we actually want to have a healthy life. Same for the cell phone, MP3 player, television, microwave oven…
From beginning to end, the life cycle of electronics is not a pretty picture. As “The Story of Electronics” shows, the mining to get the materials erodes the planet and the local community that has to deal with toxic elements released from the Earth; workers in far-off countries who assemble our products pay with their health; waste generated at production plants poisons our soil and water; and then there’s the carbon-intensive transportation to get the products into our anxious hands. And that’s not even addressing the effects to our own health from daily use and the unregulated recycling of these items once we decide we want a better, newer model.
Leonard’s solution to our gadget obsession? Don’t be tempted to upgrade when your product still works. Stop allowing companies to externalize costs. Demand responsible take-back programs and support designers in creating “green” non-toxic products. This is all possible. Society does not have to come to a screeching halt. But it is key that our electronics be “designed to last,” as their current design will dictate how long we last, too.
Get Thee To A Yoga Studio
Image Courtesy of Vectorjunky.com
Though the lazy days of summer are fading away, there’s no reason you can’t bring that sunny-state-of-mind to fall. With September designated as National Yoga Month, you can om and downward dog your way to a blissful seasonal transition.
Whether you’re a devoted yogi who can do headstands with ease, or a novice who can barely touch her toes, the great thing about yoga is that the modifiable poses allow you to start (and progress) from whatever level you’re at. Take advantage of the free classes and events at participating studios this month, or spread your mat out at home and tune in to expert Yoga Journal webisodes. Dedicating even 15 minutes a day to a yoga practice will provide you with amazing health benefits – clear skin, relaxed muscles, deeper sleep, balanced hormones and a Buddha high. And who doesn’t want that?!
Wherever you choose to do your practice, it’s important to invest in a good mat. Check out the Eco Yoga Mats on Gaiam.com or the recommended products on Sophie Uliano’s new Gorgeously Green online store. For reduced slippage (doesn’t matter if you’re in a 105-degree Bikram session or just doing Power Yoga, you will generate heat) consider purchasing something like Yogitoes’ Skidless mat towels. Now take a deep breath and get your yoga glow on!
