Five Natural Remedies For Nasal Allergies
Breathing is basic to life, and allergies are an awful intrusion on the easy, regular, deep breathing we all need to stay active and healthy. Fortunately, there are many ways to breathe easier despite nasal allergies without expensive, sedating allergy drugs. Here are my top 5:
1. Use steroid nasal sprays sparingly if at all. Yes, they really work, but the have serious side effects.
Beconase AQ (beclomethasone), Flonase (fluticasone), Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone), Nasarel (flunisolie), Nasonex (mometasone), and Rhinocort Aqua (budesonide) supposedly offer the benefits of steroids for controlling allergies without the risks, namely, high blood pressure, stunted growth in children, osteoporosis in older adults, and a very long list of other potential complications.
The problem with these nose sprays is, other than the fact that they are very expensive, is that in rare instances they can cause nasal perforation (a whole between the nostrils), and more commonly they induce the very burning, irritation, sore throat, headache, nosebleed, and dry sinuses they are supposed to prevent.
2. Get your antihistamines from foods rather than the pharmacy.
Instead of pharmaceutical antihistamines like Benadryl (diphyenhydramine), Dimetapp and Dimetane (brompheniramine), Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine), Allegra (frexofenadine), Clarniex (desloratadine), or Zyrtec (certirizine), consider their natural alternatives.
Quercitin, a plant compound you can get from grapefruit or from eating an apple with the peel, is chemically similar to NasalCrom (cromolyn sodium); in fact, the active ingredient in NasalCrom was first found in bishop’s weed, an herb that is rich in quercitin. British studies have found that eating just one apple a week lowers the frequency of allergies.
You can also get some allergy relief from vitamin C, but it wears off quickly. It’s better to get 3-4 doses of 500 mg or even less throughout the day than to get one dose of 1,000-2,000 mg all at once.
3. Stop nasal allergies at their source.
If you got poison ivy every week, would it make sense to get a six months prescription for prednisone or maybe to stay out of the poison ivy? The same principle applies to ongoing nasal allergies at home. It doesn’t make sense to take medication constantly if you can stop allergies at their source. HEPA filters can remove mold and dust mites and nearly all pollen and cat dander. Even better, combine a HEPA filter with a dehumidifier. The combination greatly reduces mold spore counts.
4. And if you can’t afford to stop allergies at the source with an expensive HEPA filter, try an inexpensive HEPA filter.
The drawback to HEPA filtration is that you probably can’t install it yourself, and it’s expensive. Your next best method for cleaning the air you breathe indoors is an electronic air filter. You don’t need an ozone generator, because ozone is damaging to the lungs. And if you can’t afford either a HEPA filter or an electronic air cleaner, consider a do-it-yourself air filter such as 3M’s Filtrete for around $25 US. You can fit these into your existing air return system in place of any old-fashioned filter that may now be in use.
5. Don’t just clean your air, clean your floors (and especially your carpets).
Cleaning the air is only half the battle. You also need to clean your floors with a vacuum cleaner. What you want to avoid in choosing your vacuum cleaner is getting that sucks up dust through one end and sends out in the exhaust through the other. Vacuums with their own, smaller HEPA filters are much more expensive but go a long way toward cleaning up the air in your home.
Sweet Dreams: The Benefits of Organic Bedding & Mattresses
Toxins are everywhere. They are in our food, floating around in the air we breathe and even in our homes. There’s really no escaping these toxins, unless of course you quarantine yourself in some sort of plastic bubble. While contact with toxins is just something we’re all going to have to deal with, by taking certain precautions, you can reduce your contact and live a healthier existence. Natural and organic mattresses for instance are the perfect place to start, given how many hours a year we spend sleeping. Here are some helpful things to consider when shopping for a new organic mattress.
What Is an Organic/Natural Mattress?
- Wool: Natural wool typically comes from sheep that are reared in a chemical-free environment. Wool naturally absorbs moisture and releases it back through the evaporation process. Sleeping on an organic wool mattress therefore is super comfortable and dry. Normal mattresses do not absorb moisture or dissipate body heat which often causes users to awake in a sweat and generally uncomfortable feeling. Wool also naturally discourages dust mites, a common allergen and general irritant. Additionally, because of its high moisture content and the keratin protein it contains, it’s naturally flame-resistant.
