Bug Season

It is wonderful to be outdoors except when the mosquitos, black flies, deerflies, no-seeums etc. strike! Deet products without a doubt work well against these flying critters but they also work against our bodies. Deet is a very toxic chemical and it is best to be avoided at all costs. (At worst spray them on your hats, shoes and clothing taking care not to inhale the vapours) For direct application to skin, make use of cleaner sprays. Using and reapplying natural sprays for the outdoors made from essential oils and neem oil is a lot healthier approach. Here are a couple of recipes for outdoor sprays: ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 2-3 tablespoons organic vanilla (stuff you bake with) 15 drops of lavender essential oil 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil or Into a spray bottle pour witch hazel and add the following essential oils: Citronella Oil (must) 15 drops Lemongrass Oil (must) 15 Optionally you can add a few drops of the following: Lavender, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Geranium essential oils. Have a safe and fun summer outdoors! Pop into The Ninety Ninth Monkey for more info.

Unusual Alternative Remedies for Pain…..Jewellery

From joint pain, arthritis to baby teething pains, we are always searching for a means to alleviate our hurts without horrible side effects. Two of these natural pain remedies are baltic amber and hazel wood that through centuries have been acknowledged as having healing properties. Even from ancient times, going back to the times of Hippocrates (460-377 BC) Baltic amber was recognised as having medicinal properties. It is a fossilized tree resin that contains Succinic Acid which is believed to be a natural analgesic and healing agent. As the amber is warmed against the skin the succinic acid is absorbed through the skin. Amber bracelets and necklaces are made for babies(teething pain) and adults(arthritic pains). Some even believe that the succinic acid improves balance and energy flow. Hazel wood is also a popular alternative to aid in teething pains, diaper rashes and eczemas. The Hazel wood trees are indigenous in regions of Quebec where the First Nations people discovered the healing properties of the hazel wood itself. (Aborigines of Australia also use Hazel wood therapeutically.) Hazel wood works by creating an alkaline environment in your body; because the wood is alkaline it absorbs the acidity in your body as it lies against the skin….. Being too acidic causes health problems. Therefore sometimes simple solutions like wearing jewellery made from amber and/or hazel wood can be helpful in some everyday ailments. These necklaces, bracelets, anklets etc are not only attractive but offer healing benefits. The Ninety Ninth Monkey offers both amber and hazel wood jewellery.

What's Lurking in Your Toothpaste?

It is a good idea to check out the ingredients in your toothpaste and even more so if you have young children in your family that may be swallowing as they brush. Many brands of toothpaste contain toxic ingredients when ingested or absorbed. Although many dentists insist that sodium fluoride is necessary to help prevent cavities, fluoride is a known neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, developmental toxin and a carcinogen. Even the FDA considers fluoride “an unapproved drug”. Too much fluoride can cause discoloration of the tooth enamel or fluorosis. If a child swallowed a tube of fluoridated toothpaste it could be extremely toxic and dangerous. Perhaps safer methods to promote dental health can be used rather than the toxin, fluoride. Other ingredients to avoid are: sodium lauryl sulphate, a strong degreasing agent, triclosan, although very antibacterial it is also a dangerous pesticide, harming our health and environment, parabens which are used as preservatives but are also hormone disruptors, propylene glycol which helps keep the paste moist but is an irritant, FD & C Blue Dye #1, #2 etc, artificial colourings easily absorbed and known to cause allergic reactions and even cancer. Like the food you eat, you should also check out what is in your toothpaste. Artificial sweeteners should also be avoided. Take a few minutes and look at your toothpaste’s ingredients the next time you brush your teeth! Be informed. The Ninety Ninth Monkey promotes cleaner options in toothpastes.

Life with Fabric Softeners

Our modern living has created these so called “convenient” products and marketing has been extremely successful in convincing us that we need them desperately. One such item is fabric softeners with their concoction of chemicals….from benzyl/ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol, pentane, a-terpineol, and on and on. Many of the chemicals found are neurotoxins, carcinogens and can make you nauseous, headachy and drowsy or develop a rash. They usually smell “nice” and we do not realize that these artificial fragrances also are extremely unhealthy; the “nice” smell is also necessary in these softeners in order to cover up the heavy smell of the chemicals used. Fabric softeners also can decrease the absorbency of cloth diapers. They are definitely not good for pet blankets. These chemicals adhere to the laundry and are against your skin ready for absorption for as long as you have those clothes on and as well you can inhale the chemicals for the duration of the day. ! Dryer sheets when heated become volatile and now you breathe the toxins from the dryer; much is vented out into the world for everyone to react to. If you must have softness in your laundry you can add baking soda or vinegar to the wash cycle, use dryer balls (like felted wool), or purchase a more natural fabric softener without the long list of toxic chemicals. The sun is the best way to dry laundry. It does make the fabric rougher and not as soft. But this makes it perfect for towels as now you have a natural way to brush/stimulate your skin, exfoliate, save money, naturally sanitize, improve your health and respect the environment.

