Where Energy Flows

Himalayan Salt Lamps have been used for years to improve the quality of the air in the home. I purchased my first one over a decade ago and it continues to work beautifully clearing the air. Since they operate on a nightlight bulb, their operation is inexpensive and they are easy to maintain. Over the years, I have added many more to there being one in nearly every room in my house, quietly doing their amazing work.

Although some people remain skeptic, further scientific research is revealing that the lamps can really change your physical well-being, especially related to breathing problems like allergies, asthma and second-hand smoke. New studies now reveal that they can also improve your mental health as well. We all want to lead calmer, happier lives so read on.

The conveniences we surround ourselves with in our every day world: cars, radios, televisions, computers, tobacco, microwaves, the list grows, output positive ions at a much higher rate than the environment can balance them. Scientists are beginning to realize that this is a red flag for your mental health. Himalayan salt lamps give off an overabundance of negative ions, which can help to counteract the positive ions given off in your home that lower healthy air quality.

Since negative ions are found in large numbers at the beach or mountains, away from the cities we generally live in, our brains associate negative ions with happiness and energy. Doctors are now beginning to study the connection between negative ions and the release from depression, as negative ions also have a positive affect on the serotonin levels in the brain.

Many of my clients report significant calming effects from their salt lamps. Most likely this is due to the negative ion output into the air. They report feeling of greater peace, tranquility and happiness. They find their stress levels reducing and enjoying greater levels of calm. Stress is a major catalyst to more serious health problems, an indication that salt lamps might help you discover a healthier, happier life. Several of my clients have salt lamps in the bathroom. They report noticeably lower levels of stress from the feeling of spending time at the beach - while day-dreaming in the tub. Logically the salt lamp is imitating the wonderful negative ion filled air that is created by the ocean water condensing and the salt drifting on the breeze.

Other clients find that having a small salt lamp in their office at work helps their day go faster and their stress level greatly reduced.

Salt lamps can be purchased from many sources. Metaphysical stores often carry them. Several health food stores in my area have them. They can be ordered online. Make sure you purchase them from a reliable source and that they are genuine Himalayan Salt Lamps.

Peace and Harmony - enjoying negative ions….

© Roberta Binder, 2008. All rights reserved.

Although many people are happy to have Himalayan slat lamps for health, spiritual and mental benefits, there is an even deeper set of benefits. Before you purchase a salt lamp, it is a good idea to learn a bit more about how they really work. It begins with ions. Learning the intricacies of how negative ions are created from salt lamps sounds involved and scientific, but once you understand a few basics, it is not too difficult to grasp. The basic concept with Himalayan salt lamps is that the air around us is electrically charged. The particles in the air are called “ions.” Ions can be either negatively or positively charged. In a natural environment, all living and non-living things change the quality of the electricity in the air.

However with the plethora of electronics, automobiles, computers, cooling systems and other luxuries of our modern world, these conveniences are putting out more positive ions than they use. Add to that smog from factories, cell phones, heating systems (just a few of the things that output a large percentage ions), that put out negative ions. Soon the mix becomes an imbalance within nature. Science has found that rock salt crystals are actually one of the best natural emitters of negative ions in the world. That means that a rock salt lamp can help to equalize the positive ions in you house, especially in home offices, television rooms and kitchens.

You probably won’t consciously notice this difference, but your senses will on a subtle level. Just like the feeling in nature at the beach, after a lightening storm, or in the mountains near a waterfall. The air is refreshing, easy to breathe and healthy. Most people associate these negatively-charged air situations with calmness, peace and relaxation. In these natural health places, there are about 4000 negative ions in a cubic centimeter of air. However, in a city during rush hour, that number drops to more like 100 negative ions per cubic centimeter. So you can really see how this big difference affects the stress level in your body. This is what a Himalayan salt lamp does in your home.

Salt lamps have been found to help with allergies, asthma and other breathing problems. The negative ions help clear the air of pollen, dust, smoke, pet dander, odors, mold, dust mites and other forms of pollution.

And, of course, when you purchase a Himalayan Salt Lamp, make sure that you are getting one from the true source. Other lamps may look beautiful, but they will not be as effective. Know your source and always purchase a genuine Himalayan Salt Lamp.

Himalayan Salt Lamps not only affect your physical health, they are also beneficial for your mental health, and we’ll look at that next.

…to be continued.

© Roberta Binder, 2008. All rights reserved.

Dr. StrangeRebmann, or how I learned to stop worrying and love cleaning my chemical free home - Part 2

I used to hate cleaning the bathrooms, but now I think of this as giving myself a present.  Cleaning my bathrooms with my personal, homemade products gives me a great feeling of helping my home’s air quality, my family’s health, and the environment.  Plus, doing it to a hot, Latin rhythm is fun!

There are a ton of resources out there regarding making your own cleaning products.  I have simply decided to share what works for me.  I encourage you to research and come up with even better solutions.  Please share them with me too – I love to hear about cool things like this.

Make your own all-purpose, biodegradable, environmentally and budget friendly bathroom cleaner.

