Tis’ the season for those sweet treats and fatty eats that may normally never reach your lips.  While those hor d’oeuvres and yummy morsels may taste great at the office Christmas party or neighborhood potluck, one can end up in a world of hurt later when heartburn kicks in.  (Of course, there’s another world of hurt called a hangover but we’ll talk about that next week.)

Before you run to the drugstore , take a look in your pantry for some natural remedies for heartburn!

Try one of the following:

Apple Cider Vinegar – While this may sound like a cause of and not a cure for heartburn, the weak acid in apple cider vinegar has an alkalizing effect on the stomach which neutralizes the harmful acids.  It may not sound appealing so water it down if you want. 

Sleep – A good night’s sleep is a cure for many things including heartburn.  Make sure to sleep on your right hand side to discourage stomach acids from flowing up into the esophagus.  )And to make your slumber a restful one, indulge in bamboo sheets!)

Aloe Vera – Not just for sunburn relief, aloe vera comes in a gel or juice option.  Please avoid ingesting aloe vera directly from the plant.  Proponents claim that aloe vera cures heartburn instantly by coating the lining of the esophagus.

Slippery Elm – While this may be new to many people, slippery elm was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia until 1960.  Also popular for sore throat remedies, slippery elm’s inner bark contains a gel-like substance that much like aloe vera coats the esophagus to relieve heartburn. 

Chamomile – A popular natural remedy already, chamomile’s anti-inflammatory characteristics also create an anti-spasmodic effect within the stomach.  Drink chamomile tea 3 times a day to not only relieve holiday stress but to reduce the burning effects of heartburn. 

Licorice – Not referring to stocking stuffer candy, the herb licorice comes in a chewable form referred to as DGL.  There has been some research into why DGL may relieve heartburn suggesting that it may decrease inflammation in the esophageal and stomach lining.   Furthermore, if holiday stress is getting to you, DGL may also stop the growth of harmful bacteria that lead to ulcers. 

Marshmallow – They’re not just for s’mores anymore!  Although marshmallows are a sugary offering to suggest, this actually refers to the herb marshmallow which coats the esophagus in the same manner as slippery elm.  To make marshmallow root tea, add one tablespoon of the dried herb to a cup of boiling water and let it steep, covered, for 10 minutes before straining.  Word of warning though, please talk to your doctor first if you are a diabetic before trying marshmallow root.

Raw Potato – This may be the last thing you’d like to eat at the end of a festive night but rumor has it that a slice of raw potato will alleviate heartburn pain.

Turmeric – An ounce of prevention goes a long way, or so they say.  Turmeric spice can be sprinkled onto any food that may give you heartburn.  It stimulates the flow of saliva which in turn neutralizes acids and helps suppress harmful digestive acids. If you would rather, turmeric also comes in capsule form that can be taken before eating.

Try any of these natural remedies to alleviate holiday (or year-round) heartburn pain!

Natural Remedies For Heartburn Relief is a post from: Green Earth News

Legend has it that centuries ago, the wandering samurai, the Japanese warriors, would soothe their tired feet with TakeFumi.  TakeFumi was not a practice requiring a special piece of armor or something that had to be carried with them on their travels.  Rather it was a piece of the ever-plentiful bamboo cut from the roadside that could be stepped back and forth on to relieve tired feet.

But, in reality, it did more than just massage the feet.  With the smooth shape and access to trigger points on the soles of feet, TakeFumi provides a do-it-yourself reflexology treatment. 

The practice of reflexology originated in China and has been practiced in both China and Japan for centuries.  Known as Zoku Shin Do in Japan, foot Reflexology is a holistic treatment that engages the body’s own healing powers through gentle massage.  It is based on the principle that the foot is essentially a mirror of the body divided into ten reflex zones.  This zones all correspond to a part of the body and specific manipulation and pressure of the reflex point points will stimulate nerve endings (there are close to 300!) and blood circulation to reduce and eliminate blockages in the corresponding organs. 

