Why Do So Many People Seem To Have Allergies?
Why Do So Many People Seem To Have Allergies?
Allergies and asthma arise from loss of the body's natural resistance to allergens, often beginning with early exposure to secondary smoke, industrial chemicals and asbestos, and the incredibly intensive chemical farming and industrial treatment, of the foods we eat, and fabrics we wear and sleep on.Our ancestors did not suffer these maladies as pervasively as we do, because modern industry since WWII has chemically saturated everything: our homes, fabrics, foods, and air. For centuries, even as late as the 19th and early 20th centuries, organic cotton and natural woolens were taken for granted. What we now must label organic bedding, organic cotton and organic wool, were then simply called "blankets, sheets, cottons and woolens."Chemicals:Petrochemical based foams often contain VOC's (volatile organic compounds), which emit, or "off gas" over time into the air. Formaldehyde, a probable carcinogenic VOC, identified by the US EPA as a dangerous indoor pollutant, is found in most furniture (foam, fabric), pressed-wood products (plywood, chipboard), carpet glues and fabrics, including conventional, non organic bedding.Thus, your conventional mattress and sheets may be part of the problem. Replace them with a set of untreated organic cotton sheets (also called Green Cotton, or Brown Cotton). Now your body will at least rest on something bit a cleaner. Eventually, you should consider virgin wool-fill pillows, comforters and a mattress systems that use no petrochemicals. Replace foams and synthetics with organic wool, organic cotton or hemp. These natural fibers breathe better, and so do their owners.Dust Mite Wars:Doctors and organizations such as the United States EPA, and the American Lung Association, have identified dust mite allergens as the cause of asthma, coughing, congestion and other health problems, especially among children."...environmental control may be the single most important step to prevent the onset of acute asthma attacks.", writes Michael LeNoir, MD an Oakland California Adult Allergy Specialist.Many synthetic materials, and chemically processed down, feathers, polyfills and foams, provide marvelous nesting opportunities for dust mites. Wool fill organic bedding, on the other hand, actually repels dust mites, but may not be as cheap to produce.The stuffing in pillows and comforters can harbor dust mites, especially feathers and other supposed natural fillers. These materials tend to adsorb the moisture from your breath as you sleep, providing the perfect dust-mite habitat. Did you know you exhale around one pint of warm water vapor each night as you sleep? The perfect environment for dust mites!Dust-mites are actually tiny spiders that live in bedrooms, mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding. Invisible to the human eye, they often live on shed skin, which comprises approx. 80% of common house dust. Dust mites need shed skin, moisture and warmth to survive. Dust mites leave microscopic droppings, which when airborne and inhaled, cause allergic reactions in many people.Until you can sensibly replace bedding with virgin wool-fill organic bedding and organic cotton fabrics, begin by washing your bedding in warm or hot water once or twice a week. (And watch out for phosphates in detergents!) You can also get serious, and place "barrier cloth" covers over your mattress and pillows, which do not allow mites into these items. Try to stay away from synthetics.What's up with wool? Is it an allergen? Everybody thinks they are allergic to wool. Some are allergic to Lanolin, but most are not, and are reacting instead to the harsh chemicals usually applied to wool clothing and bedding.The natural lanolin in wool repels dust-mites. Virgin wool is also a naturally resistant to water and odor. Most people find organic wool totally non-allergenic and softer than conventional wool, making it an ideal filler for bedding and pillows. Wool in organic bedding and pillows also breathes extremely well, keeping you cool in summer, warm in winter but never too hot!Remember too, happy organically raised sheep are a sustainable natural resource, as long as we care for them.Susan Fullen-Yurek is a freelance author and earth-friendly products entrepreneur with an e-commerce site, http://www.kushtush.com, featuring organic bedding with organically raised wool-fills, and organic cotton products. Information for portions of this article generously shared by David Sparrow, http://www.ahappyplanet.com. The link between health and environmental awareness marks a return to natural common sense, and a more healthful future.
