The Last of Us

There seems to be new panic about mould, driven by the HBO series. Here is some constructive background information to calm you down :-)

Really - there is no mould apocalypse around the corner, and we have already known for a long time that mould is detrimental to our health, especially if we are immunocompromised. The recent increase of mould related deaths is most likely due to the weakening of the lungs post COVID. -

Fungicide resistant moulds (like Candida Aurea ) are also on the increase, which particularly affects hospitals. These species are most likely a result of overuse of fungicides in the agricultural industry, and disinfectant use, - thus breeding resistant monsters. Some sources say that climate change is also to blame, as species are forced to adapt to higher temperatures and come closer to human body temperature, ending up invading our bodies.

https://theconversation.com/before-the-last-of-us-i-was-part-of-an-international-team-to-chart-the-threat-of-killer-fungi-this-is-what-we-found-199593

https://apple.news/AIMTLamT_ReyV-IVEUdI-Uw

https://apple.news/AT-7FhWgGRiGLb2g6QCo-sw

https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/antifungal-resistance.html

https://apple.news/AM3FCOe3zRiSt9PJY9SXcdQ

PS on a related topic, read a great discussion of damp rid vs dehumidifier, here.

Electro-smog Information

You may be aware that I am selling measuring instruments and shielding solutions from Gigahertz Solutions. I just had a look at their company website, and noticed the tab linking to information about Electro-Smog. - It’s brilliant!

You will find answers and solutions to many of your questions and concerns :

• How harmful is Bluetooth

• What is dirty power (DE) ?

• What does electrosmog have to do with your sleep?

• Protection tips for your home

• and many others

Please spend a moment and look this up, it is really valuable information that can make a big difference to your quality of life.

https://gigahertz-solutions.com/Electrosmog-Info

Cleaning Therapy

It’s holidays…. so I went through all my junk mail, emptied, sorted, unsubscribed, - thinking that there is a topic for a blog about computer-clean-up in all this, - when I came across this beautiful article from my favourite cleaner-makers, Koala Eco.

It certainly rings true to me, and I thought you might like it, too. Anything can be a chore or a pleasure: It’s our decision! The first option leaves you exhausted, the second invigorated :-)

The unexpected link between cleaning and mental health

It’s often said that cleanliness is next to godliness, however, the benefits of cleaning extend far beyond the final product. While cleaning is often viewed as an inevitable means to an end, the act of cleaning and organising itself comes with some surprising benefits. Although yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are the typical go-to recommendations for those feeling stressed or overwhelmed, for some people, washing the dishes, wiping down the bench tops, and reorganising the home office can be therapeutic.

It’s no secret that a clean home can make you feel happier and more in control of your life, however, the reverse is also true. Although a slightly cluttered desk can be a sign of an intelligent mind, excessive mess can actually contribute to depression. A recent study found that women who described their homes as cluttered or full of unfinished projects had higher cortisol levels and were more likely to be fatigued than those who viewed their homes as restful and restorative.

Clutter can also make it difficult to concentrate on — and effectively complete — tasks. A study undertaken by Princeton University researchers found that a person’s visual cortex can be overwhelmed by objects not related to a particular task, making it more difficult to focus on and complete the task at hand. All the more reason to tidy up your desk!

During times of uncertainty, whether on a global or personal scale, cleaning and decluttering can help people assert some degree of control over their lives. Eliminating clutter, mess, and disorganisation can be an effective way of introducing some order into your life, leading to an increased sense of mental clarity.

The act of cleaning is also an effective — yet under appreciated! — stress reliever. The repetitive nature of cleaning (think scrubbing, wiping, or sweeping motions) allows it to act as a ritual, forcing you to stay in the moment and in turn, encouraging mindfulness. Look to the wise words of Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh who once said: “While washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes, which means one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes.”

Rather than resenting the task of cleaning, embrace it as a desirable ritual. Approaching everyday tasks like washing the dishes, doing the laundry, and cleaning the bathroom with a sense of awareness, intention, and mindfulness can be beneficial in keeping you grounded and reducing stress and anxiety levels. Plus, when you scrub, sweep, or scour hard enough, cleaning can act as a workout, producing the same neuro-chemical effects as exercise and stimulating the production of endorphins, the body’s mood-boosting hormones.

Designed to transform mundane chores into mindful rituals, our natural household products provide an efficacious clean while introducing olfactory joy into your daily life. Pairing tasks with a signature scent can aid in staying in the moment and turning tasks into mindful moments; while washing the dishes, relish the time away from your phone and allow the soapy water to caress your hands while the invigorating scents of mandarin and lemon myrtle in our Natural Dish Soap uplift and awaken the senses.