1. Procure one clean, empty spray bottle – best to spend $0.80 and get a new one.
2. Fill half full with vinegar.
3. Fill almost to top with water.
4. Optional – Add 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil.  I like to rotate with Lemon and Peppermint – but it’s a personal preference here.
5. Shake Well

Here is my typical bathroom cleaning routine.  It takes about eight minutes.

1. Play Latin Dance Music…very important.
2. Spray vinegar mixture all over tub/shower.
3. Spray outside and inside of toilet.
4. Spray mirror, sink and countertop.
5. Wipe mirror with soft cotton rag. (If you have used any glass cleaner on your mirror before…it will get streaky when you wipe with the vinegar mix.  Just continue spraying and wiping several times and that will go away and you will have sparkly, clean mirrors.  You will not need to do this again as long as you stay away from commercial glass cleaners.)
6. Scrub sink with nylon scrubber…rinse.
7. Wipe counter with same soft cotton rag.  I like to use old cloth diapers.
8. Scrub tub/shower with nylon scrubber. Rinse.  Wipe edges with same cloth.
9. Wipe outside of toilet, under the lid, top of the seat, and under the seat..in that order.  Throw rag into laundry…it is done.
10.  Scrub inside of toilet with toilet brush.  Flush.
11. You are probably done now.  Dance.  Sometimes the throne needs a little more…shall we say…love.  In that case, I reach for my Ecover toilet bowl cleaner.  It is a little more expensive than Lysol or Clorox- but not too much.  I pay $4.70 for 25 ounces at my health food store.  Since I do not use it very much and it is so much better for the environment, this product fits well into my chemical free, budget minded home.  (I do not receive anything from Ecover for promoting them – and I encourage experimentation freely.  I use it because I like how it works.)

A footnote about vinegar: I was really excited the first time I used vinegar to clean my whole bathroom.  I could not believe how well it worked and how cheap it was at my local grocery store.  Unfortunately, I found out that the big jugs of vinegar for $1.47 or so may be made out of petroleum.  Can you believe that?  Apparently, you can make anything out of oil.  So, being of sound, healthy home, and renewable resources mind…I switched to Heinz.  It is about $1.47 for about half as much, but is derived from corn.  Plus, even half as much usually lasts me about six weeks or so.  So $1.47 isn’t so bad for that much cleaning.  There is a $7 bottle of vinegar at my health food store that is probably much better – but mom’s on a budget for now.

Next Week – The Kitchen

© Elise Rebmann, 2008. All rights reserved.

Subtitle: Dr. StrangeRebmann, or how I learned to stop worrying and love cleaning my chemical free home - Part 1.

This is the first in a series of four articles on Healthy Home Cleaning.  In this first installment, I will talk about my thoughts on cleaning and using intention.  Part 2 will focus on the bathroom and contain step-by-step instructions.  Part 3 will be on the kitchen, and Part 4 will be on the rest of the house as well as laundry.  I ask for indulgence, with a title this funny – I have to use it more than once.

Part 1 – Thoughts on Cleaning

When my son was an infant, I had a cleaning lady.  It was wonderful!  The feeling the house had after she left was unmistakably sparkly and fresh.  It was one of the best post-baby treats I can imagine and highly encourage everyone to spend money on cleaning services for baby shower gifts.  Yet, as sometimes happens, budgets change.  When the baby was about one, we started cleaning our house by ourselves again.

Luckily, I had recently gone through Denise Linn’s 28 day Soul Coaching program with the book and her guided meditations available free on her website.  While many things changed in my life during this process, I also started to think about cleaning in a new way. 

Prior to this, I could vacuum, dust, and straighten all day, but I just hated cleaning my bathrooms.  Throughout our ten years of marriage, my husband had been our designated bathroom cleaner because I hated it that much.  Yet, after my enlightenment, so to speak, I started thinking about a clean bathroom as a present to myself.  I remembered how great it felt to be home after our cleaning person left, and decided I wanted to feel that way again.  I also started researching making my own environmentally friendly cleaning products, so it became a bit of a challenge and science experiment at the same time.  Pretty much, I just decided to own it.  Having a clean house was going to be my gift to myself. 

Now, I really like it.  I play music.  I dance.  I improve my family’s health.  I help the environment.  The bathroom doesn’t bother me at all anymore.  Go figure.

AND… there’s more!  Cleaning has the power to activate intention.  If your are feeling tired and grouchy…come up with an intention like “I want to be vibrant and full of life.”  Then, clean your widows, and say, “ I clean these windows to let vibrant energy into my home and fill me with life.”  Every time you see those clean windows, you will remember your intention and it will re-enforce your desired change.  Easy!  Recruit these chores to serve your highest good – I say!

Do I have you convinced?  Want to learn more?  Stay tuned – more coming.  However, if in the mean time you want to start leaning more, good places to start are:

1. Denise Linn’s “Soul Coaching”
2. Karen Logan’s “Clean House, Clean Planet”
3. Google phrases like “Natural Bathroom Cleaner” or “Make my own tub scrub.”

Happy Cleaning! 

© Elise Rebmann, 2008. All rights reserved.