Our Chemical Wasteland

The utilization of chemicals in our home may be causing illness to your loved ones. This is obviously not "new" news to you, however many don't realize the profound impact these chemicals have; not only on you but the environment as well. Most of us grew up to believe that a clean home is healthy and that even removing dirt, pollen, dust and dander will provide a germ free environment that will prevent illness. Well I have news for you, no one’s home is germ free, you can't prevent your kids from touching a dirty door knob, and eating food off the floor won't kill you ( well at least in my house, everyone is still living). However there is a difference between a clean home and a home that hasn't been touched since your mother in law stopped by and we all know how that goes. 

So…what can we do about it?
The good news is with a cupboard stocked with essential oils, spray bottles and purified water you can get the same effect as the harsh chemical's found in store bought cleaners. They are safe for the environment, and unless you have an allergy to plants they are safe to inhale. Natural cleaners do not expose you to potentially life threatening diseases, eye irritation, respiratory illness or most commonly, skin irritations. A few things you should know about essential oils, essential oils are derived from the actual flowers or leaves of the plant and are extracted by a couple of different methods.

One way essential oils come from a plant is by steam distillation the other is by cold press. It takes a large abundance of the plants to actually extract the oils. Some oils are more expensive than others. For example sweet orange essential oil is relatively inexpensive while Jasmine is very costly. It is very rare to find pure undiluted Jasmine essential oil because of the cost, most of the time it is synthetically made or diluted with some sort of carrier oil. If you want to ensure you are purchasing the pure form of the oil, always make sure the Latin name is attached to the label. Essential oils should always be stored out of direct sunlight and heat. They should also be stored in amber or dark colored glass bottles. When mixing your essential oils together to make a home cleaning agent, remember you are using a diluted form of the oil so it's safe to be in a plastic container. Essential oils have many house hold uses from disinfectants to air fresheners to insect repellants. Using these oils instead of synthetic chemical cleaners will keep your family safe, your home clean and fresh, and your mood uplifted.

For information on specific household uses and tips, visit our Facebook page Simply Saltsational.  Rachel is the owner of http://www.simplysaltsational.com/

Gov. Rick Scott signs 'bath salts,' welfare drug testing bill- IJS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Gov. Rick Scott targeted illegal drugs Tuesday morning, signing bills that would ban various synthetic drugs sold at convenience stores and another that would force welfare recipients to be drug tested.

Scott signed both measures in a ceremony at the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Panama City.

HB-1039 bans the sale and possession of MDVP, the active ingredient in designer drugs sold over the counter as under various names, including "Vanilla Sky," "Cloud Nine," "Scarface" and "Snow Leopard." Users snort, inject or atomize the powder for an amphetamine-like high.

Law enforcement officials have encountered users hallucinating wildly and becoming violent.

The substances were already banned under an emergency order issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi, but the prohibition becomes permanent July 1. Violators face third-degree felony charges.

"Since the temporary ban in January, which made the use and sale of a new synthetic drug known as 'bath salts' illegal, we have seen a decrease in the number of reported medical emergencies related to this drug," Bondi said in a release. "I thank Senator Wise and Representative Patronis for sponsoring this legislation and Governor Scott for signing this bill that will permanently ban the use of 'bath salts' and further protect the lives of Floridians."

Scott also signed HB-353, which requires the state's 113,340 welfare recipients to undergo random drug testing. The recipients would have to pay the $30 cost, but would have their cash benefits increased by that much if the test is negative. Recipients who fail will lose benefits for a year. A second failed test cuts recipients off for three years.

Parents who test positive will be forced to turn their benefits over to another responsible adult.

Scott, who has also ordered the testing of state workers, called for the crack down on the campaign trail. Critics note that the legislation does not provide any money for drug treatment and say it unfairly targets the poor.

Jim Ash, Florida Capital Bureau

http://www.simplysaltsational.com/

The History of Aromatherapy

For centuries, aromatherapy has been utilized for both pleasure as
well healing purposes. Essential oils provide an abundance of
different health benefits. Essential oils have shown benefits to
physical, mental and spiritual health all the same. Aromatherapy is
utilized in western medicine as a non-invasive method of treating an
array of ailments; in conjunction with other methods such as
meditation, yoga, diet and exercise.

