Poinsettias:
Poinsettias are officially a non-toxic plant, contrary to popular myth. They are, however, commonly sprayed with chemicals as part of the growers’ height control program. Organically grown poinsettias are the best option and worth a call to your local greenhouse. (New York City, for example, boasts this greenhouse offering poinsettias and many other indoor plants that are organically grown.)
In addition, poinsettia plants contain a latex protein. People with a latex allergy can quickly become ill, and often don’t know exactly what they are reacting to when walking into a room containing poinsettias.
Christmas Trees:
Pesticides are used extensively in the growing of the traditional Christmas tree. While many of the chemicals will have been removed by exposure to rain and/or ultraviolet light, some will remain. Beyond Pesticides provides this list of pesticides commonly sprayed on Christmas trees.
When possible, purchase an organic tree. Green Promise has made available this list of organic growers, which spans 22 states and includes suppliers of organic trees, wreaths, mistletoe, and other greenery. Local Harvest offers organic mail order wreaths.
According to this December 2005 article in Natural Health Magazine by Janelle Brown:
"Don't feel guilty about buying a tree," says Deborah Gangloff, executive director of American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization. Holiday trees are grown as a sustainable crop; in fact, 1 acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people, and provides habitats for birds and wildlife. Buying an artificial tree isn't a better choice, since most faux foliage is made from earth-toxic PVC.
"The very best thing you can do is buy a live tree--not a cut tree, but a live tree, with a root ball," Gangloff advises.
Why not consider an alternative Christmas tree that's neither fake nor fir? Here are a few options:
- Driftwood. Make your own display out of driftwood or custom order from All Driftwood Furniture.
- Tumbleweed. This is an excellent possibility for those in the southwest. See this article for tips.
- Tree branches. Find your own branches or buy from Manzanita Burlworks. Secure the branch in a large ceramic pot. Add smaller branches to fill out. Add lights and ornaments, and enjoy!
Fireplace Logs:
Consider using eco-friendly alternatives for indoor fire burning. Options include:
- CleanFlame firelogs
- Java-Logs
- Eco Wood Fuel
Candles:
Most candles contain paraffin, a petroleum by-product. Consider using 100% pure beeswax candles, available from sources such as:
Or try using other methods to create your own festive fragrance:
- Make your own evergreen scent by diffusing or simmering pine essential oil.
- Create your own Christmas fragrance using this recipe:
3 cinnamon sticksSimmer on the back burner of your stove and replenish as needed!
3 bay leaves
1/4 c. cloves
1/2 sliced lemon
1/2 sliced orange
1 quart water
We originally weren't going to get one, but as i'm the only really ill one and my kids have been through so much, I decided to try an artificial tree. It was only a $30 tree, on sale during Black Friday. We have an air purifier with an ozone option. I know ozone is bad for us past certain levels and it's really bad to use on mold...but I've found it to be life saving for chemical smells. It zaps it right out. We used it when the counter tops got replaced here.
ReplyDeleteYou should use ozone in a mold free place. So, we took the machine...unwrapped the tree and put it in my van. We put it on away mode for 8 hours, blasting the ozone. Then, we let it air out. My husband fogged it off with C3 just to be safe (anything designed to kill mold can be used..MMS, thieves, etc) then he Hepa vacuumed it. It's up in our house now and I have no reaction to it. I'm sure there are still some chemicals on it, but it's not enough to bother me and i'm extremely chemically sensitive.
I have a little electric wax warmer. I've realized that the little scented wax cakes sold to use with it--like typical candles--have undesirable chemicals. This summer I bought some beeswax at our farmer's market. I've been melting an ounce of bees wax in my wax warmer and adding a few drops of essential oil. The beeswax has a light honey scent which blends nicely with the essential oil. Smells great!
ReplyDeleteAndrea,
ReplyDeleteWow! The dry branches / lights really look great!!
As for natural fragrances...any tips for an alternative "bathroom air freshener"?
Something quick and easy for guests (or husbands) to use after a good (or maybe not so good) meal, if you know what I mean? ;)
Thanks!
Cary
I never thought about the live tree. We have always had one and it just didn't compute that it would be an issue now. We put the tree up and within 2 days my 1 year old was sick and she just kept getting worse. It was begining to scare me because she just kept getting more and more sick. Then the other children started getting sick and hubbie and I started going through the questions...where had we been?...What could they have been exposed to? Our diet had slipped a little with all of the holiday/family functions so we started back full force on our antifungal diet. Then hubbie asked about the tree. We decided to take the tree down and within hours we started to see a change in the baby. I decided to get on moms Aware and see if there was anything posted and found this link about pesticides and Christmas trees. The children have not completely recovered yet, but I am so glad we didn't keep the tree around.
ReplyDelete