In fact, in the United States it became known as “Zone Therapy” (a term coined by medical journalist Dr. Edwin Bowers) when American surgeon William Fitzgerald revived this ancient practice and became the man responsible for finding out that the application of pressure on the zones not only relieved and cured pain but in the mass of cases also relieved the original cause as well

Benefits of reflexology include (but are not limited to):

• Increased blood circulation and lymphatic drainage which can alleviate (among other things) varicose vein pain and high blood pressure.
• More effective elimination of toxins in the body helping the skin, liver and kidneys.
• Relief of an upset digestive system alleviating (among other things) ulcers, colitis and stomach bloating.
• Stimulates the nervous system helping fight the effects of depression and sleep disorders.

You don’t have to be a wandering samurai to seek out this treatment especially if you are one of the many that deal with high levels of stress.  Our body instinctively reacts to stress by channeling resources away from less essential functions to the area of the body experiencing their “fight or flight” response.  This leaves the immune system struggling and makes a person vulnerable to illness.  In fact medical research show that more than 75% of all health problems can be linked directly to stress.

What makes TakeFumi an ideal treatment for your aches, pains and stress relief is that it requires no appointments and no bulky plastic self-massagers.  You can fit this treatment into your daily schedule whether you’re at work, home and on the road and because it is made from the wonderfully sustainable bamboo plant, this is an eco-friendly therapy treatment for you as well!

And after you treat yourself to TakeFumi, slip into some soft and comfortable bamboo clothing and enjoy a cup of relaxing bamboo tea.

Bamboo Foot Massage: Reflexology And Relaxation is a post from: Green Earth News

Bamboo tends to be more of a restaurant title than a main ingredient – think Bamboo Garden with a lunchtime buffet instead of a heart-healthy ingredient for your home-cooked dinner.  But bamboo, long a diet staple and a cure for what ails you in Asian countries, could easily be a important ingredient in the fight against cancer and heart disease in the United States. 

Already, we know that bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar are purifying agents that can keep us healthy whether it’s with their antibacterial properties or as a source of Far Infrared Rays that can be absorbed by the human body to help improve circulation.  (Much of this can be attributed to the presence of phenols which give bamboo its antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral properties, the study found.)

But now researchers have found that bamboo contains antioxidants, an important buzzword for the fight against cancer.  An article published in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety pointed out that bamboo shoots “contain anti-carcinogenic agents,” and that “bamboo-derived pyrolysates have been proposed to have antimicrobial and antifungal activites and to protect neurons from oxidative stress.”

For those seeking a healthier diet, there is more good news about the health benefits off bamboo shoots.  The study, led by Nirmala Chongtham, a botany professor at Panjap University, found that research suggests that they [bamboo shoots] possess health benefits “from cancer prevention and weight loss to lowering cholesterol levels.”

Young bamboo shoots “are rich in nutrient components, mainly proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and fibre and are low in fat and sugar.”  While some may take multi-vitamins daily, one could easily pop some bamboo shoots as they are a good source of thiamine, niacin, vitamins A, B6, and E, potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, and chromium, and contain 17 different amino acids, eight of which are essential for human health.

And if you trying to combat a lifetime of greasy food or just eat a healthier diet, throw some bamboo shoots into a salad to take advantage of the phytosterols, phytonutrients that are similar to cholesterol yet have been shown to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestinal tract and help lower “bad” LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

Some smaller markets in the States actually carry bamboo fiber that can easily be added to baked goods, sauces, cereals and other foods in your pantry.

So not only can you make your diet more eco-friendly by including a sustainable ingredient like bamboo, but you can make it healthier too! 

For delicious recipes to incorporate into your menu, visit Green Earth News Bamboo Flavors section.

Bamboo: A New Super Food For Your Healthy Lifestyle! is a post from: Green Earth News

Sniffles echo everywhere and sick days are rapidly being used up as the winter cold and flu season continues on into 2011.  As people tire of the high doses of antibiotics and over-the-counter treatments, many are looking towards ancient healing techniques, including oriental medicine.  It only makes sense that bamboo, such a staple in Asia, would play a role.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long known the many useful benefits of bamboo.  While it’s always a good idea to brew up some bamboo tea in this cold weather, there are more uses beyond that.  Bamboo serves as a important component of many traditional medicines used in China since ancient times.  And just like ancient hunters used every part of the animal, ancient healers made sure to use every part of the bamboo plant.

