Health & Fitness

Toxic black mold is a fungus also known as strachybotrys chartarum. Most homes have mold growing in one part or another, but this particular type is usually distinguished by its slimy greenish-black appearance. Because of its toxicity, it has been linked to numerous types of lung problems, even resulting in the death of numerous babies.

What Causes Toxic Black Mold?
Black mold can grow on almost any surface as long as its in an area of high humidity. Unfortunately, mold spores are everywhere and cannot be avoided. They travel through our windows in the air, attach themselves to clothing and animals; but they usually will not spread unless placed in the right environment. Prevention is often the key to avoiding an expensive clean up operation.

In the case of black mold, toxic substances known as mycotoxins are produced. Although the science is still being debated, numerous doctors agree that these mycotoxins cause a variety of symptoms ranging from asthma, dizziness, to more extreme cases such as bleeding of the lungs. Children and the elderly, for whom these symptoms can often be life threatening, seem to be especially susceptible.

Because of the over 1,000 varieties of mold, it is too difficult to determine whether a mold is toxic based only on visual inspection. If suspicious that your house may be infected, it is better to get it tested by an expert. Swabbing and carpet and air samples are the most typical ways of testing. Usually costing only around $300, its money well spent considering the potential health costs this type of mold could cause.

Mold is no laughing matter. It is a serious problem that if left untreated can cause many health risks. Toxic mold has been linked to allergies, infections, sinus problems, and in severe cases fatalities. In fact, toxic mold is the second leading cause of lung disease after cigarette smoking.

What exactly causes mold-related health problems? Mold spores do. Mold spores are microscopic, smaller than a grain of pollen. They travel through the air and can easily be inhaled. There are many species of mold, and it is important to note, that not all mold is toxic. Still, it is best to clean up mold whenever it is spotted. Doing so can keep it from becoming a bigger problem.

There are many products on the market that claim to eliminate mold. In severe cases it may even be necessary to call in experts who can handle large-scale mold remediation. But in most cases, a small mold problem can be cleaned up easily enough. Thankfully, there are even some natural products that can help eliminate mold problems.

Siberian Lichen–The Natural Mold Killer
One such product is Siberian Lichen. Siberian Lichen, also known as Lechenya Meera, removes the food source from mold and mildew. It is a natural disinfectant, which can help eliminate a fungus problem before it gets out of control. This product is easy to use and can benefit your health by keeping an area safe and clean.

Caulk can be divided into two groups. The first, acrylic caulk is the type used for most projects. This product, along with latex caulk, is very easy to use and clean. You can also paint it and not have to worry about a strong odor. But acrylic and latex caulks are not appropriate for all projects. If you are using it in an area that requires water resistance and a lot of flexibility, you should probably choose a silicone based mildew resistant caulk.

Natural Mildew Resistant Caulking
There are a variety of products on the market that can help reduce the amount of mold buildup on your caulking. Some of these products are more natural than others. For example, certain mildew resistant caulking products use herbal Siberian lichen, which is a natural mold killer, in their composition.

Of course, buying an anti-mildew caulk is not the only thing you can do to solve a bathroom mold problem. There are also sealers and paints that are mildew, mold and fungus resistant. In fact, it is possible to buy natural herbal additives which you can mix in with your standard paint products to make them more mold and mildew resistant.

In some cases, it is possible to purchase such natural mold killers where you would buy your paint and home repair supplies. A better and more likely place you will find them is on the Internet. Many health stores sell these products along with other herbal household products.

Head lice are unfortunately something that schools, especially grade schools, have to be concerned with on a continual basis. A single child with head lice can very quickly break into an epidemic. All it takes is the sharing of a brush or a nap carpet to allow these little insects to crawl over to a new host.

It is estimated that each year up to 10 percent of the returning student population at grade schools will start off the school year with a head full of lice. That 10 percent, if not treated effectively, can quickly escalate. Head lice mean school absences, and school absences mean lost funding. Schools are thus very interested in treating head lice outbreaks quickly and efficiently.

Many people dont know this, but head lice are actually a type of insect. They are parasites and much like mosquitoes and fleas, they survive by drinking blood. Contrary to popular belief, head lice dont come from animals or from poor hygiene, and they dont carry any diseases. They are pesky though, and once they set up shop on someones scalp, they can be very difficult to get rid of.

Nitpickers of the World Unite!
Nitpicking is the process whereby one literally picks the nits, or lice eggs, out of anothers hair. Its a tedious and time consuming ordeal, but in the end nitpicking is absolutely necessary. In order to ensure that the lice wont return, you have to make sure that every last nit is removed from the hosts hair.

Battling lice is a two-part affair. The first part of the lice battle entails killing the majority of the live lice. This is usually done by using a specially formulated shampoo that is poisonous to the lice. This step will generally take care of the majority of live lice and many of their nits. After youve shampooed most of the lice away, then you have to remove any remaining nits, or eggs. This is most effectively accomplished by using a head lice comb.

You have to be careful when choosing an anti-lice shampoo. Not all of them are safe or effective. Shampoos that contain the chemical lindane are particularly suspect. Some reports have shown that lindane use has been linked with neurological malfunction and potentially even death. Pyrethrin is another chemical that is commonly used to battle lice. Unfortunately, lice are becoming immune to pyrethrin and parents are having to use increased dosages in order to be effective.

There Are Non Toxic Ways to Treat Lice
There have been some pretty interesting new developments in the realm of anti-head lice shampoos. A few companies have developed shampoos that use non toxic herbal extracts instead of powerful, toxic chemicals. These new shampoos have proven to be both effective and safe.

After youve thoroughly shampooed the lice infected hair, then you get to start the nitpicking. This is where a good head lice comb comes in. These specially designed combs have teeth that are crafted to sift out lice eggs and remove them from hair. There are even some new electric models that vibrate to ensure that nits are removed both quickly and effectively.

Finding a good bug repellent is an unfortunate necessity in a number of regions of the United States of America. With the advent of the widespread dispersion of the West Nile Virus, there is now yet another reason why you dont want a mosquito bite. The main problem with most bug repellents is that they are chocked full of potentially harmful chemicals.

This can become a case of the cure being worse than the disease. However, there are some innovative companies out there that are producing bug repellents that dont use harmful chemicals. These eco-friendly bug sprays rely instead on oils that are naturally repellent to insects. There are a variety of plants whose particular oils have evolved to function as natural bug deterrents. The plants employ their bug repellent nature in order to keep bugs from munching on them.

Buzz Away is the brand name of one of the top natural bug repellents on the market. It has been given great reviews by everyone from the National Parenting Award Committee to the Good Housekeeping Institute. Everyone who is looking for a healthy alternative to the toxic chemicals of commercial repellents seems to agree that Buzz Away fulfills this promise.

A Potent Natural Cocktail
The secret to natural bug repellents is of course which natural oils they choose to employ. Buzz Away uses a combination of citronella, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemongrass and peppermint. A pleasant side effect of this particular combination is that it smells good and has none of that all too familiar chemical smell that most bug repellents have.