Similarly, keeping your stainless steel surfaces sparkling clean is the ideal opportunity to experience a sensory awakening courtesy of our peppermint-powered Natural Stainless Cleaner. While it buffs away stains and protects surfaces, the crisp and cool scent of peppermint works to put the mind at ease, alleviating headaches and improving memory and concentration.

Buildingbiology Course

This is a plug for those looking for a very special Christmas present: The Buildingbiology Course is about to go up in fees by 15%- if you want the old price, enrol before the 15th of January 2023. The current fee is Euro 2900, which is about $AU 4500. Actually, there are discounts for students and unemployed, as well.

However, this is not about money, it is about value. The course is a holistic, meaningful training for Buildingbiologists, that is well supported with extension units (in person, in Germany). It covers all areas of indoor health and sustainable living, plus the participants interact on a worldwide forum, which is very cool. The subject matter gets updated regularly. - I still use my access to keep up to date and to discuss things with colleagues all over the world.

This is the true, original, holistic, and much awarded training for Buildingbiologists. The course is internationally recognised and - have a look for more details, HERE.

I know, it is always difficult to trust an online course, but the institute has collected several awards for excellence in the delivery of the learning material over the past years, in the most competitive European market.. (See photo, below)

It’s truely a gift that keeps giving! :-)

PS - I don’t get a commission for this promotion, I just love what the institute is doing and like to support it, whenever I can…. plus I like to work with well trained colleagues ;-)

Health at Home

Yes, that is the title of my book.- It is full of information and tips that help you to make your home a healthy, healing space. The chapters are easy to follow, and there are action-lists, and lots of resources.

Decades of my experience in Buildingbiology and healthy indoor environments have been compressed into this easy to read little book.

The feedback has been wonderful, showing that my intention to help you help yourself has been successful. Note, that ANY step forward will give you and your loved ones more energy, better health, better sleep, - the environment is a powerful ally to have!

Make it an even better life in 2023, work the magic in your very own environment.

Topics are-

• Buildingbiology

• Environmental stress

• Healthy sleeping spaces

• Breathing walls

• Indoor air pollution, incl. mould, VOC,

• Pests

• Electro-pollution

• Light

• Workplaces

• Energy flow, space clearing, clutter,

• Geopathic stress and earth energies

• Sustainable living

• Building and renovating

• Keeping clean

• and many others

  The book is available at any bookshop, Amazon, Booktopia, etc. and also as an ebook. You can also purchase on my website, of course.

Sunblock

The Sun is powerful and we love the warmth and light it gives us, as well as converting its energy to electricity, but it also contains UV light that is damaging to our homes (paints, PVC and plastics) - and to our skin.

After all the rain and the time we had to spend indoors, we are all hanging out for a few moments in nature. It’s wonderful to soak up the sun, but - beware. It causes cancer and ages the skin prematurely. Thanks to our use of CFC propellants, the ozone layer is much reduced and can’t protect us from the UV rays, as much as it used to. We need to protect ourselves with sunscreen.

The Wellbeing Magazine recently published an article about Sunscreen, which I highly recommend.

Balancing the need for protection versus the potential damage from the chemicals in the sunscreen, research seems to come down on the side of the sunscreen: UV causes DNA damage and cancer, chemicals only impact on the hormonal system (if that) and have minimal allergic impact.

Of course, we have a choice to use a low-impact sunscreen. It is always best to go for ‘physical’ barriers, like titanium/zinc dioxide. They don’t penetrate the skin, as long as they are not nano-technology, where they penetrate into the outer skin layer. However, those sunblocks are visible and influence our looks, which makes them less popular.

I must comment on the impact sunscreen has on the environment. All ingredients wash off, and the oils float on top of the water. This kills insect larvae, reduces oxygen intake, - and gets into the food chains. One simple way to avoid damaging the environment, is to make sure you wait for the sunblock to soak in for 20 minutes. Do not go into the water straight away! That practise is also wasteful, as you’ll have to reapply straight away, and it minimises your own protection.

The Choice magazine tested sunscreens, and some sensitive ones came highly recommended.

In summary -

• Purchase a ‘sensitive skin’ sunscreen

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen

• Use the highest SPF, like SPF 50

• Use ‘physical’ active ingredients

• Let is soak in, before going into the water

• Use long sleeves, pants, hat, rash-vest, whenever you can.

A quote from the Wellbeing Magazine, below. I suggest you copy it into your phone’s notes, so you have it handy in the shop.

Ingredients to avoid

Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone is the most toxic sunscreen ingredient in use and is associated with causing allergies and disrupting hormonal communication and actions in the body. Studies have shown oxybenzone to be linked with causing lower testosterone in males, increased risk of breast cancer and endometriosis in females and cancer in rats after high exposure. Oxybenzone may potentially exhibit greater harm to children and should therefore be avoided completely.

