Your cell phone is actually not a phone. It’s a two-way radio that emits low-powered radiation. But does holding a radio device to our heads for minutes or hours a day expose us to enough radiation to lead to tumours and cancer? The manufacturers say ‘NO’ but more and more studies are saying ‘YES’ as neuroscience experts believe the growing number of brain cancers across all age demographics is directly related to frequent long-term cell phone use.

A Swedish study in 2006 concluded that people who used mobile phones for an hour or more each day had a 240 percent higher brain tumour risk than non-users. Tumours were significantly more likely to develop on the side of the head where the phone was most often used.
According to renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Vini Khurana, the problem with past studies is that they have only been for short term durations. Dr. Khurana warns that the mobile phone industry should be implementing sweeping changes to the technology. “There is a significant and increasing body of evidence for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumors,” Khurana said, a link that will be “definitively proven” within 10 years. Khurana warned that if immediate measures are not taken, mobile phones will soon be responsible for a massive public health crisis.”We are currently experiencing a reactively unchecked and dangerous situation and it is reasonable to assume that in the next 10 years, brain tumours will be responsible for more deaths world-wide than smoking or asbestos,” he said.
Six out of every 100,000 people will be diagnosed with brain cancer this year and the growing number of incidences involving people under the age of 40 is shocking. Rather than chucking your phone out the window and switching to carrier pigeon, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and those you love.

Common sense cell phone safety tips:
·       Use cell phones only when absolutely necessary. Use a landline whenever you can.
·       Distance yourself from your phone. Even a few centimetres between your body and your phone can diminish risks so try to use the hands-free speakerphone function.
·       Purchase an EMF blocker for your phone such as the Trio RADSafe (a self adhesive device the size of a dime that sticks to the back of your phone and reduces the EMF radiation) available in Kelowna at Soleil Body Cleansing Studio located in Kelowna at 1353 Ellis Street across from the library parkade.
·       Shop around for a phone with less radiation. Guides to cell phone radiation by brand are available online at  http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020356-1.html?tag=rb_content;rb_mtx
·       If you’re a parent considering getting a cell phone for your child, keep in mind the health and safety concerns to younger bodies and limit the amount of time they are allowed to use their phone.

Our cell phones are here to stay - ensure yours is causing you more help than harm.

Nothing forces you to be mindful of the fragility of your health and well being like the simple passage of time. Tasks that once seemed so simple slowly acquire a burden of effort and focus that often leaves you perplexed and frustrated.
We have always advocated the pursuit of a higher quality of life and taking a proactive stance for your health and wellness. Being active, healthy and happy is not some vague aspiration that will magically appear in your life simply because you will it. The truth is the choices you make on a daily and a moment-to-moment basis determine the quality of your life.

Oh yeah, and it takes focus, determination and discipline. Do you truly want to change your health and your life? In your heart, do you realize that you deserve to be healthy and happy? Are you ready to receive the gift - for yourself and your loved ones - of a life well lived?
If you are, work will be required every moment of every day. Don’t look for a special pill to cure all of your problems or a fast solution for a situation that has taken years to create. Take great comfort in the knowledge that no matter what condition you may be in today you have the power to be happier, healthier and more engaged in your life than you ever imagined.
The beginning of your transformation requires three simple commitments:

1.) Believe in Yourself

So often we don’t commit to the simplest changes in our lives because we’ve become too accustom to our habits and routines. Or as motivational speaker Brian Tracy tells it, so many people are stuck on ‘Some Day Isle’. “Some day I’ll do this….”, or “Some day I’ll do that…”. Or most tragically, many people simply feel that they’re not worthy or they’re undeserving of a better life. They may not admit it - even to themselves - but that’s what’s going on deep down inside. The simple fact is that everyone deserves the best life they can create for themselves. And it’s within everyone’s reach. Believe it. And start by believing in your right to deserve it and your ability to make it happen. Accept your responsibility.

So often we don’t commit to the simplest changes in our lives because we’ve become too accustom to our habits and routines. Or as motivational speaker Brian Tracy tells it, so many people are stuck on . “Some day I’ll do this….”, or “Some day I’ll do that…”. Or most tragically, many people simply feel that they’re not worthy or they’re undeserving of a better life. They may not admit it - even to themselves - but that’s what’s going on deep down inside. The simple fact is that everyone deserves the best life they can create for themselves. And it’s within everyone’s reach. Believe it. And start by believing in your right to deserve it and your ability to make it happen. Accept your responsibility.

