Monday, October 29, 2012

Air Cleaning Plants

Few people take into consideration the benefits of air cleaning plants and instead opt for expensive humidifiers and air purifiers. Filter replacements, upkeep and the electricity to operate these machines can be costly. Cleaning these machines is time-consuming. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, all plant life is known to provide the air required for breathing and to keep it clean. Why not take advantage of this natural air purifier and humidifier indoors?

Children in schools, families in their homes and employees in an office building can all benefit from air cleaning plants. If a lot of time is spent indoors, chemicals are inhaled constantly and a lot of people are completely unaware. Those suffering from chemical sensitivity may be unknowingly exposing themselves to multiple chemicals that may cause a variety of ailments. This is especially true for contractors and their employees handling insulation and building materials on a daily basis. Because of this, NASA paired up with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America to find out exactly how effective some common houseplants are at purifying the air indoors.

The findings of this two year research project prove that keeping plants indoors is just as beneficial, if not more so, than buying expensive air purifiers and humidifiers. Indoor air cleaning plants are fairly inexpensive and easily found at local nurseries and plant retailers. Many of these plants are extremely low-maintenance and need very little attention.

Just a few of the plants known to effectively filter pollutants out of the air when kept indoors are:

Peace Lilly (Spathiphyllum) - This makes an awesome houseplant because it does not require much sunlight and lets you know when it needs water. If the plants starts drooping, water it and it perks right back up. Keep it a few feet from a window but if the leaves start to yellow, move it to an area with less sunlight. These plants have pretty white blooms on them and will multiply in the pot they are in, so you can thin them out and re-pot some of the new shoots to have multiple plants at no cost to you.

Mother-in-Law's Tongue (Sansevieria laurentii) - Also known as the Snake Plant, this plant is great for reducing toxins in the air, but it's leaves are toxic if ingested. This plant also requires low lighting and very little water and is excellent for removing toxins from the air.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) - This is another plant that can tolerate infrequent watering and lower lighting conditions. It is recommended that if the plant is in front of a window it is turned often so that the sunlight is evenly distributed. This plant also shows signs of over-watering or under-watering. Yellow or pale leaves mean too much water, brown leaves mean not enough water.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - In a hanging basket, these plants send out beautiful flowering shoots that make the plant resemble a spider. They require low to moderate sunlight, infrequent watering and are also easily reproduced at little or no cost.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Three Treasures



It's a proven fact that traditional Chinese medicine is the answer to a great deal of longevity questions. If you're serious about improving not only the length, but also the quality of your life, you can't ignore what the Asian health experts have been teaching for centuries.

Today, we'll look at what's called The Three Treasures.

In case you haven't heard, the three treasures are the three types of energy found in the universe. They're naturally present in each and everyone of us and are called Jing, Chi and Shen.

Let me take a moment to run you through them and tell you about their purpose.

Jing

Jing is the actual energy that determines the length of your life, as well as how much power you're going to have to accomplish things.

You were born with this energy and the more of it you have, the more you're going to be able to achieve in life. Normally, the successful action takers you see are the ones with a good amount of Jing.

This particular energy is used up through stress, lack of balance in life, too much work and excess.

When it is completely spent, you will die, so it's a good idea to replenish it daily, which can be done through the consumption of tonic herbs.

Chi

This is the energy you get from breathing or eating. It is spent as you go through each and every day, which makes you feel tired, but you can replenish it quite easily through deep breathing and proper nutrition.

As you breathe in, you're providing Chi to your body. That's why you'll see great Chinese masters meditating and doing a whole lot of breathing exercises.

When you have enough Chi, it will nourish your brain, your intestines, your heart...
... pretty much your entire body.

If you're unable to replenish Chi on your own, you can take some tonic herb extracts to help you with that.

The last type of energy we'll talk about is called...

Shen

This energy has to do with your emotional and spiritual functions. Your thinking, your perception of the world and your mental abilities are directly connected to Shen.

Naturally, if you're struggling emotionally, your shen will recede. Fortunately, just like in the case of the other two energies we mentioned, you can utilize tonic herbs to replenish it.

What tonic herbs to use?

There are more different types of tonic herbs available than I can list in this article. It is important to understand, however, that in order to enjoy the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine and particularly the three treasures, you need to take in herbs that are pure, completely genuine and cultivated in their natural environment.

You're mostly going to be dealing with extracts, so when you purchase them, you must be sure that whoever provides them to you is a legitimate distributor that has your best interest in mind...
... not just money.

Traditional Chinese medicine is often under appreciated, especially in the western world, but if you understand the theory behind it and apply it in your life, it'll improve the quality of your life in a tremendous way.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Top Cosmetic Dentist Fixes You Can Get

What can a cosmetic dentist do for you? Many people know they need to see a dental care provider for cleanings and exams, but did you know that these providers can also help you to improve the way your teeth look? If you have thought about getting some work done to really clean up and improve the way they look, talk to a dental care provider about the options right for your situation. The good news is that there are dozens of options available. Most provide great results without much pain or discomfort either. What is right for you?

Whitening Is Number One

One of the most commonly sought after treatments from the cosmetic dentist is teeth whitening. If you have tried those over the counter products and not had much success with them, you are not alone. Many people struggle with them, but your dental care provider has better products in office. These products can give you a brilliantly clean and beautiful smile without any delay. You may even find this to be a fantastic way to get your smile the way you want it.

Chipped Teeth? Missing Teeth?

If you have problems with the structural element of your teeth, such as chipped or missing teeth, perhaps the best method for fixing this is with veneers. These are placed on the outer portion of your teeth. They hide whatever is lurking underneath. Once in place, they can give you a great looking smile that hides any staining or missing structural components.

Missing teeth can also be fixed with the use of dental implants. Implants are one of the best options for a realistic, long lasting solution for replacing the tooth. Keep in mind that while bridges and dentures are additional options, implants offer a better end result that lasts longer.

Misaligned Teeth Fixed

If your teeth do not align properly, this can cause a distortion in the way your face looks. Even if you are an adult, you can see significant improvements by talking to your dentist about your options. Generally, newer products can make these necessary position changes without requiring the use of metal braces. In fact, new technology works very well to be invisible so no know needs to know you are fixing your teeth aside from you.