01.27.07
The Air We Breathe
Although diet is a very important part of natural healing, there are other aspects to consider. One in particular is the quality of our air. Many toxins can enter our bodies from the air we breathe. Many times we don’t even realize the toxins we’re taking into our bodies just by the air we breathe. For people who are indoors much of the time, there has been a phenomena called “sick building syndrome.” It appears that some buildings had been built so efficiently in terms of being well-insulated (thus air tight) that much of the air inside some buildings are constantly recycled. Not only do some buildings prevent significant amount of air to enter the building, it also prevents a significant amount of air to exit. This becomes a problem when many of the buildings, furniture, cleaning agents, and office materials within the buildings are continually off-gasing toxins such as formaldehyde, toulene, benzene, etc. Then day after day, we sit there and breathe in all these toxins and wonder why when we get home we feel tired and exhausted. Our bodies are being over-taxed with airborne toxins.
Fortunately, God has provided natural air purifiers in abundance in the form of common houseplants. A review of the book How to Grow Fresh Air by Dr. B.C. Wolverton states that, “In research designed to create a breathable environment for a NASA lunar habitat, noted scientist Dr. B.C. Wolverton discovered that houseplants are the best filters of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene. Hundreds of these poisonous chemicals can be released by furniture, carpets, and building material, and then trapped by closed ventilation systems, leading to the host of respiratory and allergic reactions now called Sick Building Syndrome.” Wolverton’s book discusses 50 houseplants that can help purify the home and office. Examples of these houseplants can be viewed at Denverplants.com. The list categorizes airborne toxins and the plants which are good filters for those toxins. Below are examples:
Sources of Airborne Toxins
Benzene Based Toxins:
Detergent, inks and dyes, petroleum products, plastics, rubber products, synthetic fibers, tobacco smoke.
Plants that Remove Toxins:
Chinese evergreens, chrysanthemum, dragon tree, English ivy, gerbera daisys, Janet Craig dracaena, peace lily, striped dracaena.
Formaldehyde Based Toxins:
Carpeting, cleaners, foam insulation, furniture, paper products, plywood and particle board.
Plants that Remove Toxins:
Bamboo palm, corn stalk plant, devil’s ivy, ficus trees, philodendrons, snake plants, spider plants.
For their full list, click here. For more information, here’s another link.
I like Wolverton’s book because he lists 50 houseplants, rates them as to their effectiveness and which toxins they clean, plant care instructions, and basic understanding of how houseplants do their magic to clean the air for us. For more information on Dr. Wolverton, his website can be viewed here.
The plant below is a syngonium podophyllum. Wolverton rates this plant a 7.0 overall for it’s ability to remove chemical vapors, resistance to insect infestation, transpiration rate, and ease of growth and maintenance.
Wolverton’s book is complete with pictures, so if one is not familiar with the common houseplant names or their scientific names, one merely has to look at the pictures to see which plants are available at their local nursery. I love Wolverton’s work and remain in awe that God has provided us with ways to clean up our messes. Toxic gases we expose ourselves to like formaldehyde can be removed by simple and aesthetically pleasing houseplants like Boston ferns, florist mums, gerbera daisies, dwarf date palms, Janet Craig, Bamboo palm, Kimberley queen fern, and the list goes on. Wolverton doesn’t stop his research with cleaning the air, but also has researched naturally cleaning water. The world needs more men like him.
Marlakins 
Andrea said,
January 27, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Awesome, Marla. We keep a lot of plants around, because we love them, and know they are really really good for the air, as well as uplifting to the spirits. I’m happy to report that my kids have kept up the houseplant tradition as they have moved away–in fact, my oldest flew home last year with three cuttings! I gave my girls each two ivies, from cuttings from my own ivies, when they moved out, and last time I was over at their place, the plants were doing great! And I’m so happy that spider plants, which are so so easy to grow and propagate, are also grand air cleaners! –I love how they look, too. Also a big fan of Boston ferns.
Only my youngest didn’t take plants with him but since he practically lives outdoors, I guess he doesn’t need them yet . . .
Thanks for the uplifting post! Andrea
patti said,
January 28, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Ah! Marla, was this for Luke???
I will have to buy this guys book for my shelf and Luke’s health! There’s only one problem… someone else will have to grow the plants. I can kill anything and everything no matter how hard I try. I’ve tried having plants that I’ve been told no one can kill and I killed ‘em. I don’t know why. It’s just not in my blood! My oldest girl and her daddy just bought a 4′x8′ greenhouse for her to grow herbs, flowers, veggies in this summer. The first thing she told me is I’m not allowed in it or I’ll kill everything! How’s that for ya?? 