2.) The Real ABC’s - Always Be Curious

Well, that’s all fine and dandy and who wouldn’t want to live the best life that they can? But where do you go, how do you learn what to do?  Who can you trust to tell you the right things that you need to know? Oh yeah - and how much is it going to cost me? All good questions and the answers are at your fingertips - Literally.

The Internet is the largest resource for information in the history of humankind. Don’t be afraid to Google new terms and to validate what you learn from one source by cross checking the same information from other sources. Can you believe everything you read on the Internet? In the words of a once popular American president “Trust - but verify.” Go to your local health food store and ask questions; you’ll find people there well informed on healthy lifestyles, and don’t be afraid to reach out to others. Know someone who is eating a raw food diet or who is in great shape as a result of regular physical conditioning? Talk to them - ask them questions. Most people who have made significant changes in their lives or who live a healthy lifestyle are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. The fact is you own the responsibility to educate yourself and to identify the areas that you want to improve in your life. Consciousness and enlightenment is your goal and the effort and the knowledge to pursue them is your responsibility!

3.) Start Moving and Don’t Stop

Seriously, start moving. And then keep moving. Nothing sustains inaction like a sedentary lifestyle. If the only exercise you are getting is the circuit from your fridge to your TV room to your bathroom, your best start is to break that cycle. Get outside and take a walk. Breathe fresh air. Only have the energy to make it to the corner and back? Great, then do it once a day. Try going a little further each day. The more you can do the better you’ll feel. You’ll soon start to feel alive in your body once again and be compelled toward greater challenges to improve your health. But it all starts with that one little step. Get up and go and stop the silly excuses you keep accepting for not doing it!
Sooooo, What’s the Catch?

“Ok,” you may be asking yourself, “what are you trying to sell me?” Well, I sell far infrared saunas for a living and am not only passionate about them but know first-hand how they can help rejuvenate your health and your life. I’d love everyone who reads this newsletter to own one (preferably a Sunlight Sauna) but today my interest is in selling you something no one else will.

Today my goal is to sell you - yourself. The YOU you once knew but today seems like a fond, faded memory of someone who you left long ago.

Remember when you were younger with all your wonderful dreams and goals? Remember when life seemed simpler and you were so much happier? Remember that body you had and feeling so alive that anything seemed possible? Remember love? Remember faith? Remember passion?

What happened?!?!?

LIFE! It happens to all of us and we find ourselves in roles and responsibilities that compromise our goals and overwhelm our vision of the life we thought we’d live.

Here’s the good news: It’s all still there waiting to be reclaimed by you!

What’s important to you - what are the things in your life that have meaning to you? Start your journey by embracing the things in your life that matter to you - that give you joy and fulfillment - and releasing the things that diminish you or don’t add to the quality of your life. Only YOU have the power to live your best life possible.  I’ll close with the saying that I look at every day posted on my bathroom mirror: “Life is NOT a dress rehearsal”. Now go out and get yours!

(To subscribe to Soleil’s “Heat Up Your Health” monthly e-newsletter or to suggest a future topic, email kim@soleilsaunas.com . Kim can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kimsvoice and has begun a Facebook group for the RAW and RAW-curious called “RAW Foodies in Kelowna”. They hold a monthly potluck in Kelowna.)

According to a new review by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo, April, 2008, consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally and cause long term brain malfunction and even behavioural problems and depression.

Despite these growing concerns, neither the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have changed their guidelines regarding the safety of the ingredient or intake advice.

To understand why Aspartame is so destructive, it is important to understand the three components that make up Aspartame: aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methanol (10%). When aspartic acid is consumed, it significantly raises your blood level of aspartate, which leads to a high level of those neurotransmitters in certain areas of your brain, where they slowly begin to destroy neurons.

Your brain cells could be dying right now, but you likely would not notice the symptoms until 75% or more are gone. Then, chronic illnesses such as the following may occur:

• Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
• Memory and hearing loss
• Hormonal problems
• Epilepsy
• Brain lesions
• Neuroendocrine disorders

Excessive levels of phenylalanine in your brain can cause the levels of serotonin in your brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders such as depression. It can also cause schizophrenia or make you more susceptible to seizures.