For example, the leaf of the black bamboo is used as a fever reducer and to treat head and chest colds.  The juice of the stem can serve as a fever reducer, a cough suppressant, expectorant and can help fight bronchial infections.  The stem shavings and sap can be used internally for lung infections with cough and phlegm and can reduce fever while the stem bark is effective for stopping vomiting.  The stem shavings have been used to treat nosebleeds while the leaves and roots are used to treat babies with fevers (much preferable to having to figure out children’s dosage in modern medicine!).    Beyond the common winter ailments, black bamboo roots are used to treat anxiety, fever and sleeping issues.

The stems and leaves of the dwarf bamboo are brewed to reduce fever.  They can also be used as a diuretic, to treat urinary tract infections.  As a general tonic, the dwarf bamboo as a tonic has a positive effect on the heart, stomach and bladder.  Moso bamboo almost sounds like a sports drink when its qualities are examined – it contains high levels of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, iron, sodium and riboflavin.  The leaves of the moso bamboo have effectively treated arthritis while the stem sheaths are used for nausea.   The leaves of the timber bamboo can reduce fever as well as controlling bleeding.  And if the long winter is causing a lull in the bedroom, the leaves are also said to be an effective aphrodisiac!

Consider adding bamboo vinegar to your bath water – it not only helps with eczema but it is reputed to have anti-inflammatory traits that will draw out toxins as you soak. 

Please note that these are not all necessarily home remedies.  Do your research and find a qualified practitioner.  And consider treating yourself to the softest sheets you will find to snuggle up in this season as you fight off winter germs (and the blahs!).

Cure What Ails You This Cold Season With Bamboo Medicine! is a post from: Green Earth News

Amid the stress of the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s hard to think that taking time for oneself is a good idea.  But the gift of relaxation might help keep everyone on the “nice” list this season.

Massage therapy not only helps relieve stress but it can also work to lower one’s blood pressure, relieve pain, improve flexibility and encourage relaxation. 

Beyond the hot stone massage, there is a new style of massage therapy in the world of spas and it involves the ever-versatile bamboo.  Tian Di Bamboo massage is a new style of massage therapy that incorporates ancient Chinese principles based on the 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water).

Using heated bamboo sticks, known as Cho sticks, and medium to strong strokes, the massage is used to increase oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscle.  Widely used in Europe, the heated bamboo sticks simultaneously stimulate the skin and soothe the nerve endings.  Tian Di Bamboo incorporates varying lengths and diameters of bamboo sticks to provide drainage, relaxation and reshaping.  This is accomplished by a series of sliding, kneading, rolling, pivoting, taping and friction techniques from the practitioner.

Why use bamboo? 

Symbolically, the bamboo plant embodies strength and flexibility which translates into suppleness and resilience in a treatment.  Tian Di means “heaven” and “earth” in Chinese Tian Di is regarded by some as the massage of life.  Couple that with the unique healing and restorative properties that bamboo is said to possess and you have a truly holistic experience. 

On a more technical level, bamboo’s outer walls are covered with silica which bring into effect piezoelectricity (the charge which accumulates in certain solid materials).  This ancient source of an electric charge gives the massage treatment a tingling and warming sensation.  This property also allows the massage to give a more effective deep tissue healing element as toxins are dissipated.

When booking your appointment, ask if cupping is available as an add-on.  Using cups (preferably bamboo), this method is a form of ancient healing that applies acupressure by creating a vacuum next to the patients skin.  While this treatment will leave red areas on the skin (they fade after a few hours), proponents say that the benefits make the redness worthwhile.  Cupping therapy is used to relieve stagnation and can treat a variety of ailments from the common cold to clearing colon blockages and many believe that it opens up pathways in the body to allow the chi to flow freely.

Soft Bamboo Sheets

So treat yourself or give the gift of relaxation with this innovative yet ancient form of massage.  And don’t let the pampering stop there – make sure to visit Green Earth Bamboo to treat yourself to the softest sheets available to slip into after a hard day of shopping, decorating and playing Santa this holiday season!

