Steam Can Cure Winter Blahs

Temperatures have dropped and the East Coast is talking about the Blizzard of 2016. Unfortunately, colder weather brings dry air along with it. The resulting low humidity environment and home heating can irritate both skin and nasal passages.

“The Healing powers of hammam were known for centuries. Famous Arab doctor and scientist, Avicenna (Ibn Sina) considered it to be one of the exceptional means of improving health and general well-being. Echoing the opinions of Greek doctors he believed that “physical exercises, healthy lifestyle and regular visits to hammam will render all medicine useless”.

Steam Therapy –

If you prefer not to take over the counter drugs to combat congestion and stuffiness, steam is a proven natural remedy. Steam loosens mucus and relieves inflammation allowing you to breather better.

Dried-out nasal passage ways are unhealthy. Your body needs moistened airways as a part of your defense system. When sinuses get too dry, the mucociliary transport system that traps and moves irritants stops working. Steam showers help promote sinus drainage, soothe a sore throat and act as a natural expectorant.

Glowing Skin –

Outdoor winter activity and constant washing to ward off winter bugs can leave you with dry, chapped skin.

Steam opens up your pores, allowing your skin to breathe, and releases toxins promoting healthy glowing skin. For you gentlemen, steam softens up the skin making it easier to shave.

Mood Enhancer –

All this gray weather can also cause many people to experience “lower mood” and reduced energy this time of year.

There are some very effective treatments available for treating the winter ‘blahs’ – one of those is chromatherapy.

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners believe the body has seven chakras, each of which is associated with a specific color of the visible light spectrum, and a function and organ or bodily system.

Whether you believe in the deeper spiritual meanings of color or simply recognize that they have a profound effect on our emotions and intellect, incorporating color into our lives can raise our relaxation to a deeper level.

This is why chromatherapy and steam work so well paired together. To achieve this in your home I like the iSpa Package from Mr. Steam.

The iSpa Package works with the innovative iSteam Touch Control and uses just two-gallons of water per 20-minute session.

Therapeutic Healing –

When in need of sensual renewal, why not immerse your chakras and your body in steam powered therapy with aromas too? The therapeutic properties of scent have been cultivated since antiquity.

Plus, essential oils and herbs, unlike chemical drugs do not remain in the body, leaving toxins behind and causing side affects.

Mr. Steam offers specially formulated essential oils and Chakra oils extracted from organic flowers and plants specifically to relax and revitalize the body. There’s nothing more therapeutic than aromatherapy, warmth, steam and chakra oils!

The iSpa system includes the Mr. Steam AromaSteam system which evenly infuses oils into the steam shower via an electronic delivery system for balanced, seamless integration of aromatherapy.

I get much relief from the Mr. Steam Eucalyptus as I tend to catch colds when I travel. (Thanks, Martha a.k.a Mrs. Steam)

(Although not exhibiting at KBIS this year, Mr. Steam is a sponsor if BlogTour KBIS. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are mine.)

December 27, 2015January 17, 2019

What is Active Cleansing Technology?

Active Cleansing Technology sounds like something you’d see on the back of a bottle of bathroom cleaner – but it’s not.

In 1967, Japanese scientists Akira Fujishima and Kenichi Honda (University of Tokyo) discovered the active cleansing effect of titanium dioxide in photocatalysis (the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst).

They researched this phenomenon, now known as the “Honda-Fujishima Effect”, and published their findings in 1972. Little changed in this research until the 1990s when engineers at TOTO collaborating with the University of Tokyo discovered the additional passive cleansing effect of photocatalysis.

Hydrotect Kitchan Style — Self Cleaning, Antibacterial, Anti-odor

The additional passive cleansing effect is based on the hydrophilic properties of titanium dioxide. Surfaces treated with titanium dioxide dramatically reduce the surface tension of falling water. Instead of rolling off the surface as individual drops, the water flows off the edges in an ultra-thin film, which removes all dust and dirt particles in the process.

You may be wondering why all this Science matters. In indoor applications (think bathrooms), this technology prevents the spreading of germs and bacteria and eliminates bad odors deriving from their action.

TOTO was the first company to use active cleansing technology. TOTO durably bakes HYDROTECT, a unique protective coating for ceramic building materials that renders surfaces self-cleaning; into their products.

Because HYDROTECT is fired on to the surface separately from the glaze, it will not wash or wear off over time. It is not visible and, thus, does not alter the color of the product.

It’s reassuring to know every TOTO innovation has a single motivation: helping people feel cleaner and more alive.