Wonders of Essential Oils

Essential Oils are often used in natural medicine, as a holistic approach to health; simply because we love their aroma, it makes us feel good. Essential oils are volatile plant liquids extracted through distillation or extraction process. They are extremely concentrated and should not be used directly on the skin unless they are diluted with carrier oils, such as sweet almond, olive, jojoba etc. The benefits of aromatherapy can be by means of inhalation or topical application. For inhalation, diffusers can be used or simply a few drops on a handkerchief; the scent affects the brain’s emotional control center. Topically essential oils can be absorbed into the bloodstream through massages, baths and moisturizers. Some beneficial effects of essential oils range from relief from stress, headaches, insomnia, an increase in immune system function and mood enhancement. Essential oils allow natural fragrance to be present in personal care products without using artificial parfums. Some examples of their uses specifically are: Eucalyptus can be used in steam inhalation and chest rubs to relieve cold/flu symptoms . Lavender is calming, balances emotions and helps with insomnia. Tea tree has antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericide and fungicide properties; it is often used for toe fungus infections and lice treatment. Oil of oregano, because it is a potent antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, & antiparasitic oil, it is often ingested for colds and sore throats and as a preventative. However ingestion of essential oils should be done with caution and/or under medical supervision. If you are pregnant also consult your doctor before using essential oils. The Ninety Ninth Monkey carries various essential oils. They are also found in many natural personal care products.

Water and Modern Society

Water is an essential element of staying alive but also to remain at ultimate health, it is necessary to hydrate ourselves adequately. “Water makes up greater than 2/3 of the weight of the human body; the brain is 75% water, blood is 83% water, bones are 22% water, muscles are 75% water, and the lungs are 90% water.” Ideally drinking ½ to 2/3 of an ounce of water per pound of body weight is a good rule of thumb depending on how active you are, whether you are breastfeeding, drinking alcoholic beverages or if you are overweight. Society recently has recognized this need by creating the sale of plastic-bottled water which is readily available. To take this a step further we can purchase a re-usable glass or food- grade stainless steel water bottle that we can refill and take with us. We can personalize this bottle and it can become part of our lifestyle and at the same time reduce the amount of petroleum plastics that are created and never reach the recycling bin. The leaching of BPA, an hormone disrupter in the form of synthetic estrogens, is avoided when we do not use plastic water bottles. Furthermore it is important to keep this fact in mine: “Americans drink more bottled water than any other nation, purchasing an impressive 29 billion bottles every year. Making all the plastic for those bottles uses 17 million barrels of crude oil annually. That is equivalent to the fuel needed to keep 1 million vehicles on the road for 12 months.” As we take care of our health, we must also be conscious of what effects we are creating on our environment. The Ninety Ninth Monkey supports Reusability, not only for water bottles but travel mugs for coffee, tea and reusable lunch containers.

Choices and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

We should be able to make informed choices in the foods we eat. GMO or Genetically Modified Organism are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques; food often has DNA inserted from a different species. The purpose of GMO foods is to enhance growth, nutrition value, colour & enhance flavour or to make crops more resistant to diseases/insects/herbicides. For example a bacterial gene has been inserted into corn making the plant resistant to the corn rootworm (Bt corn). Monsanto, an agricultural biotechnical company is responsible for producing Roundup Ready Soybeans and Corn….plants that have been genetically engineered to withstand the spraying of Roundup, a widespread herbicide. Sounds wonderful!!! But GMO food has not been researched and tested thoroughly. Tampering with plant genes has caused weed and insect resistance and soil/water contamination. Under health concerns, there is a big risk of unknown toxins and allergens that can trigger adverse immune responses as well as hormonal disruptions, obesity, birth defects and allergies. In Canada and the US it is not mandatory to label GMO food. Soy, canola, corn and cotton are the most genetically modified plants but tomatoes, papaya, rice, peas can be as well. We as consumers should demand required labelling of GMO’s in our food. Certified Organic cannot contain GMO ingredients. Check and question what you eat! For more info go to www.nongmoproject.org The Ninety Ninth Monkey does not support GMO products.