Bamboo Massage: The Gift Of Relaxation For The Holiday Season! is a post from: Green Earth News

On any given day a teenager faces a busier schedule than some adults. There are early starts to school, a mountain of homework, sports practice, extra-curricular activities so essential to college acceptance these days, part-time jobs and of course, their friends.  And staying in touch with friends is a herculean task with the myriad of social tools available between their cell phones and laptops.  And all of these means over-worked, over-stimulated teens that might consider sleep a less-than-important priority.

Experts say that 80 percent of adolescents don’t get the recommended sleep they need which is nine hours.  To be fair, most adults barely achieve that goal but the effects on teens might be more serious.  Studies show that lack of sleep in adolescents leads to lower school performance, reduced cognitive abilities and mood problems including depression.

And because many exhausted parents head to bed before they can get their teens to sleep, they might not be aware of the extent of sleep deprivation.

Owens quotes a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, which shows 90 percent of parents think their teens get enough sleep at least several nights a week, revealing what researchers see as a striking “awareness gap.” More sleep cops would be better, she argues – or at least rules that get teens in bed by, say, 10 or 11 p.m.

“There’s definitely a disconnect,” she said.

To really drive the point home, Canadian researchers tested teens with a medium they could truly relate to – Guitar Hero!  Because the game requires complex motor learning, it is ideal for measuring the real-world effects of sleep on daily activities.  Scientists from Trent University in Ontario found students tested at 9 a.m. on a Guitar Hero song they learned at 9 p.m. the previous night showed three times the improvement in performance scores compared with students in a “wakeful” condition who learned the song at 9 a.m. and were tested again at 9 p.m.

“We can still get better at something if we don’t sleep; it’s not as if we won’t remember things at all,” says co-author Kevin Peters. “But this clearly shows that if you’re not getting enough rest, you’re not going to be learning as well as you could be.”

Though this may not sound overly impressive, Peters says the results demonstrate a highly significant link between sleep duration and motor learning.

So how to help your child have a restful night? Consider the following:

• Establish a bedtime. Yes, it may seem like childish punishment to a teenager but this lets a teen arrange their day’s activities with a sleep schedule in mind.
• Promote a healthy lifestyle. Keep your kids away from caffeine after school and try your hardest to limit televisions, video games, computers, cell phones and stereos as the evening goes on.
• Create an environment conducive to sleep. Turn off monitors and cell phones to reduce the amount of artificial light.  Invest in curtains and blinds to keep the room dark at night but bright in the morning.  Invest in comfortable bedding like bamboo sheets queen that are thermo-regulating and moisture wicking.
• Help your teen with time-management skills. Many teens have poor judgment about how long tasks will take, and end up staying up very late to complete assignments.
• Try to stick to your sleep schedule on the weekends. It might be a treat to sleep in but staying inbed late into the morning just makes falling asleep on Sunday night more difficult and getting back on track for the week can prove difficult.
• Make sleeping clothes comfortable. If your teen feels too old for pajamas, consider any tops and bottoms that are less restrictive and breathe easier.  Bamboo clothes are certainly worth looking into for the fabric’s silky comfort and ability to breathe.
• Try books on tape. Many preschoolers fall asleep to the soothing sounds of a parent reading a bedtime story. Playing a book on tape at a barely audible level permits the room to be dark, and the quiet voice can function as “white noise” that also helps prevent stray worries from hijacking a teen from sleep.

With this tips and an increased awareness for the need for sleep, parents can help their kids be healthy and alert for the new school year!

Sleeping Tips For Teens: Help Your Child Tune Into Sleep is a post from: Green Earth News

Bamboo makes its way into beauty products

As a country, we are conscious about what goes into our bodies.  We search for organic foods,  the right supplements and the purest juices and teas.  So, how can a population so worried about what goes into their bodies be so casual about what goes on our bodies?

