We are living in a world where we are constantly exposed to manmade chemicals which, besides being carcinogenic, often trigger allergies. The number of people who have accepted chronic sinusitis and post-nasal drip as a part of their life never cease to amaze me, because one simple, non-medical way of alleviating these effects is to consciously reduce exposure to manmade chemicals.
Many of us have become so accustomed to unnatural chemical smells that we don’t even detect them anymore. But that doesn’t mean that our airways – sinuses and lungs – aren’t reacting to these tiny chemical molecules released into the air. Take fabric conditioner for example, there are more natural ways to soften and fragrance your washing. Add bicarbonate of soda to your washing machine during the rinse cycle or hand wash your clothes with it. It’s an excellent non-toxic deodoriser with no unnatural smells. Also, no chemical additive can beat the smell of freshly laundered washing that dried in the sun.
We are bombarded with advertisements asking us to make our houses, especially our toilets, smell fresher using various sprays, which often contain allergens and carcinogens that we breathe in. Making your own recipe for a room freshener is easy. To save time, light a candle in the bathroom, this helps dissipate smells naturally.
We can now also plug in containers that release mosquito poison into the air while we sleep. Inhaling these fumes hasn’t been proven safe in the long run. Opt for a natural alternative – vinegar in a saucer will deter these pests. Rubbing citronella and tea tree oil onto your skin is a safe way to keep mosquitoes at bay.
On a final note, if you have to have clothing dry cleaned, hang it outside in the sunlight until the toxic chemicals used in dry cleaning, like benzene, have evaporated.