HEALTH
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BETTER HEALTH IN A GREEN HOUSE
INDOOR PLANTS PROVIDE NATURAL REMEDIES FOR WELLNESS WORRIES
As March begins, winter's grip on Lawrence may soon be coming to an end. Months couped up inside may do wonders for your high score on Angry Birds, but they can also have a negative effect on your skin, respiratory system and mood. Instead of patiently waiting for things to improve with the arrival of spring, you can do something to improve the situation — it requires bringing a little of Mother Nature
it requires bringing a little of Mother Nature inside with you
Research shows how plants have physical
While houseplants may differ in size, shape and color, they all possess the ability to generate moisture, absorb toxins and release negative ions as long as you remember to water them.
as well as psychological benefits for their owner. In spite of the many benefits for owning plants, few students have them. "I don't have any plants in my room because they usually die when I'm taking care of them," Arshia Ahmed, Wichita freshman, says.
MOISTURE MACHINE
Temperatures hovering near 20 F the past few weeks have forced furnaces to work around the clock to keep us warm. While heat is essential to our ability to survive this brutal winter, one adverse effect to having heat continuously flowing through the vents is that it removes moisture from the air, leaving your house, apartment or dorm room feeling dry. "The air in Ellsworth is pretty stale; some students have to use humidifiers in their rooms," Ahmed says.
Studies have shown breathing dry air is a potential health hazard that can lead to respiratory ailments and dehydration because of depleting body fluids during respiration. In addition to respiratory concern, a dry environment can cause skin irritation. During
winter, human skin goes into hibernation, causing it to generate new skin cells at a lower rate. "When you turn on the heat for your house it dries skin out even more, sometimes leading to eczema, a medical condition in which skin becomes inflamed and must be treated by a physician," Shawn Allen, doctor and assistant clinical professor for the University of Colorado's dermatology department, says.
Although Allen does not prescribe his patients to purchase plants as a form of treatment, he admits that any way you can add moisture to your home or apartment during the winter is good for the skin.
One by-product of a plant's water cycle is the emission of water vapor. This process, called transpiration, occurs through the stomata (a collection of openings on the underside of the foliage), and can release between 200 to 900 mL of water vapor in a 24-hour period. B.C. Wolverton, author of Eco-Friendly Houseplants, found that during the winter months an Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus), when kept at 73 F, could emit 900 mL of water vapor a day.
A LITTLE GREEN CAN LIFT YOUR SPIRITS
During the winter months an estimated 10 to 20 percent of people suffer from a mild form of winter blues, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD
Photo Illustration | Travis Young
Photo illustration Travis Young Toxin avenger : Houseplant adds moisture and remove toxins in the air. Bringing Mother Nature inside also increases serotonin in your brain, which decreases your chance of feeling seasonally depressed.
include depression, anxiety and loss of energy. Ahmed admits she sometimes feels like she has winter blues. "The sorberness of winter makes me just want to crawl back into bed most mornings," she says.
In nature, airflow friction, falling water and plants are sources that create ions. The negative ions formed by the falling water of a waterfall causes a feeling of elation when someone stands near the waterfall. When the ions reach the bloodstream they produce a biochemical reaction that increases serotonin levels. Plants form negative ions through the emission of water vapors during transpiration.
A Columbia University study conducted by Michael Terman, a Ph.D. professor of clinical psychology, found negative-ion therapy proved to be as effective against SAD as antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft, without the side effects.
BIOLOGICAL BEATDOWN
Another benefit of owning houseplants is their ability to remove toxins from the air through a process called metabolic breakdown. When a plant transpires water vapor from its leaves, it absorbs air around the roots. The roots use the toxins in the air as a source of food, giving the plant energy. The leaves help remove toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the atmosphere.
Research has also shown, in some cases, the soil is capable of removing more pollutants than the plant itself, says Craig Martin, a University of Kansas professor who specializes in ecological plant physiology. "The research that indicates the soil removes more pollutants than the plant itself suggest that pollutants are likely removed from the air by absorption, by sticking to the outer surfaces of the plant and by the surfaces of soil particles," Martin says.