The skin is an organ, the largest organ of the human body actually, and it serves the purpose of absorbing nutrients into the body.  Unfortunately, it can also absorb the harmful chemicals found in the environment surrounding us and in the chemical-filled makeup, soaps and hair products we choose.

While most would look at bamboo growing and think that there is no way beauty products come from those stalks, but in the form of extract, charcoal, milk or powder, bamboo is making its way into cosmetics and beauty products worldwide.

Bamboo Milk is extracted from bamboo leaves and stems with claims to be both a stimulant and an aphrodisiac (talk about starting off your morning right!).  Nivea uses bamboo milk in their Happy Time Cream Soap (available in bar or bodywash) to produce a gentle cleanser on your skin.

Long used in Asia to smooth and moisturize the skin, bamboo powder is now being made into soaps worldwide.  The natural antiseptic and astringent quality of bamboo powder makes it ideal for oily and blemish-prone skin.  Additionally, the bamboo powder is rich in minerals and the finely milled powder can be mixed into masks and scrubs to work as a gentle exfoliant.   Green Earth Bamboo offers a line of soaps handcrafted in the United States in a variety of delicious scents.  Lessonia, a French-based cosmetics company, has started using bamboo powder in their anti-aging spa products to take advantage of the refining and skin-brightening qualities of the powder.

Bamboo Charcoal also brings its incredible detoxifying ability to soaps and facial cleansers.  For anyone looking to remove impurities without irritating your skin, try one of the many bamboo charcoal products out there.  Mi-Spa offers a Bamboo and Rice Soap for both men and women, while iB3 offers a Bamboo Charcoal and Vinegar bar that claims to not only clean, but to help reverse the effects that hard water takes on our skin.

Not to be left out, hair and lashes also benefit from bamboo extract.  It is a rich source of natural silica which is essential for hair growth and helps make existing hair stronger.  Bamboo Cosmetics offers a Bamboo Lash mascara designed to make your lashes fuller and thicker, while Alfaparf offers a line of bamboo shampoos and conditioners to help make your hair fuller and thicker.

It’s easier than ever to beautify yourself with bamboo!

Choose this beautiful Isis Bamboo Dress or  delicate Bamboo Scarf from Green Earth Bamboo to complement your glowing skin and silky hair.

Beauty Products Enhanced With The Power of Bamboo is a post from: Green Earth News

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the world’s population uses herbal medicine for curing of their primary health.  With increasing concern about rising prescription costs, it only makes sense that more and more people are turning to natural and organic remedies for their healthcare.  Last week, we touched on bamboo charcoal and its many benefits, and here is one more.  A derivation of the bamboo charcoal process is bamboo vinegar, which in itself has many amazing benefits.  During the carbonization process of charcoal, the bamboo is heated in an airless container and the smoke and vapors produced cool down and produce the Bamboo Vinegar.

While regular household vinegar goes through a series of filtration and distillation, bamboo vinegar contains over 200 organic compounds ranging from acetic acid to methanol.  Many of the compounds give the pH make up similar to that of household vinegar, hence the term “bamboo vinegar.”

Because of its abundance of organic compounds and it’s slightly acidic nature, bamboo vinegar is useful in many ways ranging from medicinal to cosmetic:

• As a deodorizer, it’s slightly acidic nature makes the vinegar toxic to bacteria so it can be used in products ranging from foot deodorizers, underarm to cleaning supplies. If sweating and producing odors is a big concern of yours you might also look to super absorbent bamboo socks, bamboo clothing and bamboo sheets to reduce those unwanted characteristics.
• The acetic acid and organic compounds found in bamboo vinegar give it the ability to leave your hair and skin soft and smooth, making it a popular ingredient in cosmetics, soaps and hair care products. Bamboo powder can also be found in natural soap.
• The acetic acid and anti-fungal properties also serve to heal various skin ailments like eczema and atopic dermatitis and relieves itching. Bamboo baby clothes are also an excellent source for babies with skin irritations or allergies.
• In the medical world, bamboo vinegar is gaining traction as a sterilizer.
• Recent studies show that bamboo vinegar improves growth rate of vegetables since it works as an antibacterial agent in agriculture and is also a good fertilizer.
• Its antibacterial properties make it ideal for use in food and drink processing as well as in water purification in sewage treatment plants.
• The most widely known use of bamboo vinegar is its presence in the popular foot detox pads.  The organic compounds in bamboo vinegar make it a powerful detoxification agent as it quickly removes toxins from the body and improves the circulation of blood in the body.  These pads are placed on the bottom of the feet on the acupressure points at night to draw out impure substances giving the users more energy.  Over 18 million foot patches are sold every month in Asia and the trend is becoming more popular in the United States.