They recommend a limit of consumption of 7.8 mg/day, but a one-liter aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Heavy users of aspartame-containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol daily — or 32 times the EPA limit!

The symptoms of methanol poisoning are numerous and varied. They include:

• Vision problems
• Headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness
• Nausea and gastrointestinal disturbances
• Weakness, numbness and shooting pains in your extremities
• Behavioral disturbances
• Memory lapses

Still think Aspartame is a safe choice? Be a smart consumer and read your labels. Give up chewing gum and diet sodas. If you must have something sweet, turn to natural sweeteners or even just good old sugar. Your body knows what to do with it and your brain will thank you!

Because fat is generally inert, it is here that the bulk of your toxins are warehoused. Your body is a brilliantly designed machine and any toxin that cannot be processed out through normal elimination is stored in the safest place possible and where it has the best chance of being expelled - your subcutaneous fat cells. The importance of internal cleansing has been common knowledge among health-conscious people for years but internal cleanses do not remove the accumulation of toxins from your fat tissue. Now, the technology exists to safely and permanently remove these harmful toxins – the far-infrared sauna.

Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine said “Give me a fever and I will cure any disease”. While the Finns are credited with inventing the Sauna as we know it (pronounced “sow-nah” as in ‘now’), other cultures have used the sweat lodge for centuries. Outdoor buildings were constructed and the heat – often in excess of 200°F was generated by open fires, later wood-fire stoves were used and in recent years, electric heaters. The extreme high heat meant that not everyone could use the sauna: the elderly, infirmed or weak could not tolerate the stress that the heat placed on their bodies so they could not reap the many health benefits regular sweating provides.

Far-infrared is an invisible part of the light spectrum that heats objects directly without heating the air between.  It is far-infrared that is responsible for the heat we feel from the sun and is completely separate from the harmful UV rays that are also a component of sun light.  It is essential to our health and is part of our daily lives as every living organism emits and receives far-infrared energy.

To determine the difference in detoxification is between conventional and far-infrared, Seattle-based neurologist, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, conducted a study. Lab results showed that the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was 95-97 percent water while the sweat of those using a far-infrared sauna was 80-85 percent water with the non-water portion consisting of  cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, ammonia and uric acid.

Toxic load is a major health threat for people of all ages and sweating in a far-infrared sauna is an effective low risk method for removing toxins from the body. Far-infrared sauna treatments allow toxins to leave the body directly through the skin, avoiding complications from a congested lymphatic system, an already stressed liver, and the commonly irritated digestive elimination system. Patients who use sauna treatments report a wide range of health benefits, including clearer thinking, fewer coughs and colds, more restful sleep, less skin irritations, and resolution of nerve pain in their hands and feet.

Currently, there are more than 70,000 chemicals in use world-wide  and they are reaching everyone regardless of race, class or geography. According to a study released in January 2007, four top Canadian politicians allowed their blood to be tested. Of 103 pollutants ranging from flame retardants to arsenic and Teflon, a total of 61 were found. Combined, their blood contained a frightening chemical soup, which included 54 carcinogens, 37 hormone disruptors, 16 respiratory toxins, 54 reproductive or developmental toxins and 33 neurotoxins. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a simple solution to our body pollution – sweat.

It is estimated that it takes 90-100 hours of sweating in a far-infrared sauna to unload your lifetime accumulation of toxins. Once or twice a week after that will continually remove new toxins and keep your body systems operating at peak performance.

Good health is a choice – one that you can make. If you are seeking alternative therapies for existing conditions or preventive solutions to maintain your active lifestyle, consider regular far-infrared sauna use as a critical component in achieving optimal health and wellness. An ounce of sweat is truly worth a pound of cure!

Currently, the cosmetics industry operates under self-regulation and personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, aftershave, lotion and makeup are not regulated by the FDA or any other government agency. It is perfectly legal and very common for companies to use ingredients that are known carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins in their products.

While the cosmetics industry argues that the health risks from the chemicals is small, the fact is that we are bombarded with hundreds of these chemicals every day and the slow and silent accumulation has been proven to cause disease.