Being a technology leader has been good for TOTO. It’s no wonder this past November they reached an astounding total of 40 million WASHLETs sold world-wide since 1980.

I look forward to visiting TOTO at Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas next month while I’m on BlogTour KBIS to see their new Connect+ System and eWater+.

TOTO’s innovative Connect+ System neatly conceals the Washlet’s power cord and water supply hose for a clean installation.

TOTO’s eWater+ mists the bowl with electrolysed water after every flush and once every eight hours during non-use. A pre-misting of plain water further enhances bowl cleanliness by sealing the surface against the adherence of matter approximately 80% better than dry porcelain.

(TOTO is a sponsor for BlogTour KBIS 2016, but the views and opinions expressed on this blog are mine, and I will be honest in what I share. You, the reader, are my top priority and it is my goal to make sure you can trust the content and integrity of this blog.)

April 23, 2014January 17, 2019

Nanotech Countertops

Fenix NTM ‘Nanotech Matt’ surface recently debuted in many trendsetting kitchen and furniture manufacturers displays at Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Fenix NTM is a thermo-laminate with unique properties, produced in Italy by Arpa Industriale with the aid of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is the branch of applied science that involves controlling materials, at an infinitesimal level: from 1 – 100 millionths of a millimetre. This type of process has only been available for a few decades, but it is already transforming the world we live in, even the furniture sector.

The core structure of Fenix NTM is composed of craft paper impregnated with thermosetting resins. It is produced by the simultaneous application of heat and high specific pressure to produce a homogeneous non-porous high density product.

Fenix NTM is very resistant to scratches, abrasion, rubbing and dry heat. It is also resistance to stress, solvents and household reagents. Its surface is hygienic and easy to clean thanks to its enhanced anti-bacterial properties. Fenix NTM is also water repellant and mold resistant.

Despite its many features, it seems that it’s Fenix NTM’s matte anti-reflective surface, depth of color (especially black) and soft-to-the-touch feel that has designers flocking to it.

Homeowners and facility managers seem to love it because it is self-healing. To repair a scratch, just place a damp paper towel over the affected area and pass over the scratch with a hot iron. Your countertop will look brand new again.

FENIX NTM is available in the following sizes and thicknesses:
4200 x 1600 mm: 0.9, 1.2, 10 and 12 mm.
4300 x 1850 mm: 10 and 12 mm.

About Arpa:
Since 1954 Arpa Industriale has been designing and manufacturing panels with very high quality HPL technology for the most diverse applications: from architecture to interior design, from healthcare to shipyards, from transport to hospitality, from retail to kitchens.

Arpa’s American showroom is located in SoHo, the artistic and creative heart of New York City, the center for contemporary excellence. Arpa’s unique products and colorful collections on display are in this 7,500 square foot showroom center.

February 24, 2014April 14, 2019

Grow at Home

Spring is starting to creep into everyone’s minds and with that the thought of fresh herbs and vegetables. While it is possible to sow your seeds with snow on the ground, many areas of the country are still too frozen with the harsh arctic blast and ten named winter storms.

Some gardeners use a cold frame, which is a box-like structure with a clear glass or plastic top, to get their seedlings started. However, if you don’t have the space or find it a little too dirty, there is another option – the Urban Cultivator.

The Urban Cultivator Residential is a dishwasher-sized appliance with interior grow lights. Inside are racks that hold flats designed to contain one of three growing mediums — a Sure to Grow mat (suretogrow.com), sterilized soil or landscape fabric. In these, users can grow 50-some greens — including beet-tops, baby broccoli, wheat grass, pea sprouts, radishes, mustard greens, lentils, nasturtiums — as well as any number of herbs.

The unit is not difficult to install and requires a water connection similar to a dishwasher. You can choose between different door screen options (clear, frost, half-tone and dark) and even add a custom panel to match your cabinetry.

The Urban Cultivator will allow you to grow fresh herbs 365 days a year and know that they are pesticide free and healthy for your family. The cost savings for growing your own micro-greens can be as high as 90% according to research.

Your Urban Cultivator can be operated between 55 and 90 degrees with a relative humidity between 30% to 60%. The automated system does all the work and provides measured water to and from each grow tray. If your unit is set up as a stand-alone unit, you will need to empty and refill the water reservoir once a week when the indicator light is on. Four humidity domes are also included with the unit to aid in starting seeds.

A larger commercial unit is also available for restaurants and cooking schools where larger supplies are demanded. Besides herbs, small vegetables such as cherry tomatoes can also be grown. Pricing starts at $2,200.

Category: Wellness