We live in a chemical soup. We breathe toxic air, we drink poisoned water, and eat processed food. The number of persons suffering from conditions relating to environmental and man-made toxins has risen steadily. How do we ever expect the incidents of cancer, chronic fatigue, asthma, allergies and auto-immune disorders to decrease when our living conditions are becoming even more toxic every day? Below are some tips to keep your environment more toxic free.
Furniture doesn’t have to be New!
That strong smell in new furniture, especially in items made with pressboard and veneer, is largely due to the formaldehyde used in adhesives. Formaldehyde can cause strong allergic reactions and can be toxic in long-term exposure. Shop for slightly used furniture, which will already be adequately aired out. To avoid the chemicals, use natural wood furniture not made with pressboard or veneer.
Check Out Your Neighborhood’s Past
No one wants to live near toxic dumps, nuclear power plants, or hazardous waste sites. But these are only the most obvious toxic environments turning up everywhere. We may be unaware of toxins lingering from a property’s previous uses. For example, living near land that was once a municipal dump could mean daily exposure to methane gas. Similarly, living downwind of an industrial plant or within one block of a dry cleaner exposes you to chemicals and perchlorethylene fumes (until it’s use is phased out as required by the EPA). Investigate a neighborhood’s past and check out wind patterns before you decide to settle down. Preventing toxin exposure will pay off down the road.
Get Your Hands into the Earth
Centenarians around the world come from many different backgrounds and professions, but one of the most common hobbies among them is gardening. As exercise, gardening strengthens the muscles; as a discipline it requires patience and cultivates fortitude; and in the end it brings rewards and joy to its practitioners. Studies show that gardeners have a lower incidence of heart disease and osteoporosis than non-gardeners. Moreover, you and your family benefit by increasing the oxygen all around you from the trees and plants.
Detoxify With Laughter
The late Norman Cousins helped pioneer “laugh therapy” as well as the new medical discipline of psychoneuroimmunology—the study of the mind’s impact on the body’s immune functions. He and other researchers discovered that laughter and joy boosted immune functions, particularly production of the natural killer cells that defend the body against infections and cancer. Laughter also brings about increased endorphin release in the brain, increase oxygenation and expel carbon dioxide—the most toxic gas from your body. There is no question that joyful people live longer, healthier lives. Read the comic strips or watch your favorite comedy show and laugh all the way to the longevity bank!
Un-clutter Your Life
Simplify your life by cutting out the unnecessary items and activities that collectively consume a large chunk of your energy—resources that can be devoted to your health and wellness. The fast-changing world we live in lures us to acquire more and more objects. The more we consume, the more we become enslaved by our belongings. Look around your house, find things you haven’t used in the last three months, and give them to charity. Clutter makes you disorganized, adding to your stress level. Streamline your surroundings to stay calm and in control.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that illness can be prevented by decreasing the amount of toxins in our body and by strengthening our organ functions. Besides minimizing our exposures to toxins on the outside from our modern day life we also need to constantly keep our insides as free from toxins as possible. That’s why I personally use and recommend to our patients Internal Cleanse, which is formulated with special Chinese herbs like dandelion, mulberry, and hawthorn berry that support your body in this essential job of dispelling toxins. For more information on cleansing and detoxification go to www.taoofwellness.com
Your community can be either health-promoting or stress-inducing. If you are looking for health and wellness, follow the above advice that promote a toxin-free environment, take herbs and supplements regularly that help your body detoxify, and finally surround yourself with people who are supportive, uplifting, and share your positive values.
May you Live Long, Live Strong, and Live Happy!
Dr. Mao Shing Ni, popularly known as Dr. Mao, is a bestselling author, doctor of Oriental Medicine and board certified anti-aging expert. He practices acupuncture, nutrition and Chinese medicine with his associates at the Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica, a Wellness Medicine group that won the “L.A.’s Best” Award. Dr. Mao and his brother, Dr. Daoshing Ni founded Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica over 25 years ago. In addition, he is the cofounder and Chancellor of Yo San University in Venice/Marina del Rey. To subscribe to a free newsletter please visit www.taoofwellness.com To make an appointment for evaluation and treatment please call 310.917.2200 or you can email Dr. Mao at contact@taoofwellness.com
