here is no question that for manyworkspaces, use of fragrance anddeodo - PDF document

here is no question that for manyworkspaces, use of fragrance anddeodorizers is both necessary and practical.Fragrances are often required to maskodorsÑespecially in situations where it isimpractical or unwise to use open windows. formulationsÑwhich we call Muzak for theAirÑcan also be detrimental to your healthin more ways than you may have imagined.The purely physiological negative healtheffects of commercially available air freshen-ers are becoming of increasing concern toinventions of the Wonder Bread world havealso done much more: theyÕve deprived us ofthe therapeutic, spiritual powers of naturallygathered and crafted wild scents. Scientists are increasingly aware of the factthat scents speak in a primitive, instinctuallanguage with powerful healing, harmonizingproperties. Smells retain an uncanny powerto move us and to heal. Yet, modern cultureall but ignores the fully dimensional thera-peutic powers of natural scents. has long recommended against use ofaerosols in all forms because of the ability oftheir particles to deeply penetrate the bodyvia the lungs where their particulates aredeposited directly and carried into the blood-stream. These hazards are compounded bythe fact that aerosol air fresheners also carryperfume mixtures, which may contain 600or more chemicalsÑmany with clear-cuttoxic properties, even at low doses. Illness in a Spray Can Aerosols and Air FreshenersUse of aerosols and air fresheners maycause headaches and depression in women,babies, warned Dr. Jean Golding, of the BristolUniversity Division of Child Health at a recentconference on indoor pollution in Edinburgh,UK. While scientists are not absolutely certain,they suspect that aerosols and air freshenersincrease susceptibility to health problems bymaking the skin more permeable and weak-ening the bodyÕs immune defenses. ÒA lot of people are unaware that in usingair fresheners, you are filling the air with alot of chemicals,Ó says Dr. Golding. ÒTheword Ôair freshenerÕ sounds like you are puri-fying things, when in fact you are not doinganything of the sort. Aerosols and air fresh-eners contain dozens of volatile organic com-pounds such as xylene, ketones andaldehydes, which can be toxic in high doses.Ó According to the Golding study: A survey of 14,000 pregnant women byepidemiologists at the University ofBristol in western England found thatexpectant mothers who used aerosols andair fresheners most days had 25 percentmore headaches than women who usedthem less than once a week and a 19 per-cent increase in depression. were frequently exposed to air freshen-ers had 30 percent more ear infectionsand a 22 percent increase in diarrhea. FragrancesAir fresheners also contain perfumes andfragrances. Once, fragrances did not pose thesame degree of hazard that they do today.For thousands of years herbs, flowers, andanimals such as Asian musk deer, beaver,and sperm whale have been sources of fra-grances. However, expanding consumerdemand and scarcity of these resourcesÑcoupled with advanced technologyÑled to awhole new area of synthetic fragrances, andtoday some 95 percent of the mix in mostfragrances is made from synthetic chemi-cals. Many of the perfumes used in air fresh-eners contain mixtures of 600 or more rawmaterials and synthetic chemicals, fewtested for their safety. A recent government report targeted fra-grances as one of the six categories of chemi-cals that should be given highest priority forneurotoxicity testingÑalong with insecticides,heavy metals, solvents, food additives, and airpollutants. In fact, some 84 percent of theingredients used in fragrances have neverbeen tested for human toxicity, or tested onlyminimally. Meanwhile, the National Instituteof Occupational Safety and Health reportsthat 884 toxic substances were identified in alist of 2,983 chemicals used in the fragranceindustry as capable of causing breathing diffi-culty, allergic reactions, multiple chemicalsensitivities, and other serious maladiesincluding neurotoxicity. ÒI worry that the man who invented Muzak might be thinking of inventing something else.ÓÑLily Tomlin THE NATURAL HOME Air Fresheners vs. Incense Reprinted with permission from The DoctorsÕ Prescription for Healthy Living,Volume 5, Number 3For subscription information, please call 800.959.9797. Recently, we used the Cornell University online material safety data sheet information service to review ingredients in commercially marketed air freshener and deodorizer products. Among our findings, based on information released by manufacturers and standard industry toxicology texts:AIR FRESHENER/DEODORIZERCONTAINSCOMMENTSLysol Disinfectant Spray2-phenylphenola severe eye and skin irritant, which has been demonstrated to have mutagenic propertiessodium aluminosilicatemay be inhaled, adding to the bodyÕs burden of aluminum, a potentially neurotoxic metal1,1,1-trichlorethanelinked with neurotoxicity and heart