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Let's Talk About....
Allergies
Do you have itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, nasal congestion, wheezing, or a rash? Seasonal allergies result from allergens such as chemica ls, glutens (in processed foods), mown grass, blooming plants, pet dander, weeds, pollen, and molds. If you have an under-stimulated or nutrient deficient system you are more likely to fall prey to seasonal allergies.
Allergies are an abnormal response of the immune system. We must hydrate, and nourish ourselves with foods that are anti-inflammatory and immune boosting.
"Dehydration causes a  histamine effect in the body," Julie Johnson, NTP says. "And if we can sleep at night, our 'Repair Hormone' (aka HCG) can come out, which is only released during REM sleep,"
Eating well is the key to ridding your body of allergies or avoiding them all together. Organic food that has not been sprayed, and is grown from quality organic seeds will benefit you and not create an allergic reaction. Food allergies cost the U.S. nearly $25 billion annually. Once your body is given to histamine reactions it will be more susceptible during growing and blooming seasons such as spring and fall.
"All disease begins in the gut" - Hippocrates
As Hippocrates said, it all stems from the health of ones digestive system. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a simple term for holes in our intestines that are abnormal from its natural permeability. We want nutrients to pass from intestines to our blood stream but not in a whole form. The fallout results in larger, undigested food molecules and other unwanted stuff (yeast, toxins, and all other forms of waste) to flow freely into your bloodstream.
First, the liver kicks in to try to screen out all the particles that your intestinal lining is supposed to be taking care of. Then the immune system starts to fight off the invaders. When this happens the lesser issues are ignored resulting in autoimmune issues springing up such as chronic fatigue, MS, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, and histamine reactions.
Suggested treatments:
Neti-Pot - Flush out your sinuses with an organic (non-iodized) salt solution to help wash away allergens and irritants. To do it, fill your Neti-Pot partway with warm water (preferably distilled or filtered) and a teaspoon or less (you will discover how much is comfortable for you) of the salt. When it is diluted, tilt your head forward over the sink while you pour the solution in one nostril and let it drain out the other.
Nasal (Nasya) Oil - A cured sesame oil-based oil can be used to decongest, protect, soothe, and lubricate nasal passages. Use especially after a Neti-Pot treatment. Put a little drop on a finger and gently massage the oil into the inside of your nose.
Bee Pollen and Honey - Locally produced honey, which contains pollen spores picked up by the bees from local plants, introduces a small amount of allergen into your system. Your immune system will then activate against it and over time can build up your natural immunity against it.
Quercetin- This substance, which is found in the skin of onions and apples, is a natural antihistamine. You can take it by itself (300 mg 3 times a day during peak allergy season without food), or in a combination product with nettles and bromelain (from pineapple; also beneficial for allergies).
Teas - Stinging Nettle can taken in tea form or in capsules. For tea pour boiling water over the tea bag and cover the cup for 15 minutes to let the oils seep in before drinking.
Roobois tea is also a great immune booster. It's loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties.
Probiotics - You may associate probiotics-a.k.a. "good" bacteria, with digestion, but they also play a role in keeping your immune system well balanced. You'll want lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, bifidobacterium lactis and acidophilus.
Homeopathic Treatments - Euphrasia, which is especially good for burning, itchy eyes; and Allium cepa, which is good for a drippy nose. You can also take these together. Homeopathics require you to use them frequently through the day for optimal benefits.
Enzymes - The enzyme Amylase, which helps break down carbohydrates, is a natural histamine blocker, which stabilizes mast cells and basophils that release histamine at the start of an inflammatory response.
Other - Vitamin C, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, MSM, pancreatic enzymes, alpha lipoic acid, glucosamine, grapeseed extract, and NAC.
List of antihistamine foods: Chamomile, wild oregano, rue, basil, echinacea, fennel, fig, ginkgo, grapefruit, passionflower, tarragon, turmeric, skullcap, thyme and yarrow, papaya, amaranth seeds, ginger, grapes, blueberries.
Air Purifier - Using a purifier with an HEPA filter-especially in the bedroom-is the best way to remove spores and pollen from the air.
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Julie Johnson hosts a radio show on the Wood River Valley's only community radio station, KDPI 89.3 FM. Her weekly show, Our Health Culture, can be heard live on 89.3 FM or streamed live at
A leading expert on native spirituality and shamanism, the late Angeles Arrien, reveals the four archetypal principles of the Native American medicine wheel and how they can lead us to a higher spirituality and a better world. She lectured and conducted workshops worldwide, bridging cultural anthropology, psychology, and comparative religions. Her work is currently used in medical, academic, and corporate environments. She was the president of the Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research. Her books have been translated into 13 languages and she received three honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of her work.
Undercover exposes on the food industry are nothing new. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, an exposé of Chicago's meat packing industry, led to the passage of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The Food Safety Modernization Act in 2010 followed on the heels of other works such as Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemna, and