- Organic Cotton: Purchasing a mattress made with certified organic cotton is another option for you to consider. Certified organic cotton comes from a grower/processor that has met certain organic standards and uses natural & non-chemical agricultural methods set out by various nationally recognized certifying organizations. Organic cotton is naturally hypoallergenic and super soft to the touch. A certain amount of moisture is absorbed by organic materials, including cotton so you get a dryer night’s sleep.
- Natural Rubber/Foam: Contrary to what you might think, natural rubber and foam is indeed organic and safe. Typically, rubber latex used in mattresses and pillows is harvested from rubber-tree farms. Natural rubber requires minimal fossil-fuel energy to change the sap into a safe and usable product, not to mention its 100 percent biodegradable! The process by which the rubber is harvested is also non-destructive and very similar to the method Maple sap is harvested. Natural latex is also incredibly breathable and hypoallergenic. A natural rubber/foam mattress also provides you with ample back and spinal support while sleeping.
Organic mattresses (also known as “natural” mattresses), like other certified organic products, are chemical-free. Standard mattresses are typically made from petroleum-based chemicals including polyester, polyurethane, synthetic latex, nylon and other man-made materials. Even the cotton used in standard mattresses is chemically-treated with pesticides, flame retardants and other non-organic substances and chemicals. Most organic mattresses on the market today are made from one of three materials – wool, organic cotton or natural rubber/foam. Here’s a little information about each material.
Healthy Top-of-the-Bed Alternatives
When it comes to your top-of-bed display (i.e. – sheets, duvet/comforter, pillows, etc.) what natural options do you have? You’ll be happy to learn that many bedding manufacturers use certified organic cotton fibers in the manufacture of their sheets and comforters. The organic cotton used in the bedding has the same hypoallergenic and comfortable qualities found in the cotton mattresses. Bamboo is another material making itself prominent in the world of bedding. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial, not to mention dust-mite resistant. Bamboo sheets also wick away moisture, keeping the consumer nice and dry. Natural foam mattress toppers and pillows are also ideal for consumers looking for that extra bit of security and supreme comfort.
When it comes to a good night’s sleep, you have plenty of healthy, natural and organic options to consider. While many natural and organic products are a bit more expensive than their standard counterparts, for those of you who are more concerned about environmental toxins, it’s a small price to pay. Rest assured you’ll be sleeping more safely and soundly.
Natural Remedies For Conjunctivitis
Natural remedies for conjunctivitis are simple and inexpensive. Consider these basic measures for keeping stopping the spread of conjunctivitis:
* Keep hands away from the eyes, and always wash hands before and after touching infected eyes.
* Sterilize contact lenses.
* Change pillowcases every other day.
* Do not share eyeliners or other eye cosmetics, and replace eye cosmetics every 2-3 months.
* Do not share handkerchiefs, washcloths, or towels.
Effective treatment of conjunctivitis can be as simple as finding a clean washcloth and some warm (not hot) water. Simply soak a clean washcloth in warm, clean water, close eyes, and apply the cloth to the eyelids. The moist heat of the cloth creates a “fever” that slows the growth the viruses that cause conjunctivitis.
Certain commonly available, inexpensive supplements also help. Consider taking:
* Vitamin A: Up to 5,000 IU a day. (Do not take vitamin A if you know you are pregnant.)
* Vitamin C: 500 mg one to four times a day.
* Vitamin E: 400 IU a day for up to two months (mixed tocopherols are better), and
* Zinc picolinate: up to 30 mg a day.
Goldenseal and Oregon grape root capsules, taken as directed on the label, may also be helpful.
In the early 1970’s, German researchers found that people who have conjunctivitis also tend to be vitamin A-deficient. This does not prove that taking supplemental vitamin A will necessarily cure conjunctivitis, but since vitamin A is involved in the health of membranes throughout the body, it seems reasonable that this very inexpensive supplement may help. It is not necessary to take more than 5,000 IU a day.
Vitamin C influences the growth of collagen, the “glue” holding the connective tissues protecting the eye in place. As little as 500 mg a day may be beneficial, and up to 2,000 mg a day may help.
Zinc is an important cofactor for vitamin A. When there is a zinc deficiency, the immune system does not produce as many white blood cells to fight infection, and the “clean-up” of damaged tissues in the conjunctiva of the eye is slowed.
A dosage of 30 mg a day should be enough to reverse any deficiency, and you do not have to take zinc supplements indefinitely. Anytime a zinc “pill” begins to taste bad, stop taking it. This is a signal your body has accumulated enough zinc to overcome deficiency. If zinc pills are tasteless, your body may be zinc-deficient.