How to Clean-up Your Allergies with 2 Easy Home Tips
How to Clean-up Your Allergies with 2 Easy Home Tips
It's that time of year again when people who have allergies complain about nasal congestion, coughing, and wheezing, itching, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, hives and other skin rashes. Many people experience allergies due to pollens from outdoors combined with foods and indoor stagnant air carrying dust, mold, and other air pollutants.So how can you stop this yearly cycle? What can you do at home to end this increased intrusion of allergy problems. Where can you go for relief if your allergies have gotten out of hand.Would you like to:? Enjoy parks and other outdoor public areas? Have pets that you can live with? Eat foods you have avoided? Feel great without fatigue? Sleep better than ever? Relieve stress ? often allergies increase stress to your system.Keeping your body detoxing (self-cleaning) is one of two important steps you can do at home. A simple Yoga pose done correctly can keep your own personal cleaning crew (your immune system) in tune.Sit on the floor as in the picture on your heels with feet 2 inches apart. Exhale as you slowly bend forward toward floor with your upper body. Try to have your forehead touch the floor in front of you. Place your arms on floor place with hands under your feet and index finger in the valley or web between the big toe and the 2nd toe. Breathe in deeply. Breathe in and out slowly for 1 minute. Your goal is to work up to 2 minutes. After each time relax on your back and allow your muscles to relax for a few minutes. This pose stimulates the body's ability to cleanse itself. It helps detox the liver, lungs, stomach, spleen and bladder.Secondly, how clean is your environment? Clients often come to me to treat their allergies however, if your home and office need a good seasonal cleaning allergy treatments only will work for a short time ? even if your problem is food centered.Many foods contain natural molds, for example bananas, grapes, and most other fruits. Or their own dust such as anything than can made into a 'flour' like wheat, corn, potatoes, and more. So keep your home and office as clean as possible. The accumulation of dust and mold in your office or home and on foods can actually "create" allergy intolerance. Here are a few tips:Detox your home and office. Use Organic products found at the local health food market.Dust using a damp cloth. Safe organic dusting products keep your environment toxin freeUse machine washable curtains and clean regularly. Natural laundry soap is bestDon't store things under the bed. Dust or vacuum under beds weekly.Do not allow stuffed animals in the bedroom ? inside materials often contain sawdust.Remove dust catchers like pennants, pictures, trophies, books, models and dried or silk flowers from bedroomUse an air filter and clean filters regularlyVacuum furniture and carpet regularly. Use a newer vacuum that doesn't use bags and comes equipped with a self-cleaning air filter system so dust doesn't go into the air.Limit birds, animals or reptiles in the house.Bath your household animals often. This means every 7 to 14 days.If you have a pet allergy do not sleep with your pet. Provide them with their own bed right outside your bedroom door for both your comfort.Don't groom animals in the house.For more information on allergies and treatments please read the full article: How to Stop Your Allergies in 7 Easy Steps in our website archives.The Wealth Connection ? 2 Steps to Brighten Your Golden Years
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutesEnvision your life 10 or even 20 years from now. Where do you plan to be? What are you doing and with whom?Most of us between the age of 35 and 50 years hope to be retired to some degree in 15 to 20 years or less. We see ourselves living on retirement funds enjoying life and family. I have never had a client tell me they see themselves penniless or sick. Yet, these same clients fail to have a full plan.They may have a retirement fund at work and other investments but how are these performing? Did you plan a financial foundation? What does your Wellness Investment program look like?Many people tell me they don't have a financial foundation program or Wellness Investment program in place. Regardless of age and health it is never too late to start planning. It is better than no plan at all. In this article I will give you 2 of the 21 most important Wealth Connection Steps I offer in my online course.Ask yourself, how does wealth connect to your health? Does it at all? Today most people would agree that finances play a part in how we feel. Lacking funds can add stress to one's life and play a major part in your health. Ill-health can rapidly eat away at savings if you do not have a wellness plan other than health insurance.In fact, I advise you rethink health insurance. What I mean by this is that it is what it says it is. Health insurance is for ill-health issues. Only a few "health insurance" programs are wellness insurance.Health insurance also dictates the kind of care you can receive. Wellness insurance on the other hand is still an emerging system. A few companies do offer these types of plans and we do not endorse any insurance company as my job is to educate you a bit and you must look at what is right for your specific needs.The wellness insurance programs I have seen work like this. The self employed or business can purchase these programs. They have major medical benefits for hospital and sometimes prescription drugs. They also have a "fund" where part of your premium goes that earns interest. That's right interest. You can use this money for any type of care you desire including alternative medicine of your choice. Any funds you don't use in a given year stays in your personal account earning interest year after year. At a certain age you can take this money out and use it. I have seen accounts that reach 30k and more. Why buy health insurance you do not use?Step One
Look into Wellness Insurance programs. Only purchase from a known insurance company. One whose name you have heard of in the past that offers regular polices as well. It is buyers beware market so do your research.Step Two
