Air Therapy

April 10, 2014 Dr. Deb Bossio

Thinking outside of the box and applying therapy in the larger sense of the word, this month we discuss cleaning the air in your home as a way to relieve and heal disorders such as seasonal allergies.

While some plants cause seasonal allergies, it is also true that other plants will help filter the air of various allergens as well as harmful chemicals that invade the home.

- Aloe vera and spider plant naturally filter the air of formaldehyde and benzene which are prevalent in materials, paints and cleaners used today.
Spider plant also filters carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries.
- If you dry clean your clothing, gerber daisies are a good option as they have a knack for removing trichloroethylene in addition to benzene.
- Golden pothos, a fast-growing vine that doesn't mind the dark, has been suggested for use in the garage as it will help filter formaldehyde from car exhaust before it creeps into your home.

Of course, these are only a few of the many air-cleaning plants to consider. When shopping for air cleaning plants for your home, be sure to note the lighting and standard temperature for where you will keep each plant, as these conditions can affect the growth and productivity of the plants. You'll want to match plants with both their location and conditions as well as the pollutants they filter.

If you're looking for a more modern option and prefer the convenience of a mechanical air purifier, remember that not all air purifiers are created equal. Many air filtration systems only clean the air of larger air particles but miss the ultrafine particles that account for about 90 percent of all airborne particles. These ultrafine particles come from motor vehicles, refineries, industrial plants and even cooking. They are easily inhaled and have been linked to asthma, heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

We recommend the IQAir Cleaner Health Pro Plus, a HyperHEPA filtration system that has been proven and certified to filter up to 99.5 percent of all particles in the air, including ultrafine particles that most other filtration systems miss. As an added bonus, this air filtration system cleans the air in a four step process that produces no residual risky side effects such as dangerous ions, ozone or UV.

Whichever way you prefer to clean your air, all of these options will help, promoting better breathing and body functioning, leading to a healthier home and a healthier you.

References

Photo Credit. FreeDigitalPhotos.net
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Interiors_g380-Classic_Furnitures_For_Modern_Interiors_p34652.html

HealthPro® Series. iqair.com.
http://www.iqair.com/home-air-purifiers/healthproseries

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality. Mother Nature Network.
http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for-improving-indoor-air-quality/a-breath-of-fresh-air.

RESOURCES

Image Attribution: photostock/freedigitalphotos.net