For anyone looking to include more organic options in their supplement, what better way to start than by including a substance with over 200 organic compounds?  And after taking the effort to detoxify, treat your feet to soft and snuggly pair of bamboo socks from Green Earth Bamboo.

Bamboo offers an enormous amount of natural healing remedies. To see other ways bamboo can work its magic for you, visit our bamboo remedies section for more great topics and resources.

Bamboo Vinegar – The Ultimate Natural Remedy is a post from: Green Earth News

Salt has earned a bad reputation with us.  We hear constantly that it causes hypertension, heart disease, high blood pressure and weight gain (among other things).  However, the human body needs a certain amount of salt to survive.  The distinction between healthy and unhealthy lies in the amount of salt we ingest, and also what type of salt we use.

Most people choose common table salt which contains high levels of sodium and is stripped of more than 60 trace minerals during the refinement process.  Table salt is also cleaned, bleached and treated so even as the healthy elements are removed, unhealthy elements are being added.  In addition, to make the table salt more consumer friendly, anti caking agents are added to make sure the salt does not clump together in its packaging. These anti caking agents do not dissolve in our systems so they build up and deposit in our organs and tissues.

Thankfully, there are several alternatives to table salts, including Bamboo Salt.

Over 1000 years ago, Korean doctors and monks used bamboo salt to treat internal maladies ranging from fevers to diarrhea.  They made bamboo salt tablets by inserting salt in a thick bamboo stub and baking it at high temperatures with pine tree firewood. The modern manufacturing of bamboo salt has been refined to enhance the healing properties of bamboo salt.  Using bamboo trees of at least 3 years old, the salt is sealed within the bamboo using unpolluted yellow clay and then baked 8 times in a specially designed furnace.  Baking the bamboo salt in such high temperatures allows for the salt to absorb highly therapeutic trace elements including copper, zinc and iron and it also eliminates any impurities and heavy metals from the salt that can cause damage to the body.

Bamboo salt serves many functions in maintaining our health:

It serves as a natural detoxifying agent.  Because bamboo salt generates large amounts of saliva and gastric juice, it allows for the complete digestion of our food, keeping toxins from building up in the intestine and bloodstream.  Bamboo salt also has a strong penetrative ability so it is able to eliminate toxins from the body quickly and efficiently.

It is a powerful antioxidant which helps cleanse the body and heal damaged cells.  For this quality alone, more and more cancer researchers are starting to look at the role of bamboo salt as it inhibits the growth of cancerous cells.

It provides energy.  When heated, the bamboo salt releases a strong far-infra red light that makes the hydrogen atoms in body fluid to vibrate at a rate of 1 trillion times per second.  This promotes a higher metabolism and regenerates cells at a quicker rate.

It is a strong antibacterial agent.  Because bamboo salt balances the essential ratio of trace elements and pH of body fluid, it eliminates germs from the body (germs cannot survive in human blood with the balanced pH level of 7.35 – 7.45).

It is a treasure trove of minerals and trace elements.  This trait alone has more benefits than can fit on this page.  The balance of copper and zinc ward off anemia by allowing for greater iron absorption.  The presence of magnesium reduces cholesterol in the blood and takes the role of a natural tranquilizer in protecting the nerves.  The natural balance of potassium and sodium ward off chronic diseases and maintain healthy heart function.  And the list goes on and on….

Salt, when taken in the right form, serves a greater role in our lives than mere seasoning.  Choosing to incorporate bamboo salt through food intake, bath salt or even tablets, will enhance your healthy lifestyle. After taking that relaxing bamboo salt bath, wrap yourself in the warmth of plush bamboo towels to complete your luxurious experience. There is nothing more comforting that the qualities bamboo has to offer.