I’m actually laughing writing this because it was so cute and funny when she said it. She fully intends to grow me fresh herbs that I can cook with and she’s determined I won’t kill one of them – at least not without her permission!
Such good info. Thanks for posting it!
patti
Administrator said,
January 29, 2007 at 12:57 am
Hey Andrea,
Glad you found the plant post interesting! Even better is that your family already takes advantage of the benefit that houseplants provide.
My mom used to be pretty good with plants, too, and used to send me home with clippings. I loved that! Now-a-days, she doesn’t have as many “live” plants in her house in comparison to how many she used to have. Her backyard is still full of nice plants, tho.
BTW, I really liked the dog-sledding pictures of Rob and your son. Have you figured out how to get a link to the pictures? There are a few programs that will allow you to upload them on the net for free. Once you upload them, just send the link to anyone you want to see the pictures.
Hi Patti,
Yes, the idea to post on the plants originated from your mentioning Luke’s reaction to your new roof. I was just gonna send you the info via private email, but I noticed that the pics I told you I had of the book aren’t as good as I had hoped. So I thought just sharing the info on the blog with links would be easier.
As far as being a green thumb, can’t say I’m that good. . . But I have found a couple very, very basic principles that seem to help like just “remembering” the plants.
It’s when we forget to water them or over water them is what seems to kill them off. It’s that happy medium, ha! Don’t neglect them to death or don’t love them to death (by over watering, hee). OR have your oldest daughter or, even Luke, take care of them. That oughta do it! 
The greenhouse sounds wonderful! That will be so nice to have fresh herbs! I just picked up some mint and chives about two weeks ago. They’re still alive, whew. I’m really looking forward to the chives, tho. I’ve grown them before, and I really like them. Actually, I’ve grow quite a few thing since my AA adventure. I’ve learned a lot, too, by doing so. I think every child should try it some time. Gee, now you’ve got me thinking that I need to work on my garden soon! So many projects to work on!
Okie dokie!
Marla
patti said,
January 30, 2007 at 4:23 am
Marla, you had the same idea I did after I posted my last message. I think that I could have Luke take care of a plant! Grace has a spider plant in her room that my MIL gave her and she’s done a decent job keeping it alive. And yep, you’re right about water. And that’s my main problem. I either get busy and neglect them for too long or I overwater. I managed to kill a beautiful poinsettia at christmas by overwatering. My MIL told me they required lots of water. So I watered daily.
I’m thinking I could take a cutting from Grace’s spider plant and do a plant for Luke. But I need to look back again and see which one’s are best for him first.
Grace cannot wait for the last frost to come so she can plant!! She hangs out in her greenhouse just reading in a chair some days!
She’s soooo excited. She will be a great help when we get moved and get a garden for fresh veggies and stuff. Oh, and strawberries. They are number one on her list for fruits to grow. 
I love fresh strawberries!
Better go. It’s 3:20am.
patti
Administrator said,
January 30, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Wow, Patti, you were up at 3:20 am? Eeks! Have you gotten your “knockout formula” yet? Recently I got back into drinking chamomile tea, and boy, I think it’s really helping me. Before I only drank like one cup and didn’t really notice anything, so gave up on it. This time around I’ve really taken a liking to it and end up drinking 2, 3 and even 4 cups at night. And guess what? I’m noticing that my skin is getting better, AND I’m sleep through the night! I’m thinking that the first time I tried the chamomile for my skin I wasn’t drinking enough, and plus my condition may have been worse, too. I may be at a point where the tea is more effective, and I’m also using more. I got the idea from Pagano’s book. He recommends slippery elm bark in the mornings and American saffron or chamomile at night. I tried that a while back, but didn’t notice anything. I just found out that the reason to take the slippery elm so far apart from the chamomile is because if they’re taken together, they cancel out each other. . . Oh, and also recently I’ve learning from the Chinese herbology that spicy foods prevent the liver from detoxifying! Ack! And I have loved spicy foods and ate them soooo often. The only reason I cut back on the spicy is because Pagano said spicy wasn’t good for people with skin problems. If it’s true that it prevents the liver from detoxifying, then it makes sense that spicy isn’t good for people with skin issues.
Oye, am I going off on a tangent, or what? I meant to write that I thought it was so cute that Grace sits and reads in her new greenhouse! Ha! Then I saw the time you wrote it, and well, I got distracted. . .
Okay! I hope Luke is feeling better now.
Marla