Some surprising numbers:

·         Each day, the average adult uses nine personal care products that contain 126 different chemical ingredients
·         The average person absorbs 5 lbs. of make-up chemicals per year
·         Over a quarter of a million women and one out of every 100 men use on the average of 15 products a day
·         Only 28 of the 7,500 products in the study were completely tested by the industry’s self-regulating panel
·         An astounding one-third of all the products assessed contained at least one ingredient that fell under the classification of human carcinogen
·         71 percent of the hair dye products evaluated had carcinogenic coal tar as part of their ingredients
·         Almost 70 percent of the products reviewed were found to have ingredients that could be tainted with impurities related to cancer and other health complications
·         54 percent of the products violated the safety recommendations proposed by the self-regulating Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board. Some examples of the unsafe ingredients in these products were discovered in diaper cream, products on the market for damaged skin such as chapped skin and other ingredients found in spray products
·         Over the course of keeping watch over the cosmetic industry, the FDA has banned a mere nine personal care products

Based on these findings, researchers agreed that the lack of monitoring by the FDA has led to a huge leniency toward the testing of cosmetic ingredients and has resulted in a large portion of products available on the market that pose health risks to the consumers

Recommendations to Cosmetic Manufacturers by the Environmental Working Group
·         Take out all possible cancer carcinogens and other developmental toxins from products
·         Ensure that ingredients are certified and free of impurities with known possible human carcinogens or developmental toxins
·         Eliminate any ingredients that qualify as harmful or unsafe
You wouldn’t knowingly rub a bunch of chemicals on your skin, would you? Well, that’s often what happens every day when people slather on lotion, apply makeup or wash their hair. Is using a typical body lotion for a day going to kill you? Well, of course not.

But every product that you put on your body gets absorbed directly into your bloodstream. And over time these chemicals add a significant burden to your body, and that burden can manifest into disease.

So when choosing your personal care products, keep in mind that the ingredients should be safe enough to eat, since that is essentially what you are doing when you apply something onto your skin.

The only way to be sure of what’s in your personal care products is to become familiar with which ingredients to avoid, and then check the labels of every product before you buy it. Here are some of the major ones that you will definitely want to avoid:
·         Paraben, a chemical found in underarm deodorants and other cosmetics that has been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
·         Phthalates, plasticizing ingredients (present in nearly three-quarters of 72 products tested by the Environmental Working Group), which have been linked to birth defects in the reproductive system of boys and lower sperm-motility in adult men, among other problems.
·         Musks, used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.
·         Artificial fragrances, which are among the top five known allergens, and can cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks.
·         Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system.
·         Toluene, made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.
·         Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum, these products coat your skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging, and are a suspected cause of cancer and disruption to hormonal activity.

To find out how your cosmetics rate, go to:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1

Stress Eaters: Researchers found that for people who said stress often drove them to eat, the comfort food of choice tended to be greasy, salty or sweet. Not surprisingly, such “stress-driven” eaters, particularly women, weighed more on average.

The researchers looked at over 5,000 people who admitted to being ’stress eaters’ and found that these individuals were more likely than others to frequently eat pizza, hamburgers, french fries and chocolate. They also drank more alcohol which caused them to eat more in the evening hours.

For both men and women, Body Mass Index (BMI) was higher among stress-driven eaters than others. For women, obesity was associated with eating to cope with stress; men were more likely to eat in the face of stress if they were single, divorced or frequently unemployed.

Chronic stress and cortisol (a “stress hormone”) can contribute to weight gain in the following ways:

Metabolism — Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience so even if you’re eating ‘all the right things’, your body will resist shedding pounds as it thinks it’s in ’survival mode’.

Cravings — People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods which as we know, packs on the pounds.

Blood Sugar — Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia which causes your body to metabolize any foods you do eat at a slower rate.Fat Storage — Excessive stress even affects where we tend to store fat. Higher levels of stress are linked to greater levels of abdominal fat which is associated with numerous other health problems and concerns.Fortunately, there are safe and effective ways to lower your cortisol levels and get the stress out of your diet. Exercise, deep breathing, yoga, meditation and sitting in a far-infrared sauna are all proven methods to lower cortisol levels. Many of these methods also involve burning calories which will help reverse the unwanted weight gain and lead to greater health and vitality. So the next time stress seems to be eating you - stop eating and seek out a healthier calorie-free alternative.