What amount do you personally put into your saving account each week? Most people say I have it drawn from my paycheck. This is not what I mean. Think about how much you spend each day on simple things like coffee or food. Can you spare $5.00 per week? I have only met one person who said they couldn't even save this much. Six months later this person who didn't become a client phoned me and said they had been doing it and it really worked. Here's the plan short and sweet ? I go into more detail in my online program. Contact my office for more details of how to receive a free 7-part on line e-course.Each week whether you have your paycheck direct deposited or not; have as much as you can afford withdrawn from your account and placed in a savings plan at an investment firm like Charles Schwab. Use who you wish and make sure they have an automatic withdrawal program and that the funds go into a savings program.Every quarter double the amount you are putting in. If you find you really aren't missing this money from your daily life; double it every month. Don't be surprised if you start looking forward to saving and adding more to how much you 'put away' each week.Once this account is equal to 6 months income we move this money into a different type of account I go into future foundation steps in the online program. But we keep putting funds into the savings.What happens is we have at the base a 6 to 9 month savings account earning a bit better than a bank savings account. Next level is a certain type of money market with the same amount of funds earning a slightly higher interest rate, and so on up through Our Wealth Mastery program.Point in fact, recently "Today on MSN" offered a glance at the habit of millionaires. Simple foundational planning won hands down.Bonus Tip
Invest in your wellness. Visit an alternative doctor like a NCCAOM licensed acupuncturist. This ensures you are seeing someone who has completed an accredited program at an Oriental Medical College. Many acupuncturists are licensed through medical doctor or chiropractic programs. These programs lack in training and number of hours to meet. Make sure your practitioner is an active member of The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Even if you love your doctor, choose a NCCAOM acupuncturist for this job ? after all would you take your child to a gynecologist just because they deliver babies?Or if you own a Porsche would you take it to a Honda dealership just because you also own a Honda. No, we take our loved ones and possessions to the experts. Do the same with your health.Why do I suggest an acupuncturist? They are trained in wellness care and health care. Oriental Medicine practitioners know how to work with all types of illness and keep you well. Plan ahead even if you feel great get an evaluation now and follow a wellness program so that you continue to feel great into your golden years.A wellness program may simply mean visiting your acupuncturist and massage therapist one time each month. Add up the dollars you save by not getting sick.
Invest this savings in your financial foundation.If you have health issues, think how you will be in 10 years from now if you keep ignoring and minimizing your health, using drugs or having surgery without exploring other options. Acupuncture is virtually painless and offers greater relaxation than even massage.Dr. Debra Novotny L.Ac, D. Hom; ND
www.alternativehealthmentor.com
Does Your Dog Have Allergies?
Does Your Dog Have Allergies?
Many people don't realize that their dogs, just like human
beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty
percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from
one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being
the most common form of allergies in dogs. Other types
include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant
allergies.Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often
marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin
(most common in skin allergies), coughing, sneezing,
wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common in inhalant
allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea
(common to food allergies and other ailments.)Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog
allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply
store, but care should be taken when choosing such
treatments. Consultation with a vet is the best first course
of action for several reasons. First of all, what you think
is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more
serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine
whether that is the case. Secondly, if the allergy is severe
enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to
treat the symptoms and a prescription strength treatment may
be required. There is also the chance that the dog does not
have an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is
medicate your pet unnecessarily.If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult
your vet. The doctor will be able to perform tests to
determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe
it is, and what the proper treatment will be. If the dog has
an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to
restrict the animal's diet to eliminate those items that
cause a reaction. The vet's testing methods can help to
determine whether this type of allergy exists as well. If
the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to
the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves),
an extreme flea prevention regimen will be recommended.Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies
can live comfortably with them if they are detected and
treated properly. It is important to keep in mind that this
is not a time to "play doctor" by attempting to diagnose and
treat a possible allergic condition yourself. Only your
veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is
suffering from allergies and what course of action to take.This article may be published in it's entirety provided an
active (clickable) link to
http://DogBlog.thynke.com
is included along with the "About the Author" resource box.Mike Nalbone is the publisher of The Dog Blog at:
http://DogBlog.thynke.com