Octinoxate
Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate) is an organic UV filter. Animal studies showed that octinoxate impacts hormonal communication and thyroid hormone production. Octinoxate has been banned in many countries due to its negative impact on coral reefs and sea life.

Homosalate
Homosalate is an organic UV filter that currently is not confirmed to be safe for topical use. Homosalate is an endocrine disruptor and causes toxic by-products when broken down in the body.

Octisalate
Octisalate is an organic UV filter that has been shown to cause allergic reactions and may have endocrine-disrupting effects, resulting in this chemical being able to weakly bind to oestrogen receptors in the body.

Octocrylene
Octocrylene is an organic compound that is associated with skin allergies and endocrine disruption and is harmful to coral reefs and sea life.

Avobenzone
Avobenzone is an organic filter that is often used in broad-spectrum sunscreens for its UVA protection. By-products of avobenzone have been shown to cause allergic reactions and impact hormonal communication and functions in the body.

Other links-

Unfortunately, most websites just provide brief information from the packaging with shopping links.. nothing more than advertising and not very helpful. We need an independent, actual test!

• https://www.womenshealth.com.au/best-natural-physical-mineral-sunscreens-australia/

• https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/beauty-and-personal-care/skin-care-and-cosmetics/articles/face-sunscreens-and-spf-moisturisers

I hope that helps, - the world is a complicated place, isn’t it……

Enjoy a happy and safe holiday season, and a peaceful Christmas!

Electric Field Shielding

Before we start, a paragraph of explanation: Electric fields are produced by A/C wires. They can be quite substantial, especially in brick veneer homes, where the walls are thin and dry. Electric fields want to go to Earth, and they eventually will get there. However, if a juicy, salty human body is in the way, they love to charge that body!

The Buildingbiological Standard requires these fields to be below 2 V/m, and the ‘extreme concern’ range begins at just 10 V/m (Volts per meter).

I recently had several clients with readings up to 30 V/m (!) and decided to spread the word about reducing these fields. - I have had repeated feedback from clients with high readings, whose sleeping problems disappear, once the fields were reduced. Other symptoms can be wide-ranging, as it is with environmental illness: Hormonal, arthritic, inflammatory, immune compromised, fatigue, depression.

The problem in this particular case was that the fuse box is in the garage next to the bedroom, and all the wiring for the rest of the house passes up the wall and across the ceiling. (The paint also shields against the smart-meter transmissions)

The photos below show the process of painting the walls from which the fields are emitted (plenty of wiring inside) with CFA-40 conductive shielding paint. A conductive tape was also added, to insure continued conductivity.

The paint then gets earthed with the little plate near the power point (electrician needed).

Finally, cover it all up again with your choice of paint…. in most cases, you will need 3 layers. - It is all looking great in the final photo, ready for many good nights’ sleeps, and approved by the cat.

( Both Wattyl and Dulux are now selling ultra-low VOC paints.)

The readings in this particular bedroom were very extreme, with 32 V/m at the bed, which reduced to 8.2 V/m once the bedhead wall was painted, and finally to just 2 V/m with the ceiling painted: Buildingbiological Standard met!

It’s not difficult and very much worth doing!

Dehumidifiers….. again.

Since our own dehumidifier has been running on a daily basis, and I regularly see clients without one- and their ensuing mould problems, - I decided to write a second post about this most important topic.

In my experience, EVERY household needs a hygrometer (or more) to measure the moisture in their indoor air. They are just $ 30, the best investment! Once relative humidity is over 50% you are beginning to have mould problems. I would suggest that EVERY household would have at least 70% humidity, at the moment. As soon as you open the windows to get fresh air in- you invite 90% humid air into your home.

The information from the hygrometer will tell you when to take counter-measures:

• turn on your dry-mode of the air conditioning, or

• turn on your dehumidifier

When purchasing one, keep in mind how much money, health, and work it will save you in the long run. Get a big unit, and check that it has a big tank, plus an overflow pipe into a bathroom drain, - or even a pump. This is good for situations, where you go away for the weekend, or when the home has been quite humid and needs ‘deep-drying’ for a few days, 24/7. - Note the noise levels produced.

Another good feature is a built-in air purifier, - but you can purchase them separately.

A leading brand is Delonghi, - you can’t really go wrong with them.

Just as a final comment: To make your dehumidifier work, you need to use the bathroom fan during showers or baths, keep windows closed, turn on the rangehood when cooking, etc. - We need to become aware of anything that produces humidity, - until we get the next heat-wave :-)