Herbal compresses may or may not kill germs, but they do feel good. Potentially useful herbs include the well-known eyebright, calendula, barberry, chamomile, goldenseal, and Oregon grape root. Just remember that you prepare the herbs in boiling water to make the compress, sterilizing it, but you let the compress cool down before applying it to closed eyes. Sterile herbal eyedrops, most of them containing eyebright, are also available.
Meta Meditation – Self Love
I was listening to Dr. Melissa West’s MP3 discussion on Meta Meditation and Loving Kindness. It’s full of common sense. Yet most of us forget to think of ourselves, family and friends always seem to come first.
The following short list seems so simple – yet so difficult as well. Loving Kindness from yourself is attainable and if you can attain it yourself, you don’t have to rely on others for it. Dr. West discusses how to do this by simply starting to repeat these 4 simple lines to yourself, over and over. And smile!
1. May I be free from inner and outer harm.
2. May I be happy and peaceful.
3. May I be healthy and strong.
4. May I be able to care for myself joyfully.
When you do meta meditation, you first focus on yourself. The second person you share loving kindness with is a respected person. Someone who you look up to, who has helped you in life, someone you admire, or whose advice you value.
1. May you be safe from inner and outer harm.
2. May you be happy and peaceful.
3. May you be healthy and strong.
4. May you be able to look after yourself joyfully.
The next person you extend your loving kindness to is to a friend. Someone who you can easily share your loving kindess with.
1. May you be safe from inner and outer harm.
2. May you be happy and peaceful.
3. May you be healthy and strong.
4. May you be able to look after yourself joyfully.
The next person you extend loving kindness to is a neutral person. Someone you don’t know – perhaps the bank teller, the grocery store clerk, someone you rode the elevator with.
1. May you be safe from inner and outer harm.
2. May you be happy and peaceful.
3. May you be healthy and strong.
4. May you be able to look after yourself joyfully.
The next person you extend loving kindness to a hostile person. Perhaps someone you had a recent confrontation with. Someone who frustrates you.
1. May you be safe from inner and outer harm.
2. May you be happy and peaceful.
3. May you be able to look after yourself joyfully.
4. May you be able to look after yourself joyfully.
If it becomes too difficult for you to do this part, go back to yourself. Start over and fill your heart with loving kindness for yourself.
The final stage of meta meditation is to extend your loving kindness to all beings.
1. May all beings be safe from inner and outer harm.
2. May all beings be happy and peaceful.
3. May all beings be healthy and strong.
4. May all beings be able to look after yourself joyfully.
You do this daily for yourself for 5 minutes. Melissa suggests you could do yourself on Monday, a respected person Tuesday, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a formal sitting practice. You can do this while you are eating, while you walk, or perhaps while you are exercising. Perhaps you can say a line (in your head) to one or several people you pass by while you are at work or going to or from work. It’s such a simple thing to do.
Dr. Melissa West is my holistic lifestyle coach and yoga instructor. She has helped me learn relaxation and how to calm my busy schedule to something manageable and peaceful. I highly recommend her for helping you to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.
How to Have Clear Pores
Everyone wants clear, impurities-free skin. Unfortunately, not all of us were blessed to have the model- look beautiful skin that we always wanted. People are always bombarded with those various skin disorders and we are always flocking to our drugstores to buy the latest miracle cure for that naturally beautiful skin.
- Fact number one. The cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars from the public quest for great skin. They use the money to advertise and perpetuate their products. Do not be fooled by the hype.
- Fact number two. There are many factors that contribute to the clogging of pores: like dehydrated skin, improper cleansing, excessive oil production, excessive build-up of dead skin cells, hormones, excessive sweating, dirty work or play environments, genetics, makeup, fingers on the face, allergic reactions, a diet high in sugar content and many others.
- Fact number three. Most skin impurities are due to clogged pores, so the best way to have that beautiful skin is to unclog your pores.
- Avoid oil-based products such as facial lotions, wash and cosmetics. Look for products that are “non-comedogenic,” it means it will not clog your pores.
- Do not wear tight headband, baseball hat, and/or helmet when you exercise or play sports, and make sure you wash the sweat-soaked things each time you wear them.
- Keep the skin hydrated and moist so your cells can function properly. Moisturize your face with mild, non-comedogenic moisturizers to keep it hydrated. Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing.
