Shielded Canopies Considerations

by | beds, earthing, electric fields, electromagnetic radiation, EME, EMF, EMR, environmental sensitivities, environmental stressors, grounding, health, indoor environmental health, sleep, wifi, wireless technology

Shielding and Shielded Canopies are something that I am often asked about – and why I list only a few shielding products for the building on my website.

The reason for this is that shielding needs to be done with great care – and is unique to each site.

For me, providing shielding of any sort is a duty of care, which is why assessment and consultation is necessary.

Shielded Canopies – What Are They?

Shielded Canopies are canopies that are generally hung over and around beds to address electromagnetic fields/energy (EMF/EME) from various sources. They can be used over desks, couches, and anywhere else that you spend time.

They can be a fabulous option to reduce levels of different types of EMF/EME when planned and installed correctly.

I wanted to share three of the biggest considerations when thinking about getting a Shielded Canopy.

Shielded Canopy Considerations

1) Natural Radiation and Faraday Cages

The very first consideration is the important of exposure to natural radiation from the earth and from space. These natural sources of radiation are extremely important for health.

Many people decide that they need to be in a Faraday Cage – this is not something I recommend. This is because being in a Faraday cage, means to be cut off all forms of electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields.

Studies have been done that demonstrate that rats and mice when placed into a Faraday cage – and cut off from all radiation, including natural – lived extremely short lives.

To reiterate, being exposed to natural radiation is good for us.

That said, there are some instances where shielding is a really great option. However, as mentioned, it needs to be done very carefully. If you do go with a canopy, you will need to spend time outside maintain some level of exposure to natural levels of radiation.

2) Sources of EMF/EMR/EME

Now the second thing is to consider the sources of electromagnetic fields or electromagnetic energy (EMF or EME).

Shielding tends to address two types of EMF/EME.

a) Wireless technology (RF) – such as phone towers, wi-fi routers, wi-fi from neighbouring buildings, smart phones, and similar.

b) AC ELF Electric Fields (EF) – which comes from wiring, cables, appliances, powerlines, transformers, and so on.

It's essential to determine where the sources are.

This is crucial, because when we refer to the first consideration – the need to be exposed to natural radiation, it becomes clear that it’s preferable to only block the sources, and not create a Faraday Cage.

Once the sources have been identified, the planning and placement of shielding needs to be done with great care so that it doesn’t increase your exposure.

If placed in the wrong position, your shielding canopy could result in other sources bouncing off it and at you.

It is important to realise that shielding fabrics work on both sides.

Therefore, it is essential to consider and understand where the sources are so that you can get it right.

This is where getting expert help is advised – and I can help you with that.

3) Choosing the Right Fabric

Finally, the third consideration is equally important – and that is getting the type of shielding fabric right.

There are a multitude of different fabrics designed to shield EMF/EME.

Some will work at low levels with the source being close and others may work at high level.

And in some cases, layering is important as this may increase its effectiveness.

Another part of this is to be clear on which type of EMF/EME the fabric addresses.

Does it shield electric fields as well?

In which case, grounding the fabric is not negotiable. That said, I do recommend the grounding all shielding fabrics that are near you.

I've been to several places where somebody installed a shielding canopy over their bed and although it did deflect the radio frequencies very well, it was attracting the electric fields to it. The result was that the levels of electric fields on the bed were about 30 or 40 times higher than what they were when you were away from the canopy.

As you can see, it’s important to understand the type of fabric and how it works. 

Shielding is a complex area – a science and an art form.

If you would like advice on Shielding Canopies, let’s talk.

Book a Call With Me

Beds and Bedding: What to Consider

by | bedding, beds, dust mites, EMF, indoor environmental health, informed choice, sleep

Beds and Bedding: What to Consider

Why Does it Matter?

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to good health. Sleep is the time when our bodies heal and recover from the day, they detoxify and rejuvenate, they reset ready to carry you through another day.

Our beds are one of the places in our homes that we spend the most time. For these reasons, it is vitally important to get out beds just right, so that they support us in our healing and detoxification processes.

Our beds should not increase our exposure to EMF or chemicals.

There are lots of things to consider with our beds – and in many cases, there are compromises to be made.

Beds and Bedding: Bed Base/Frame

Let’s start with the base – or the frame. Metal is not a good choice as it can conduct some types of EMF and reflect others.

#ideal The best option is a wooden bed frame with a wooden slatted base.

Why?

Because this allows air to flow around the bed, which can assist it in drying out, therefore reducing the risk of mould and house dust mites. 

What to look for:

  • Slats
  • All wood
  • Untreated wood (ie not CCA – not the green-tinged wood)
  • Natural wood (unfinished)
  • You can apply an oil or varnish that suits your needs. Livos have a good range.

What to avoid:

  • Beds with a solid base
  • Beds with storage underneath
  • Slats that have been coated with polyurethane base
  • If you are sensitive, you may wish to avoid pine

Beds and Bedding: Mattress

In my opinion, mattresses are the biggest areas of compromise when it comes to beds and bedding.

Here’s the lowdown.

Most mainstream mattress are foam or memory foam. Despite their elaborate marketing phrases, they are made from petrochemicals that off-gas VOCs right in your breathing zone.

I’ve reviewed a product where they claim it is made from the same product as baby oil and therefore it is safe. Baby oil is mineral oil – petrochemical – and shouldn’t be used!

#mustknow Locally made is important, as our strict standards for textiles (and footwear) aren’t applied to imported goods. That is why several years ago, there were many imported mattresses with dangerously high levels of formaldehyde.

What is ideal is a locally made futon that contains natural fibres, eg cotton.

The downside of a futon is that you have to roll it up every day to let it dry, and beat it so it stays plush. The latter is excellent for releasing frustration, however, the reality of doing this every day is unrealistic for most people.

I know many people lean towards natural latex, and whilst this has some benefits, the fact it is so hot to sleep on, to my mind, makes it more prone to mould.

Innerspring mattresses can do odd things to EMF – and there are risks associated for that reason.

There are also lots of organic mattresses, many locally made. However, apart from the hefty price tag, I have heard from many people about how uncomfortable they become over time.

So what to do?

This is where the compromise comes in. Unless you commit to the long term care of a futon, you need to weigh up the pros and cons of each.

What did I do?

I have reduced EMF in my bedroom. I then opted for an innerspring mattress on an oiled (like Livos) futon base.

The mattress had a lot of natural fibres in it, and no topper. There is no memory foam on it at all.

Choosing this was a compromise – but it was the best option for us at the time.

This isn’t an ideal option for everyone.

You have to make an informed choice, and part of it will be considering the EMF. (This is something I check periodically, as things do change.)

Beds and Bedding: Bedding

Bedding includes pillows, doonas/duvets, blankets, sheets, and so on.

Certified organic is a great option – and locally made not only ensures the product conforms to our standards, but also reduces the footprint and “bedding miles” travelled.

Natural fibres are recommended for bedding, and if you have an allergy to house dust mites, silk can be a great option.

#Pillows should be replaced every 2-3 years – more often if you have house dust mite allergies.

There are silk doonas on the market that are great for repelling house dust mites, but also they are meant to be fabulous for the different seasons. (I am yet to try one, but they sound dreamy – excuse the pun.)

While on the topic of replacing things – mattresses should be replaced every 10 years.

If you do have house dust mite allergies, there are fabulous covers you can get for your mattress, pillows and other bedding. Regular maintenance is also important.

With many thoughts to ponder, I will leave it there for now.

o0o

These posts may be of interest:

#beds #bedding #healthychoices #EMF #dustmites