The problem with municipal water supplies is that they are laden with toxic chemicals that while harmless in small amounts, bio-accumulate in our bodies, wreak havoc on our immune systems and may (over time) lead to chronic disease. Some common toxins coming out of our household taps here in the Okanagan include: lead, mercury, and arsenic which are dangerous at extremely low concentrations and can be introduced into drinking water either though natural processes, old deteriorating pipes or as a result of human activity. Other inorganic compounds include chloride, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulfate, carbonate, cyanide, fluoride and radon. All of which have been linked to serious health problems.

One of the primary sources for local water pollution lies in our use of pesticides on our lawns and gardens. You would never dream of drinking down a tall cold glass of “Roundup”, but a glass of tap water contains many of the same chemicals. The compounds you spray on your lawn and garden run off from rain and snow, leach into our ground water and find their way into our reservoirs and lakes. As of January, 2009, Kelowna has enacted a pesticide restriction by-law for cosmetic use in response to concerns raised by local citizens and in line with other larger communities across Canada. Unfortunately, the bylaw is laden with exceptions including all gardens, public facilities and properties owned by the city. Upon further inspection, there is a list of 46 exempted pesticides and only 2 permit-required pesticides. While I applaud this first step, I believe the bylaw needs to be much more comprehensive and needs to cover our parks and green spaces as well.

Here is an important link where you can ask to be notified in advance of pesticide use in your neighbourhood:http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page1093.aspx

None of this is new - according to a 1993 report done by the Government of Canada, toxins in our municipal water supply was noted even then: “Of serious concern in Canada are toxic chemicals entering our water systems from many sources, including industry, agriculture and the home. Little is known about the effects of these substances on human health; often they do not become noticeable for many years, and they are difficult to distinguish from the effects of other factors. Much remains to be done to control toxic chemical pollution at its source.” (S. Meakin, Science and Technology Division, April, 1993).

The most common disinfection techniques used at municipal water treatment facilities today involve the use of chlorine, chloramines, and chlorine dioxide to kill harmful, disease-causing microorganisms in the water, making it safe to drink. Unfortunately, over the years scientists have discovered that toxic chemical byproducts form when these disinfectants react with natural organic matter like decaying vegetation in the source water. These DBPs have been linked to damaging effects to heart, lung, kidney and central nervous system and cause cancer in laboratory animals.

One solution may be to utilize a water purification system such as Reverse Osmosis on site in public buildings and restaurants. While this is a greater investment up front for the businesses, it is something the consumers can be charged for as they would be for a bottle of water. The health and well being of the citizens is worth it and I for one would happily pay a dollar for a glass of clean water than ask my liver and kidneys to filter out all the junk I know is in tap water.
Another solution is for all us consumers to carry our own purified water in either a stainless steel or glass container. While this will force us all to be a little more prepared in our day to day outings, it is by far the most earth-friendly of the options.

I’m delighted to see the toxic plastic bottles getting the heave-ho but forcing us all to drink municipal water is not the solution and I for one would rather drink wine! Organic wine, that is. Cheers until next time.

The following letter was written by Valeria, one of our sauna customers in Vancouver who has agreed to share her story in the hopes it will help others avoid health problems caused by the CFL lights in their homes. Fortunately, she has owned her Sunlight far- infrared sauna since November, 2007 which has helped her continually process the ongoing mercury exposure out of her body. She continues to regain her strength daily. 

August 2, 2008

Recently, we had a huge wake-up call when we decided to back-track to see what might have caused my sudden fall into chronic fatigue and exhaustion of body and mind wherein I am virtually house-bound and often bed/chair bound.  AND INEXPLICABLY GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY - despite expert medical care.

We realized that I had started to slow down in November 2006 and then suddenly came to a dead stop in December 2006.

When we reviewed my activity level before DEC 2006 - I recalled being quite physically active for 10-15 hours a day of normal daily activity - gardening, cleaning, marketing PLUS packing, moving, cleaning and painting 4000 sq. ft. of the new house and garage.

Then SUDDENLY, I couldn’t lift the laundry basket, I couldn’t finish painting the laundry room, I couldn’t make the bed, I couldn’t lift a pot, I couldn’t lift my arms.  I was drawn to just curl up and rest throughout most days.  My work piled up and while my mind made plans my body couldn’t keep up. Simultaneously my right arm went into constant agonizing pain and I thought I had dislocated my shoulder.

