by Sophia Ruan Gushée

There has never been more awareness to our sensitivities: nuts, dairy, gluten, sulfites, and more.

So why not chemicals?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a term that describes a set of physical reactions to chemicals—both natural and manmade—in our environment, including from our everyday household products. Some of these symptoms include chronic symptoms that millions of people endure. A home detox can unburden your body's chronic...

by Sophia Ruan Gushée

Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that are emitted from both natural and artificial sources. This article focuses on VOCs from man-made products that pollute your indoor air, especially the sources that are easy for you to avoid.

What are VOCs?

VOCs are released as gases from some building materials and household products at room temperature.

Examples of common sources of VOCs in an average home include:

• Nail polish and nail polish remover
• ...

Podcast intro by Sophia Ruan Gushée

Sick building syndrome (SBS), or sick house syndrome, consist of various nonspecific symptoms that occupants of indoor areas experience. 

Symptoms of SBS include headaches, dizziness, chronic fatigue, nausea, irritation (of eye, nose, throat, or skin), difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to odors, allergies, cold, flu-like symptoms, increased incidence of asthma attacks and personality changes.

Author of Organic Lifestyle Made...

by Sophia Ruan Gushée

If you're not sick or suffering from known allergies, what might a stuffy nose or runny nose be trying to tell us?

The nose can communicate many important things to our brain and body. It can signal alarm from the smell of fire or something burning; stimulate our appetite and taste buds from the smell of a delicious meal or baked goodies; and it can trigger symptoms to get us to avoid toxic chemicals or toxic food.

Symptoms from...

by Sophia Ruan Gushée

How often do you think about your nose?

I rarely do. Except when I have a stuffy nose, runny nose, or sneezing fits.

What does the nose do for us? How can we connect with it? Can doing so empower us somehow?

Come on, Let's Get to Know the Nose

The nose works hard for us. By taking the time to learn more about it, we can align ourselves to work with the nose—to guide us towards safety and health, investigate odors, explore chronic...

By Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée 

Nontoxic hand soap is better for all of us, but especially mothers of babies and young kids, because what's on our hands can make their way into our children's bodies. Babies will chew on our fingers, and our hands touch many things that go straight into our children's mouths, like teething rings.

Therefore, it may be worthwhile to reconsider the type of handsoap you’re using.

In this article, we’ll look at...

Increasingly, people are learning that nonstick pots and pans are coated with perfluorochemicals (PFCs), which pose health risks. And they are a family of persistent environmental contaminants.

So what are healthier pots and pans to use? Cast iron and stainless steel are popular choices by the health-conscious.

But what about copper cookware? There's been less discussion on their safety.

Whether you use copper cookware to cook for yourself, or for others (especially baby...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

Surprisingly, lead is still found in many consumer products today.

While lead was banned from house paint in the U.S. in 1978, it is still found in the paint of older homes, hand-me-down products, and products made in foreign countries. (1)(2)

In addition, lead may be found in products that fall into an exempt or exclusion category set forth by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. For example, some electronic components have...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

When buying furniture the first consideration is usually about the look and feel of the furniture. Not about how it may be affecting health.

Furniture and other home furnishings often contain formaldehyde. In this article you will find:

• What is formaldehyde?
• Household items containing formaldehyde.
• Short-term effects of formaldehyde exposure.
• Can formaldehyde cause cancer?
• How to avoid formaldehyde exposure at home.
• Find more...

by Angela Cummings and Sophia Ruan Gushée

Did you recently buy new furniture, such as a bed frame, couch, desk or shelving unit? Do you feel tired, light headed, foggy, or crabby but don’t know why? Your new furniture may contribute to these symptoms from the toxic fumes that some furniture off-gasses. Purchasing non toxic household products and furniture is always something that we recommend. In addition, you can also look into quality non toxic carpet to...