arrhythmiasTime Mist Air Freshener polyoxyethylene nonylphenolmay be contaminated with the highly volatilecarcinogen 1,4-dioxane The Incense AlternativeIncense combines the practical with the spiri-tual. It is able to deliver disinfectant benefits,as well promote harmony and provide healthand emotional benefits. Incense can be usedfor room air freshening as an alternative tochemical air fresheners, as a mood-enhancingbackground fragrance, or as a meditation aid.In the ancient Indian health system ofAyurveda, incense is used to pr-tion, purify the environment, restore har-mony, stimulate anaal force, andincrease our capacity for goodness, oraOne recent study examined whetherincense could help with air sterilization in ahospital ws effectwas compared with routine air sterilizationmethods such as ultraviolet radiation,f, and other common meth-ods. Bacterial cultures of the air inthe wÒnot only had the same effect as rou-tine methods in air sterilization butalso had no irritation to the patients.ÓHow to Use Ading to Ayurvedic pharmacology,the intrinsic qualities of flowers and otherherbs allow for the selection of precise sin-gle or compound remedies to bring harmonyto each individual. For example, all-naturalAoshikhaª True to Nature¨ Incense, the brand we recommend for theirhigh quality, provides a range of more than 30scents, all tectly from natureSome fragrances, such as veuseful for stress reduction. Use frankin-for contemplation, high spiritualityand writing, deep internalization, and medi-tSandalwood is for purifying yourspace and to help remove unwanted. Urtoke and gratitude. anium can uplift thespirit and invigorate the mind. Shopping for Quality IncenseWe recommend Auroshikhaª True toNe¨ incense. While there are many excel-lent brands, Auroshikha incense is among thebest. It is made using a natural bamboo stickonto which a paste made of jeegat (a naturbark), sandalwood powder and charcoal isthen hand-rolled. The naturally sourcedaance materials, after being carefullyblended to achieve the right note, are theneither mixed into the paste for the masala fra-, or are impregnated into the pastethrough a hand-dipping process. It is impor-tant to note that Auroshikha uses no glue in itsincense paste, and no cow dung, making it dif-ferent in this regard than many incense v-eties from around the world.Aoshikha has had its products tested byan independent testing laboratory in India,and another in Europe, to ensure that theydo not contain any heavy metals and arecertified non-toxic. No other incense manu-facturer we know of goes to this length toensure the safety of its product. How to Obtain Aoshikha To Ne Incenseare imported in North America by AuromaInternational, a well-knownnational distrib-or and manufacturalhealth products. They are available at nat-ural health rs nationwide, as well asmetaphysical book stores. The companyefers to support its rs so, ifyour store doesnÕt have Auroshikha Trueto Nature Incense Sticks and antthem, havAomaInternational at (262) 889 8569to auroma@lotusprebsite:omaintl.com) to order the productfor you. ItÕs a safe and healthy product tobring into your home for added freshness,harmony and health.vReferences available at wwwessonline.comders and InformationAoma International, Inc.PO Box 1008Silver Lake, WI 53170 USAVoice: 262.889.8569 Fax: 262.889.8591E-mail: auroma@lotuspress.comWebsite: www.auroma.net The DoctorsÕ PrescriptionDaily use of natural incense promotes longevity, harmonizes thepsychophysical constitution, and enhances mental focus. If incense is to ea of children, Auroshikha True to Nature¨ is to be preferrosol air fresheners and less pure brands of incense, since it premely low amounts of smoke or other products of combustion. SHOPPERÕS TIP:oductory PackageIn order to the experience the wide range ofAuroshikha True to Nature¨ fragrances, we recommendtheir 18-fragrance sampler pack containing a selection oftheir most popular scents.HOW TO SELECT A QUALITY INCENSE PRODUCTeferred methods of preparation for incense are the masalamethod or hand-dipping of natural source fragrances as embodied in Auroshikhaª True to Nature¨ Incense Sticks. With these traditionalmethods, you can be sure that your incense provides a truly natural fragrance without chemical overtones. Natural incense prepared in the traditional methods:nflowers, fragrantnContains nontoxic ingredients, no glue or dung used in incense paste.nHas been traditionally prepared, hand rolled, never mass produced.nWill avoid excess smoke.nProvide aromatherapy quality fragrances DID YOUW?Deodorizers Cause CancerThose foul smelling mothballs in your cupboard and deodorizers used in menÕsroom urinals do more than smell nasty. They may cause cancer. The NationalToxicology Program says that recently com-pleted experiments provide Òclear evidenceÓthat naphthalene, the active ingredient inthese products, causes respiratory tractcancers, including those of the nose.Try cedar-based products ornatural incense instead.