- Cleanse your pores with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. Do not try to scrub harshly or you will strip and damage your skin. Even after rinsing your face, if you do not remove the remainder of cleanser and loosened debris residues, you are only going to imbed that debris deeper into the pores as you layer serums and moisturizers on top. The absolute best way to perform this deep pore cleansing is with an alcohol-free toner or skin conditioner on cotton balls. There’s no need to harm your skin by vigorous scrubbing or harsh acids, simply wipe with toner damp cotton balls until the last cotton comes away perfectly white.
- Astringents, Salicylic Acid, retinoic acids, and glycolic acids all work to prevent pores from clogging. Be aware of some active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, these ingredients can cause major side effects.
So there, those are ultra easy steps to eliminate or lessen your problem, start today. You CAN have clear pores. Beauty starts with your skin.
Foot Odor – Best Home Remedies
The average human foot, scientists tell us, produces about one-quarter cup (60 ml) of sweat each and every day. By the end of 12 hours of wearing tight-fitting shoes, that’s like irrigating hundreds of billions of bacteria and yeast with a good soppy splash of water to encourage them to eat, drink, reproduce, and produce smelly feet. So how can you stop them from stinking up your shoes?
Although there are home remedies to stop your feet from sweating that I’ll list in a moment, your first line of defense against foot odor is to treat your shoes, not your feet. Let them “breathe” and dry out every other day. In summer, wear sandals, as long as they are not made of “jelly-like” plastic. In winter, wear washable shoes that you can launder to cut down the number of bacteria that cause foot odor. Store shoes in mesh bags, not plastic, and don’t keep outside a gym bag or dance bag, not inside.
The second line of defense against foot odor is to treat your feet. You don’t have to start with a prescription. I’d go with foot powder first.
Sprinkle either plain old baking soda or any over-the-counter foot powder on the feet before putting on socks. The powder absorbs moisture before it can nourish bacteria.
Two other home remedies for foot odor that really work are tea and Epsom salts.
The principle behind using tea (that’s on the foot, not in your stomach) is that the tannins in tea “tan” the skin on your foot so it does not leak perspiration quite as fast. You can make a soak from 5 family-sized bags of black tea (although green tea would also work) in a quart (about a liter) of hot water.
Steep the tea for 10-15 minutes and then allow it to cool to room temperature. Pour the tea into a large flat pan and then immerse the feet for half an hour.
Do this every other day for a week and sweating should diminish. You still have to have clean shoes to avoid foot odor, but reducing perspiration also helps. The downside of using tea is that it can stain your feet brown (and the walnut hulls recommended by some herbalists will make your feet even browner). But if that’s a problem, you can use Epsom salts.
Add a handful of Epsom salts to a flat pan of warm water, and immerse feet for 30 minutes.
There’s no scientific explanation of why this should work. It just does.
But if soaking feet is not your thing, consider deodorant. Any deodorant that contains aluminum chloride will knock out pedal perspiration fast, and the limited circulation to the foot means it is far less likely to be absorbed into the body.
Spray deodorant applied to the foot may also relieve the sting of minor insect bites.
You may have heard that urinating on the feet stops foot odor. By this, I mean urinating on the feet in the shower and then rinsing the urine off before drying feet and putting socks and shoes on. There’s some scientific sense behind the method, because urea (found in urine) does kill some kinds of fungus that live on the feet. It’s not high on my list of home remedies, although it may work. Feel free to comment if you’ve tried it.
Another folk remedy for smelly feet falls under the heading of “don’t stink, take zinc.” This may work for you. Just be sure not to take more than 100 mg of zinc a day, and take a zinc formula that’s mixed with copper and other trace minerals.
Finally, as a last resort, there is always prescription medication for extremely sweaty feet. In the US, the best known medication is Drysol. Its chemical name is aluminum chloride hexahydrate, and it’s just an especially potent antideodorant. Drysol can cause foot irritation. If this happens, wash it off the feet before going to bed at night and reapply in the morning.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Will soaking my feet in black tea stain them? A. A little, which won’t be noticeable unless you have unusually fair skin. It may take 3-5 days to fade.
Q. Would green tea also relieve foot odor? A. Yes, and it’s less likely to stain.
Q. Are there any stained feet remedies? A. Is there a home remedy that takes a stain off your foot? Anything that moisturizes the skin will accelerate recovery from a stain, but anything that would take it out immediately would also injure your skin. If you are going to use a moisturizer on your feet, just make sure feet, socks, and shoes are kept extremely clean, to keep bacterial growth to a minimum.
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