Itchy Business

An estimated 50 million people suffer from sort of allergy or skin condition; from contact dermatitis to psoriasis it is "Itchy Business". Do you ever get a rash out of no where that pops up either when you least expect it or a certain time of the year? Chances are it isn't going away. Some rashes  pop up because of an allergy to something you came in contact with,others are a life long skin condition that gets little relief. There are many treatments for skin disorders from over-the-counter creams, gels and oral tablets or in the more severe cases there are prescriptions available to help aid the symptoms. The problem with all of the products sold in your pharmacy is they all contain chemicals that help mask the issue while potentially causing harm to you.

Did you know your skin is the largest organ in the human body? Everything you touch can in someway be absorbed through the skin. So while these products may offer some sort of relief they are causing damage to you internally. Ever notice the cautions say something like- Keep out of reach of children. Avoid  getting product into your eyes,if so flush immediately. Do not swallow. If accidental ingestion occurs contact  the poison control center.Have you ever noticed the warning label stating if problem persists after 7 days, stop taking it and see your doctor. Hmm maybe prolong use of the product through the skin is not safe? They don't tell you that though.

Don't believe it to be true? Here is an experiment (18 or older) you can try at home that will prove the skin absorbs everything!

Unfiltered Tap Water- This is a great source because of all the chlorine that is in the water you cook, bath and drink with. It is very comparable to a swimming pool but you don't drink that water do you?

A pool chemical test kit

Using the instructions on the chlorine tester, test the cup of tap water for traces of chlorine and record the chemical level.

Next, stick your finger in the same cup of water for one minute. Once the minute is up, test the water again.

 How much Chlorine do you see left in the water? Yep that's right, none. That is because your body has absorbed the chemical and it only took one minute. So back to the topic at hand. Itchy skin. There are many factors that cause flare ups-Soaking in Dead sea salt is a safe and healthy therapeutic treatment that helps relieve the symptoms of certain skin disorders. There are many different brands to choose from.Make sure when selecting your brand that it is unrefined, natural and organic. Many companies wash and bleach the salt which takes away from the therapeutic benefits of using it to begin with. Make sure you always have the water tepid instead of hot. Hot water can irritate the skin and have a reverse effect. Added essential oils are an added benefit to your bath salt. Make sure the essential oils are all organic and that the plants were not treated with any sort of pesticides. Essential oils can act as an antiseptic for broken skin, they help you relax, smell great and help aid in the healing process.

At http://www.simplysaltsational.com/ we offer 100% all organic bath salts that can help bring relief to your itchy problem. Additional information is available about essential oils on our website that you will find useful. Look under the Health Benefits section.

Just think- people travel half way around the world to soak in the dead sea to reap the benefits of the minerals in the water. Lucky for you, you don't have to. Paradise is just a bath away at http://www.simplysaltsational.com/

Simply Saltsational Help Community

Port Saint Lucie, FL (PressExposure) May 22, 2011 Simply Saltsational is an organic bath salt company located out of Port Saint Lucie, FL. Family owned and operated, Simply Saltsational is committed to helping build their community and to offer support to local businesses through exclusive free advertising*; and to donate a portion of all sales each month to a different organization/ charity that may need funding. Simply Saltsational will be attending community events where a portion of the proceeds will go directly to organization of choice. Educational materials are provided on the website which explains the use of essential oils and the myriad of benefits associated with using the organic baths salts and the therapeutic blends available."Simply Saltsational is more than just a bath salt company, explains owner Rachel Moore.  It is small businesses like ours that will help build our communities. We are not only providing exceptional products, we are educating the public on a more natural way of healing. Our goal is to be able to make a difference and that's exactly what we are doing."Simply Saltsational is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. The Small businesses will have the opportunity to offer coupons to their customers during promotional periods where all of their customers who purchase products from their stores during the promotional period will also receive discounts on Simply Saltsationals website. Owner Rachel Moore states “People are probably wondering why we would be so generous. What's in it for you? All I can say is this simply; I want to build a company with high integrity and morals. A company that will help build and shape not only my children’s' future, but the community they live in. Times are hard right now; there are people jobless, starving, and homeless looking for help from any organization that has funds available. The problem is funds are limited. We are in a recession and people don't have extra to give. My hope is that if we can help even a little, we have managed to achieve our goal"

This company is in it for the long haul and as the company grows, jobs opportunities will become available.

http://www.simplysaltsational.com/