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| feeding and a family history of asthma. Other studies have shown that smoke from a fireplace or wood stove can aggravate asthma, as can a host of common household cleansers, paints, paint thinners, perfumes and some types of incense. |
| The problem with humidifiers, which are supposed to help relieve respiratory congestion, is that they are breeding grounds for molds, bacteria and other germs. To prevent these problems, add liquid grapefruit seed extract to your humidifier's water reservoir. Grapefruit seed or citrus seed extract, which kills viruses, bacteria, yeasts, molds, parasites and other pathogens on contact even when greatly diluted, is sold in health food stores. Tea tree oil has similar properties, in addition to a sinus-clearing antiseptic fragrance reminiscent of eucalyptus oil and turpentine. In fact, some people relieve sinus congestion by placing a drop on the upper lip, just under the nose, at bedtime. Unlike liquid grapefruit seed extract, tea tree oil is not water-soluble, so for best results, dissolve a teaspoon of tea tree oil with an equal or larger amount of vodka or other alcohol before mixing it with water. To disinfect a humidifier that is used daily, add 1/8 teaspoon of liquid grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil/vodka solution to the water reservoir once a week, and add several drops of either solution to the reservoir daily. For more about these two products, see my booklet, Nature's Antiseptics: Tea Tree Oil and Grapefruit Seed Extract. |
| A 1984 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that almost one out of every five people with asthma or allergies experienced symptoms when their car's air conditioner was turned on. Prem Kumar, M.D., a professor of medicine at the Louisiana State University Medical Center, discovered that the culprit was mold. He found a variety of molds in the circulating air of 22 of the 25 patients' cars he studied. Large quantities of mold can be emitted from auto air conditioners, especially in a short, heavily concentrated burst soon after the air conditioner is turned on. This condition, most prevalent in warm, humid climates, usually generates an unpleasant odor. In response, auto makers developed |
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