Here are some places we found to carry some wonderful bamboo salt products:
Skinbotanica carries bamboo bath salts as well as other bamboo cleansing products.
Salt Traders, LLC carries delicious bamboo sea salt for cooking.
The Green Bean Company offers bamboo roasted sea salt and donates 20% of its proceeds to social and environmental charities.

If you are a big fan of bamboo’s wonderful qualities, be sure to take a look at our bamboo remedies section for more great posts! And, remember to check out our monthly bamboo recipes under our bamboo flavors section for delicious meals for your family.

Salt That Heals From The Inside Out – True Bamboo Medicine is a post from: Green Earth News

In the Western world, the word charcoal conjures up images of coal briquettes and barbecues, but for centuries, people in the East have used a different type of charcoal for fuel and cleansing properties.  Bamboo charcoal is made by heating pieces of matured bamboo at heats as high as 800 degrees C., and as early as 1486 A.D, there was documented usage of bamboo charcoal in the Ming Dynasty.

When heated, this process of carbonization creates a product with a high density and porous structure with many cavities, giving it the ability to attach different substances to its walls and release them later.  Bamboo charcoal also has the added benefit of a built-in team of microbes that work to decompose toxic substances that flourish around us.  Add to this that bamboo charcoal contains an abundance of minerals such as magnesium and potassium and you have an amazing cleansing and healing agent.

In your home or office, bamboo charcoal provides the following environmental functions:

• Humidity Regulator – Bamboo charcoal has a high porosity giving it the ability to regulate the humidity in the air.  If air is too humid, the charcoal will absorb the moisture and convert the air to dry air but if the air is too dry, the charcoal will discharge its moisture to adjust the humidity.
• Odor Absorption – Bamboo charcoal’s absorption qualities extend to odors as well.  Place pieces in your refrigerator, around your home, near ashtrays and in your closet to keep your home smelling fresh. If odor is a concern of yours, you might also consider taking a look at bamboo clothing which is excellent for people who tend to sweat a lot.
• Vegetable Crisper – Go one step further in your fridge and place the charcoal in your vegetable bin.  The charcoal absorbs the ethylene gas so your fruits and veggies stay crisper and better-tasting longer.
• Water Purifier – Take a break from expensive water filters and use bamboo charcoal to purify your drinking water.  Soak some in a pitcher for a few hours to let the charcoal work as an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent.  Your water will smell and taste better.

Along with these environmentally-beneficial properties, bamboo charcoal is also a strong agent in personal healing.  The charcoal itself is full of minerals, including potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.  When used in water-filtration or in cooking (try adding it in the next time you boil water for rice), the minerals are dissolved and enrich the water.  You can even add a piece to your bathwater to soothe aching muscles and leave your skin silky soft before wrapping yourself in luxurious bamboo towels.

Bamboo charcoal also releases Far Infrared Rays, a type of electromagnetic wave, at wavelengths ranging from 4 to 16 micrometers that is absorbed by all organic material.  Just by the presence of the charcoal itself, the human body will absorb the entire range and it can produce a warming effect to help improve circulation substantially.

Another health benefit is that of allergen trapper.  Place an inner layer of activated charcoal in pillows and cushions or place pieces throughout your house to help control allergens, bacteria and viruses.

Finally, bamboo charcoal is excellent to use for Electromagnetic Wave Dissipation.  With the amount of electronic appliances in our homes and offices today, our bodies are attacked by a larger than ever amount of EM waves.  Bamboo charcoal works to dissipate these waves so place pieces in your kitchen, office and on top of your television to help shield your body from these harmful waves.

For such a wide range of cleansing and healing properties, bamboo charcoal is a wise investment to add to your household.

When buying bamboo charcoal, be sure to check with the supplier as to which charcoal is best for you depending on your use. Not all charcoals are made to be ingested.

Take a look at our Bamboo Remedies section for more great ways bamboo heals.

Bamboo Charcoal’s Healing Powers is a post from: Green Earth News