Natural Ant Control for the Home

The warmer weather can bring unwanted pests, including ants, into homes and apartments. Conventional pesticides and ant traps can be toxic to humans, pets and the environment. This season, consider using one of these safer ant-control alternatives.

Keep Counters Clean

First and foremost, maintain kitchen counters and floors free of food particles. Tightly seal food containers, wipe countertops with soapy water, sweep the floors and avoid leaving standing water overnight. If there are no food sources around, the ants will lose interest.

Stop Entry Into The Home

After cleaning, the next line of defense is to keep ants from entering the home in the first place. One of the most effective, toxin-free methods is to spray cedar oil outside, around the perimeter of the house. Mix one ounce of cedar oil in one quart of water (or four ounces per gallon) and spray the solution three feet up the outside walls and on the ground, six feet out from the edges of the house.

Use Natural Repellents

Numerous natural repellents work well inside the home. Place one or more of these in the kitchen or wherever the ants are entering: cucumber peels or slices; tea bags of mint tea or dry, crushed mint leaves; cloves; cayenne pepper; citrus oil soaked into a piece of string; lemon juice; cinnamon; or coffee grounds.

Confuse Ants Traveling Back To The Nest

As worker ants travel from their nest to forage for food, they leave a sex hormone (pheromone) scent in order to find their way back to the nest. These invisible trails can be washed away with a mixture of one-quarter cup of white vinegar, two cups of water, and 10 to 15 drops of peppermint, clove, eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.

Use Natural Ant Killers As Last Resort

A serious ant problem might require more drastic measures that kill the invading ants. These two options employ non-toxic ingredients.

n Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, talc-like powder made from the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. When sprinkled on ants, the powder causes them to dehydrate.

n Cornmeal left out in small piles where ants are visible is another option that poses no threat to pets or little kids. The ants will eat the cornmeal, but because they can’t digest it, they will perish.

Crystal Bowls Resonate with Love

Crystal Bowl Gallery owners Gena Davis and CJ Rubenak started their business in April 2020 to sell Crystal Tones Alchemy Crystal Bowls, which are sound healing instruments made with pure quartz crystal and other gemstones. They also offer sound baths and private energy healing sessions.

Rubenak holds a master’s degree in social work and is a registered yoga teacher at the E-RYT 500 level, Yoga Alliance continuing education provider, reiki practitioner and advanced certified yoga nidra facilitator

Davis holds master’s degrees in divinity and business administration, and is a spiritual director, author, Episcopal priest, registered yoga teacher at E-RYT 500 level, advanced certified yoga nidra facilitator and quantum energy healing practitioner

She says, “We offer training for skill building and enhancement of sound healing skills. We also offer private sessions using various healing modalities such as sound healing, spiritual guidance, quantum energy healing, yoga nidra sessions and reiki healing sessions. We typically offer sound baths monthly at various locations.”

For more information, visit CrystalBowlGallery.com

Dr. Chukwu Adds Thermography Services

The Houston Holistic Health Clinic has opened a medical thermography center as a part of their practice. In addition to its use in early detection of breast cancer, medical thermography is also useful in the diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome and diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

Gracie Chukwu is a doctor of naturopathy and a certified nutrition counselor in Texas. As a nutritionist and naturopath, she helps her clients improve their health with the understanding that they are unique and have individual needs. Combining the arts of naturopathy and nutrition counseling, Chukwu is uniquely qualified to help her clients discover their nutritional needs and bring them back to optimum health. With the addition of medical thermography, she is able to serve her clients in a new and exciting way.

Location: 6401 Southwest Fwy., Ste. 250, Houston. For appointments and more information, call 713-781-9991 or visit HoustonHolisticHealthClinic.com. See ad page 7

34 Years of Wellness and Growing

Established in 1989, the Joyce Long Wellness Institute is still going strong. She has been an I-ACT member certified in colon hydrotherapy since 1992 and a certified colonic therapist and instructor since 1991. Clients and patients are invited to get away from the traffic and noise of the city to detox, renew, and rejuvinate.

Services include red laser pen acupuncture, lymphatic drainage massage, facials, reflexology, infrared sauna, massage therapy, and ion cleanse foot or hand baths, Chinese cupping, ear coning, certified health coach, and colon hydrotherapy (by prescription).

She teaches that colon hydrotherapy is a very effective method for cleansing the large intestine and has been utilized for centuries as an adjunct to proper exercise, plenty of water, nutrition, and personal hygiene.