Green Hills of Home

Our highland mountain home is taking on the quintessential fresh green hue of spring with the leafing out of trees and shrubs, to the new shoots of native grasses and sweeping hay fields. Wildlife and livestock have already begun nibbling on the sweet, succulent grass. By my observation, a few of the Eight Laws of Health can be applied to lowly grass: NUTRITION, WATER, SUN, AIR, and REST.

Nutrition: this is obvious is relation to herbivores and omnivores. Even carnivores periodically imbibe for digestion and self-medication, seeking out certain grasses and plants to fill their needs… instinctively. Water: the fresh morning dew or new fallen raindrops collected on each blade of grass clean a dogs coat while rolling on it as they often do; Sun: chlorophyll provided by photosynthesis thanks to the sun may provide benefits to skin and coat as it does when taken internally; Air: the characteristic scent of cut or crushed grass may stir “life-is-good” feelings;  Rest: oh, how delightful it is on a warm day to snooze in the shade on a soft cushion of cool grass! And what about the grounding influence of simply being outside in direct contact with the earth?

Who would’ve thought humble little blades of grass could offer so many healthful benefits! Low in stature and often overlooked, perhaps, but lowly in importance, never.

On the Breeze

This time we’ll focus on the sixth naturopathic Law of Health… AIR. It’s a given that every living creature needs fresh air daily, even though air pollution is a problem. Even the air quality within our homes, especially during winter, is a health hazard due to the off-gassing of chemical products used daily or just sitting in the cupboard. Now that gives one pause for thought!

Taking your dog to the park is a fine way to get both exercise and fresh air in a mentally stimulating environment. A favorite place of ours is a beach-front park on the Puget Sound – fresh salt air, clean rocky beach, cool waves lapping at the shore, and not too much chemically-treated grass to avoid walking on (we are mindful to avoid such exposure). Hiking trails are another option to enjoy fresh air together.

What does one do about the air inside the home? Go natural, of course! First, opening your windows briefly even on mild winter days is important. Next, kick the chemicals out of your house! Here is my personal list of non-toxic items for cleaning: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, borax, and various organic essential oils like lemon, lavender, and juniper. With these basic inexpensive ingredients one can safely clean just about anything, and very effectively I might add.

Candles add charm and atmosphere yet are serious indoor health hazards. Paraffin is a petroleum by-product that releases carcinogens when burned. Vegetable based waxes like soy would be a better choice if not for the fact that they are most often laden with chemical fragrances and colorants. Instead opt for 100% pure beeswax candles, dye and fragrance-free (except for if scented with essential oils.) I adore the natural sweet honey scent of a beeswax candle! Burning beeswax actually cleans the air through the action of ions binding with dirt, allergens, and pollution, dropping them to the floor to be whisked away, no other natural wax can make that claim.

And for goodness sake, leave those “air fresheners” on the market shelf where they belong! An ultrasonic air diffuser used with therapeutic grade essential oils is a healthy, safe alternative. I also like to put a couple drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and place in the vacuum cleaner bag while vacuuming. It makes the whole house smell as fresh as a summers’ day! Wave goodbye to caustic dryer sheets by a simple switch to dryer balls made from recycled woolen garments. Or better yet hang your laundry on the line to dry by the sun, for free!

These ideas barely scratch the surface, but show how easy it is to take in and provide fresh air for your pets and family!