So, I started my march through the medical specialists and ended up being treated for CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), unnecessary inflammation and unfriendly bacteria - since July 2007.  Yet, while on the treatment - I was still fatigued and actually feeling worse every day - not typical of others on the protocol.  And where others quickly lost surplus weight - I was gaining weight as if my body needed even more padding to protect me from something.

Intermingled with my back-tracking, it just happened that James needed to dispose of a ‘curly energy saving fluorescent light bulb’ and found out that they cannot be disposed of in the garbage DUE TO THE MERCURY CONTENT.  In searching the internet for directions he discovered SOME SHOCKING NEWS that showed the ENORMOUS DANGER POSED BY THESE BULBS.

I was NEVER drawn to them in the first place (instinct) and always opposed having them being installed in the house.  And while I justified my instinct to be because of the glaring unpleasant light they give off - I NOW realize that there was something more sinister occurring that triggered my ‘caution signal’.

But, James changed every light bulb in our 4000 sq. ft. residence and installed CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) into EVERY LIGHT SOCKET.  He even special ordered a candelabra type of bulb from the US to fit some fixtures.  His mind had been tricked into believing the energy/money saving technology propaganda.

He actually completed his installation of these new government sanctioned energy saving bulbs as of December 2006 - ALMOST EXACTLY AT THE TIME I SUDDENLY BECAME SICK.

Here we are 19 months later and the internet is teeming with STARTLING information about the DANGER posed by these bulbs and the suggestion that many of them have a slow mercury leak into their environment.  Other testing shows that once they have been initially used they continuously release a toxin from the surface of the bulb whether on or off.  Not to mention the electromagnetic interference with the body’s natural function (new studies are shocking).

On the weekend of 19/20JUL08 James removed every light bulb in our home and replaced them with the old incandescent bulbs.  Immediately the ambiance of our home was softer and more pleasant - AND the energy changed from intense and friction-filled to palpable peaceful.

We celebrated our success for a few hours - but then we faced the worse part when James took the over 30 dangerous, mercury emitting, used CFLs to the disposal acceptance box at Ikea.  As he dropped each bulb individually through the small hole, he quickly became sweaty (as if his body was reacting to something) started coughing (choking), and experienced sudden runny nose (as if the membrane inside his nose was sweating).  By the time we got home, he was experiencing severe muscle weakness throughout his body and especially in his arms.

It appears that when he dropped the bulbs off at the Ikea disposal centre the air was so filled with mercury from broken bulbs that he became contaminated - and despite him wearing a mouth cover and rubber gloves while he exchanged the bulbs at out home, and him stripping his clothes directly into the washer - his body had become saturated and toxic at the drop-off depot.

Throughout the next day he was dead tired despite sleeping late and resting in his chair most of Sunday.  He was too ill with sore throat, severe headache, nausea and all-body muscle weakness to go to work on Monday or Tuesday and was home early Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and into bed. He has mostly recovered now due to filling himself with chelated minerals of magnesium and calcium and taking lots of infrared saunas and showers.

Despite his continued and conscientious effort to release the toxins from his body – as he breathed, sneezed and coughed into our common air space and I breathed the air - I too got a runny nose, extremely sore throat, scratchy eyes, dizziness and intense sharp pains in my forehead.

It is now 02 AUG 08, and while the consequences of disposal contamination are slowly wearing off and I am also taking chelated minerals - I am a new person as far as my energy return (or, might I say I am back to my old personage).  I can carry the laundry up and down the stairs without having to take a rest midway.  And I can carry several of those in one day and even within one hour.  And I do not feel attacked in every room - AND all the pain in my right arm (the arm that laid next to my lamp every night while I slept) has completely disappeared.
For more information about CFL dangers visit any of these websites:

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=aa7796aa-e4a5-4c06-be84-b62dee548fda

http://educate-yourself.org/cn/fluorescentlightspromotion02may07.shtml

http://naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/concerns-over-fluorescent-lights/

Artists are at particular risk of developing health problems associated with exposure to chemicals for several reasons:

