Even if you don't think you know what stinging nettle looks like-- chances are, you've met the plant before. It could have been when you were running around outside as a child and emerged with a painful, mysterious rash on your legs. Depending on where you live, you might even pass by a plant on your daily commute (even in NYC), where it grows "like a weed." 

I was introduced to the medicinal properties of stinging nettle through renowned herbalist Amanda David of Rootwork Herbals...

Spring is our season.

It's a time of renewal and detoxification. New beginnings, fresh starts, and healthy transformations. Wherever you are in your process, we hope you are enjoying the changing season.

There have been many exciting developments at Practical Nontoxic Living, below are nine key updates.

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1) What does it take to innovate?

On May 4th, Sophia will host her first Innovators of Wellness event in NYC. It features five trailblazers in modern...

Yoga blocks are often made of a foam that's made of petrochemicals. While there are benefits (they tend to be cheap and light), they are not great for our planet and our health.

Instead, healthier yoga blocks are made of 100% wood (like bamboo) or 100% cork, both of which can be more eco-friendly by using renewable and sustainable materials.

YOGA MATS

Yoga mats can be made of plastic, like vinyl (one of the most toxic materials for our planet and our health). A healthier material for yoga mats is 100% natural rubber.

CLEANSING YOUR YOGA MAT

To cleanse your yoga mat, you can use essential oils in the doTERRA recipe below. But please conduct a test patch first because not all yoga mats are the same and the recipe below may damage some mats.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup distilled water
1/4 cup alcohol-free witch hazel or...

Earlier today, I dropped by the office of ELLE Magazine in NYC to discuss detox tips for your gym bag and workout. The Facebook Live video is below in case you missed it. You can also read the detox tips further down.

1. Detox Cleaning of Your Gym Bag

My friend, Jen, was stopped and frisked by airport security after the swab of the inside of her gym bag appeared to be toxic! Her airport experience got her wondering how gross the inside of her gym bag must be,...

With the exponential growth in internet usage over the past few decades, our bodies have experienced unprecedented exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). I think of this as EMF pollution, a term used to describe a type of toxic exposure from things like products that use wifi and bluetooth as well as items plugged into electrical outlets. While we have unique sensitivities to any type of toxicant, some commonly reported symptoms of EMF pollution include:

• ...

Here at Practical Nontoxic Living, we are always thrilled when other platforms share the expertise of our founder, Sophia Gushee. Our entire team feels rewarded when our efforts broaden awareness and empowerment on practical tips to detox our Homes!

We're especially excited that Sophia is now regularly contributing her expertise and experience on Thrive Global, the new wellness-focused project by Arianna Huffington.

Arianna invited Sophia to share excerpts...

It seems like common sense that environmental factors—the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink—affect our health. So why don’t most of us (including the medical community) consider their role in shaping our biology?

Environmental factors that we can control, such as endocrine disruptors found in consumer products and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from technology products, may threaten your immunity, microbiome, reproductive system, endocrine...

An Herbal Ally for Spring: Peppermint

With such crazy ups and downs in our weather patterns, it's hard to know just when, and if, warmer weather will come-- and stay. This can affect seasonal allergy symptoms in a serious way-- often coming earlier, later, or more intense than previous years.

To support the body's healthy functioning and reduce allergic reactions, try incorporating peppermint (or peppermint essential oil) into your daily regimen. Peppermint is wildly abundant and known...

If you have ever looked into buying a water filter for your home, you know that choosing one can be immensely complicated.  There is an incredible amount of information to sift through, and there are tough questions that need to be answered in order to find the right fit. 

While trying to figure out the best filter, I spoke to experts and spent hours searching the internet for information, trying to understand the existing technology, and to gain an opinion of what filter was right...