Non Toxic Vision

Easy to Grow, Healing and Medicinal Plants

ALOE VERA

Most common use: The juice from the plant is used as a topical treatment for sunburns and minor skin abrasions.

How to use it: Break off part of a leaf and apply the exuding gel to the affected area.

How to grow: Aloe vera is a native to tropical warm climate. However it is easy to grow and maintain in a pot and can even be kept indoors in a sunny window.

ECHINACEA

Most common use: believed to stimulate the immune system and protect against the common cold. It is also thought to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

How to use: 2 - 3 tablespoons of dried leaves or 1 - 2 tablespoons of dried roots and steep in hot water to make tea. The leaves may be used at any time, it will take 2 - 3 years before the roots (which are more potent) will be ready to be harvested.

How to grow: the most medicinally one is Echinacea angustifolia, which has a higher concentration of chemically active compounds. Plant it in well-drained, sandy soil. The plant requires full sun and should be planted in early spring.

CHAMOMILE

Most common use: a calming herb, that is often used as mild sedative to control anxiety and insomnia. Also used for digestion problems and helps calm an upset or "nervous" stomach.

How to use: 4 - 5 tablespoons of dried flowers and steep in hot water for tea.

How to grow: plant in well-drained soil amended with compost where the plants receives morning sun. Water the plant regularly (it likes to stay moist).

LEMON BALM

Most common use: to treat insomnia, anxiety and digestive problems

Hot to use: 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of dried leaves in hot water for tea

How to grow: Plant seads in pots, the plants prefers moist soil, cut back regularly to keep from flowering. Full sun and afternoon shade works great for this plant.

CAYENNE PEPPER

Most common use: All types of chiles contain capsaicin, which stimulates digestion and helps absorb nutrients from food. It also stimulates circulation and blood flow and helps to relieve sinus congestion.

How to use: Head cold: make a tea with the juice from half a lemon, teaspoon of dried ginger and a pinch of dried cayenne - drink several times a day. Or just add chiles to your food.

How to grow: very easy to grow in full sun. Harvest the plants when they are fully grown (check the instructions that come with most plants). With chile-plants it really depends on the type.  

Yoga mats

Hugger Mat Earth Elements Mat U$ 74.94 at www.huggermugger.com

This mat is made without using toxins and is composed  of a hydrogen and carbon foam that slows the growth of bacteria. The light weight also makes it perfect for traveling. Despite it's textured surface this mat is also less sticky compared with other mats.

NU Source Terra Pure Mat U$ 34.99 at www.nu-sourceinc.com

Free of PVC, latex and rubber - this mat is made of thermal plastic elastomer (a carbon- and hydrogen-based foam that retains less sweat). So Bikram Yogis watch out - this might not be the mat for you.

H-racer

A toy car (6 inches long) that might hold the solution for future travel: it converts water into hydrogen with solar power. Created by accident by the Shanghai-based company Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies this toy car even comes with it's own fuel station. Fill the tank with water and plug in the solar panel. Bubbles rising in the water signal oxygen formation. In 10 minutes it's ready to roll. Since this discovery the company is now working on  a full-size fuel cell car. Until then you can play with the smaller version, which is made out of non-toxic, recyclable material. Also: a great gift introducing great technology at U$ 99 at www.amazon.com

Driving Green with Ethanol

What is ethanol? This question was answered in an article I found in AAA Car & Travel, October 2007 writen by Peter Bohr.

"It is renewable fuel created from organic matter, which is used as gasoline additive as well as the primary fuel (E85 = 85 % ethanol and 15 % gasoline). Cars that burn ethanol create fewer global-warming emissions, but ethanol also reduces a car's fuel economy. In addition, methods for producing ethanol, which use corn as raw material, may create enough greenhouse gases to offset any reductions at the tailpipe. Significant work is being done on cellulosic ethanol production, which uses agricultural waste or switchgrass instead of corn and releases fewer greenhouse gases. Until today only Honda makes natural gas-fueled cars for the general public: the Civic GX, which also due to its internal-combustion engine is the greenest on earth.