1. Artists frequently get little or no training in the hazards of their materials and processes. As a result, artists are often unaware that the materials they use contain toxic ingredients, including those that are not permitted in other types of consumer products. For instance, lead has been banned from wall paint but is still used in artist paints and inks.
2. Artists often do not take precautions to protect themselves from the hazards associated with the materials they use, and in many cases they cannot afford expensive safety equipment. While a chemist using exactly the same substances would protect themselves with goggles, gloves, fume hoods and other safety equipment, artists will often not only fail to take these precautions, but also partake in activities that actually increase their exposure to harmful substances, e.g., eating and drinking in the studio or holding their brush in their mouths.
3. Artists often have much longer and more frequent exposure to harmful chemicals than the average person because they frequently work with hazardous materials, often for extended hours.
4. Artists often work and live in the same place, and the toxic substances used in the studio can spread throughout the home leading to constant exposure from which the body does not get a break.

The medium the artist works most with will determine the level of chemical exposure and the potential for risk:

Oil, acrylic and watercolour paints, markers, pens, varnishes, inks contain solvents that may contain chemicals such as toluene and xylene which may irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system, and damage the nervous system, liver and kidneys. Turpentine causes allergies to itself.
Pigments in paints may also contain heavy metals, PCBs or dioxins which are linked to cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.

Dyes used to for fabric, batik, & silk-screening may cause allergic reactions, asthma, cancer, and dermatitis.

Ceramic glazes used on pottery - some glazes contain lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and other heavy metals which are highly toxic.

Resins and Acids vary from moderately toxic to highly toxic respiratory agents.

Alkalis used in cleaning solutions, paint removers, dye baths, ceramic glazes and photographic developing baths can be highly corrosive to the skin and eyes. Ingestion can cause severe damage to the digestive system. Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonia.

Sprays used in spray painting, air brushing, retouching photos, fixing drawings, application of glazes, enamels and adhesives may irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system, and damage the nervous system, liver and kidneys. Sprays are particularly hazardous because solvent mist droplets can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.

Photo chemicals used in photography can cause skin diseases, respiratory diseases, allergic diseases, acute anaemia and reproductive system damage.

Preventatively, artists need to be aware of their exposure, use water-based supplies as often as possible, ensure their studio is well ventilated, and protect their skin from exposure.  Specialized internal cleansing regimens will reinforce the immune system to purge active agents from the body and regular use of far-infrared saunas for durations of 60 minutes or longer will pull the stored chemicals and heavy metals out of their largest organ and chemical storage warehouse - the skin.

Sunburn can be a frustrating problem in the summer. Despite regular use of sunscreen (hopefully, the healthy, non-toxic types), many of us often find ourselves so enjoying ourselves, we do not notice until it is too late that we’ve had too much of a good thing. Ah, those fitful sleeps, unable to get comfortable or relax – every move a painful one. Surprisingly, sitting in a far-infrared sauna will heal sunburn faster than any other known method. Because far infrared rays penetrate a full 35mm. deep, there is a significant and accelerated circulatory response that occurs beneath the surface of your skin. According to the Clayton’s Electrotherapy, 9th Edition, far infrared heat is the only antidote to excessive ultraviolet radiation. This increased circulation brings healing oxygen to damaged skin cells and speeds sunburn recovery up to eight times faster. Now, who would have thought that heat can heal a sunburn?

Everyone wants to look better in bathing suit weather. While sitting down does not seem like exercise, a 30-minute session in a far-infrared sauna could well be the most invigorating exercise you’ll have all day. While you relax comfortably, the infrared produces an artificial fever in your body which not only fights viruses but produces a passive cardio-vascular affect similar to jogging 2-3 miles and can burn between 200 and 600 calories. While drinking water will replace the fluid lost, it will not replace the calories it took to produce the sweat. We like to call it ‘the couch potato working’.

Ah summer, the time for day-long boat trips, beach parties and late night dinners with friends visiting from out of town. Who among us hasn’t woken up the next morning (or afternoon) deeply regretting the last shot of whatever or glass of fine Okanagan wine? The good news is that one 30-minute session in an infrared sauna will make it like last night is a thing of the past – not an uninvited guest today. While we certainly don’t recommend over-indulgence, it’s nice to know that from time to time, the sauna can help you overcome a little error in judgement.

So the answer the question asked so many times of us… sauna in the summer? We answer with another question “Do you exercise in the summer? Eat healthy? Exercise?” Of course you do because good health is a year-round endeavour and regular use of a far-infrared sauna will help you reach your health goals for life.