A Healthy Home

Your home has an enormous impact on your health and wellbeing. Getting your living space right involves avoiding health hazards such as mould, electromagnetic fields and toxic products, and having spaces for the healthy activities described in The Whirl of Wellness.

HOME HEALTH HAZARDS

Home health hazards can have an insidious and devastating effect on your health and lead to, or exacerbate, asthma, allergies, respiratory conditions, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, inflammation, autoimmune conditions and a wide range of chronic diseases.

HOME HEATH HAZARDS INCLUDE:

Mould – arises from water and moisture arising from leaks, condensation or spills that are left standing for more than 48hrs

Allergens – arise from dust mites, pets and infestations due to poorly stored food, food scraps, rubbish, and excess moisture

Air Quality – is reduced by humidity above 60% or below 40%, dust, out-gassing from furnishings, paints and varnishes, drift from traffic and industry toxic air fresheners or incense

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) – poor heating or cooling, blue or artificial light, wireless devices, Wi-Fi routers, smart meters, close proximity to mobile phone towers or power lines

Toxic Products – building materials, carpets, paint, fire retardants, lead, asbestos, particle board, varnishes, glues, pesticides, and personal care products with ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’. Check out Wellbeing Collective’s article about Chemicals in Furniture to learn more.

IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
The following are signs your home could be contributing to poor health:

• A musty odour or visible water damage
• Pests such as cockroaches, rodents, ants, termites, mosquitos or flies
• Stale air or chemical scents rather than fresh air and natural scents
• Multiple Wi-Fi signals, cordless devices, poor lighting or poor temperature control
• Junk, clutter, rubbish, excess dust, toxic products and hazardous building materials

TURN YOUR HOME INTO A HEALTH HAVEN

WATER – Fix leaks and address sources of moisture, filter your bathing and drinking water, drink teas from herbs you grow yourself, brew kombucha, create hot and cold bathing options.

EDIBLE LANDSCAPE – grow your own leaves, roots, flowers, fruits and fungi, get in touch with living soil and try to eat something you’ve grown every day.

AIR QUALITY – ensure good ventilation, use an air purifier and vacuum with a HEPA filter, grow wide-leaf indoor plants, create pleasant scents with essential oils and freshly cut flowers.

RADIATION – maintain comfortable temperatures with humidity around 50%. Maximise natural light and distance from EMF sources, cover blue LEDs and shield EMFs.

SPACE – create decluttered spaces for relaxation, massage, yoga, play and dance, and use music, scent, indirect lighting and décor with natural materials and beautiful objects.

HEALTHY HOME ESSENTIALS

• Beautiful Water for drinking and bathing
• Herb garden and fermenter
• An air purifier and vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
• Space for hanging around and equipment such a hanging chairs, hammocks, yoga swings
  and balance boards
• Books and resource, such as Healthy Homes Healthy Families and Waking up to Wellness
  

By Marc Cohen