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The Canaries in the mines
In the old days of mining, there were no electronic detectors for the dangerous gases that seeped from the earth into the air in the mines. Instead, the miners used canaries, which they kept in cages near them, to warn them when the air became dangerously toxic. When the canaries keeled over after inhaling toxic fumes, the miners took it as a warning to leave the mine before they too were caught up in the deadly fumes. Why canaries? Because their bodies are so small that even a tiny amount of toxic gases can kill them. Children and pets these days...
The Canaries in the mines
In the old days of mining, there were no electronic detectors for the dangerous gases that seeped from the earth into the air in the mines. Instead, the miners used canaries, which they kept in cages near them, to warn them when the air became dangerously toxic. When the canaries keeled over after inhaling toxic fumes, the miners took it as a warning to leave the mine before they too were caught up in the deadly fumes.
Why canaries? Because their bodies are so small that even a tiny amount of toxic gases can kill them.
Children and pets are our “canaries in the mines” these days. Because their bodies are much smaller than adults, they are more vulnerable to toxins in their world. They are often the warning system that their environment is toxic to them… and to you too.
When I was a child, only children had allergies to the poisons in their world. As children's bodies grew to adult sizes, they were able to handle a greater amount of chemicals. This gave rise to the belief that only children had allergies and that they magically grew out of them. Today, the use of chemicals has increased so much that adults now suffer from a variety of allergies.
Toxins are now commonly found in and around every home. The most common products that contain harmful and dangerous chemicals in the home are dryer sheets, household cleaners, and anything with artificial fragrance. Outside the home, the use of chemical herbicides (RoundUp), pesticides and fertilizers is common in most gardens.
Allergies are difficult to pinpoint. For example, a person who has been tested for allergies and is found to be allergic to grass may actually be allergic to the chemicals on the grass. When the lawn is mowed, microscopic pieces of grass are released into the air with all of these chemicals just waiting to be inhaled by someone nearby.
There are alternatives to all the chemicals used in and around the home. For example, here is a recipe for non-toxic weed killer that works just as well as the very dangerous RoundUp:
1 qt. White wine vinegar
1/4 cup salt 1
Teal. liquid dishwashing liquid
Spray weeds. Sunny, hot days are best to get the most benefit. The dish soap helps the vinegar and salt be absorbed more easily by the plant.
And here are some alternatives for dryer sheets and fabric softener:
– Add a quarter cup of baking soda to the wash cycle to soften the fabric and remove odors
– Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash to soften the fabric and eliminate static cling
– Wool dryer balls contain no toxic chemicals, hold thousands of loads, remove static and wrinkles and make clothes softer
Remember, your immune system has to work overtime to counteract the effects of the chemicals in your environment on your body. Your immune system can only do so much, and as it works to counteract the chemicals in your environment, it will be less able to protect you from other dangers like an invasive virus. So help your immune system stay healthy by eliminating the toxins in your personal environment.
Inspired by Kathy Wilson