Maybe, like Ahmed, you kill plants faster than Hexxus, the toxic destroyer of FernGully. Maybe your past experiences with plants have always involved a lighter. In either case, with spring just around the corner, now may be the time to turn over a new leaf. Jp
Bronson/KANSAN many differ-
in student riders
BY ADAM STRUNK
astrunk@kansan.com
Fieldhouse
2011, SafeBus recorded 37,283 rides, a 70 percent increase from the 21,999 rides recorded during the corresponding time period last school year.
Perfume, alcohol and sweat pervade the air. Students drink colorful liquids from water bottles or sneak sips from cans of Busch Light and Keystone hidden-beneath jackets. The group, stacked body upon body, begins an impromptu rendition of the national anthem followed by the Rock Chalk chant. One couple makes out, trying to steady themselves against the wall. This is everything one imagines as a college party at the University of Kansas, and it's on wheels.
"The numbers have been quite surprising," said Derek Meier, transport coordinator for KU on Wheels. Meier explained that the large growth in ridership was because of the restructuring of routes.
"The secret here is adding
Daisy Hill," he said, Safe Bus,
SEE SAFEBUS ON PAGE 3A
A student hops onto SafeBus. This year SafeBus has experienced a rise in ridership.
Adam Ruhler/KANSAN FILEPHOTO
Student senators are responsible for controlling a $24 million budget. With no current code of conduct or similar ethical code directly related to senate, the student rights committee proposed the bill to provide some accountability for student senators.
"When you're controlling a budget that big and with that much power, this is definitely a good idea," Widerholt said. "We're trying to make sure students know their senators are being held accountable."
postponed in senate
In an effort to give student senators the chance to better represent their constituents and themselves, the student rights committee drafted a student senator Code of Ethics to be added to the senate rules and regulations.
Harris said he felt chief of staff Aaron Dollinger moved to have the bill postponed in order to enable himself more time to look it over because the bill would add more responsibilities to his position.
BY ANGELIQUE
MCNAUGHTON
amcnaughton.kansan.com
Student senate member Brandon Weiderholt, a freshman from Garnett, said he hadn't experienced anything unethical during his time in senate. However, Weiderholt said it would be a good thing to have.
"I am a little disappointed that it got postponed but its better than being defeated," Harris
Student senator Aaron Harris, a senior from Wyandotte and a photographer for The University Daily Kansan, is a sponsor of the bill and the driving force behind it. He said throughout the past few years senate didn't have an ideal image.
SUGGESTED ARTICLE FOR THE STUDENT SENATE CODE OF ETHICS:
The bill will be the first item on the agenda at the next full senate meeting on March 16 in the Kansas room of the Kansas
Dollinger said he thought it was necessary to have a document that makes it clear how senators should act and to have the enforcement of the code go through his office because his staff is very knowledgeable of senate rules and regulations.
3. Senators are
senators are elected by their fellow students. Therefore, it is their duty to pay attention during session to make sure that their constituency is being duly represented.
1. Members of the Student Senate at the University of Kansas are empowered by the student body to represent student interests both responsibly as well as ethically.
"I think that it is important that when you have a piece of legislation that directly affects any position you thoroughly go through it," Dollinger said.
2. A bill should be voted on for its merit to the student body regardless of the author.
said.
SEE ETHICS ON PAGE 3A
View the proposed Code of Ethics bill at kansan.com
Jayhawks take on Tigers
The University's final report on potential hazing incident is unveiled.
GREEK LIFE | 2A
GAMEDAY|8A
Letter sheds light on hazing
Kansas will play its last game of the conference season at Missouri.
INDEX
Classifieds ... 3A
Crossword ... 4A
Cryptoquips ... 4A
Opinion ... 5A
Sports ... 10A
Sudoku ... 4A
WEATHER
SATURDAY
46 25
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
SUNDAY
57 39
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan