Herbal Allergy Relief

Question: I need help on homemade allergy relief! The medicines I am using do not work such as Clarritin etc? - Herbal - Homemade - Anything!

Answer: Our indoor environmental issues have been proven to be getting worse each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now realized this fact, has replaced their previous #1 concern "outdoor air quality" with the new #1 concern "indoor air quality" and has created a new website to educate the public (visit: http://www.noattacks.org). Here are the 3 things people need to learn about allergies. Medicate, medicate, medicate is what everyone believes will answer your problem. WRONG! The true beneficiaries of this solution are ONLY the allergy and immunology centers, general practitioners, immunologists, and Big Pharma companies who rake in $billions each year on OTC and prescribed meds. The general public needs to realize that pharmcotherapy and immunotherapy are the LAST resorts, not first! The 3 things people need to learn: 1). Educate themselves on the causes of allergies 2). Source Control, remove allergens from the environment 3). Ventilation, increase indoor ventilation to lower allergens Education: The reason why so many persons are suffering from allergies (54.3% of the population tested positive for at least 1 of 10 common allergens according to a national health institution) is due to the increase of indoor air pollutants since 1980. Why 1980? The energy crisis of the 70's caused the government to mandate better construction methods requiring more insulation and more "air-tight" structures. It helped stymie energy usage but the downside, which has not been realized until just very recently, is that indoor air pollutants have accumulated year after year, in all of our buildings; i.e., schools, work places, and homes. Source Control: Identifying the source (dust in most cases) is the primary cause of allergies, second only to pollen. Pollen #1 outdoors - Dust #1 indoors. And indoors, the dust mite has been proven to be responsible for 80% to 90% of the ALLERGENIC composition of household dust. Dust mites live, thrive, and breed by the millions in the micro-habitat that humans provide while sleeping under the covers in their cozy little beds. And these millions of dust mites poop 20-30 times per day. The fecal pellets (15 microns in size) dry up, turn into a powder then disintegrate into even smaller particles, which become airborne every time you fluff your pillow or toss and turn in bed (average 50 to 60 times per night). These particles which contain a harmful protein that kills living tissue is called guanine (think guano, as in bat guano) become airborne and you inhale them. Once in your lungs, the protein attaches itself to the healthy cells lining your lungs and suffocates them. As the Europeans have discovered over the past 12 to 15 years, sleeping on hygienic mattresses has reduced and continues to reduce the amount of money spent on allergy medications by the $BILLIONS. Many people are sensitive to VOC's within a home and this can be addressed by using special paints, stains, sealers, and cleaning products for both home and personal hygiene use. Work and school sites need to implement better source control and ventilation...YOU must remember this. While sleeping in your own bed, this is precisely the time that your body is going through "recuperative mending" including rebuilding your immune system, so that you can better ward off the effects of indoor pollutants at school and work. Ventilation: Allowing you living habitat to naturally ventilate will reduce the indoor contaminants (indoor air quality is 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality, and in some cases, 100 to 500 worse is not unheard of). Of couse, when your local weather forecaster tells you that the mold and ragweed count is "high" you do not want to open your windows especially in the mornings when the "counts" are at highest of the day. We vacuum our carpets fairly often, once per week, maybe every other week. We have our carpets professionally cleaned once a year, maybe more. Dust mites are found in carpeting but at only a fraction of the number that are found in mattresses. So when was the last time your mattress and pillows, items you have intimate contact with 8 hours each day, were cleaned? You could probably improve you health overnight by sleeping on the floor... Here's some more free info: "76 Tips to Reduce Dust Mites and Indoor Allergens" http://www.sterilmattress.com/ebook_dust...

Question: ♥ What are some all-natural alternatives that help with insomnia, pain relief ... ? I'm looking for some homeopathic all-natural herbal or organic remedies to help with: 1) Pain alleviation. 2) Insomnia. To start anyways. Recommendations other than scripts/OTC drugs would be appreciated. (I do not like to take scripts unless absolutely necessary as most times they are narcotics, and i do not like putting those things into my body.) A physical building up of a tolerance for certain medications (even OTCs) can precipitate a loss of effectiveness, hence the physical need to ingest a larger dosage which can result in either a chemical dependency or damage to liver/kidneys and other organs. This is less likely with natural or homeopathic remedies. Also, I am Vegetarian and ADHD so i only eat all-natural, organic or kosher foods. Nothing with artificial dyes and preservatives as i have a food allergies and i cannot eat them. So suggestions must fit this criteria also. Thanks if you can suggest anything. xoxo ♥ oh! almost forgot: For insomnia: Recommendations Other than Supplemental Melatonin. It does not work effectively. 5mg tablets x ? Most dosages are at 20+mg and after a certain point can induce coma, especially if mixed with antihistamines such as doxylamine, diphenhydramine, or common non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic agents such as eszopiclone or zolpidem. Thanks! *edit* Minx: As always, this was helpful. What can i substitute for fish oils? (I don't remember?!) I do not eat fish and therefore will not take a supplement. *ick* I tried it once before .... *ack!* I only drink soda on a very rare occasion, for an extra sugar boost. My poison is coffee LOL. This actually dehydrates, and for every 6-8oz cup an 8-oz bottle of water is required to rehydrate the body. It's a diuretic also, i believe. You'll be pleased to know: I've been weening myself off of the caffeine, slowly. [ahh the headaches! lol] It's a process. BTW, did you know, that one apple in the morning will provide you with MORE energy than a cup of coffee? It's true. Anyhow, thanks.

Answer: Ohhh sweet little Bean ..... ima sorry you're in pain luv ....... i want to wrap you in cotton wool mate and make it all better ........ true story you know. You nailed it in one mate ...... OTC's simply serve to bandaid the problem .... if you're lucky........ and never do solve the problem from the source............ Let Food Be Thy Medicine ..... Soccrates, cool guy you know. Pain alleviation?? Are you referring to achy bones and headaches and migraines?? Insomnia, headaches and migraines, digestive troubles and constipation, bloating and cramping, achy bones and moodiness, terrible mood swings and irritability are all symptoms of calcium deficiency. For calcium to be effectively absorbed it is essential for the human body to have sufficient supplies of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) ..... calcium works best with magnesium, phosphorus, iron vitamins A, C, D...... and leafy and green vegies are rich in all except vitamin D. Eat more foods rich in calcium such as ~ leafy and green vegies... think broccolli, kale, chard, celery buk choy collard greens .... you know the drill luv....... lightly steamed or raw cos cooking devitalises them ....... organic almonds and sunflower seeds and walnuts, brazil nuts, dried beans . Take a fish liver oil supplement (a rich source of vitamin D) ........ cod liver oil is a good choice .... get advice from your local health food store as vitamins are NoT all the same ...... quality wise some vitamins are literally bed pan bullets .... Pharmaceutical Grade is the best quality and the easiest for your body to assimilate ..... being vegetarian you really do need to either focus on 10 - 15 mins daily of safe sun exposure or take a supplement ...... the richest sources of vitamin D are fish liver oils, sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, milk and dairy products ....... clearly, only the milk and dairy is suitable for you ...... and i'd rather chew off my left arm than recommend you pump up your intake of milk and dairy ...... given the levels of antibiotics the poor animals are fed and the extent to which the products have been processed and refined these days .......... that is of course unless it's the raw organic variety and that you aren't lactose intolerant. Carbonated drinks ie ~ sodas and soft drinks ..... actually anything carbonated and antacids such as Mylanta, and also caffeine will rob you of your precious calcium supplies ... With carbonated drinks they leach the calcium from your bones because they disrupt the precious calcium phosphorus balance and your body simply rips the calcium straight from your bones in an effort to regain the balance ...... and caffeine inhibits calciums absorption......... caffeine hey ...... that wonderfull liquid gold will wash out all your B complex of vitamins which are so esential for healthy neural, immune and digestive functioning........ wash your vitamin C supplies which are so essential for collagen production and protein synthesis, immunity and iron absorption et al....... caffeine also increases the acidity in your gi tract and will make your body more acid ....... as opposed to healthy vibrant and alkaline..... oooooooh, sorry, i'm babbling again. Avoid caffeine for a few hours before bedtime too...... but you know all that. Aim for 2 - 3 cups daily ....... i have 2 in the morning and that's it for the rest of the day .......... unless of course it's been a really brain frizzlling day ..... then i might have one more. Calcium is needed in our bodies to maintain strong bones and healthy teeth, to keep your heart beating regularly, help metabolize your body's iron and aiding your nervous system with impulse transmissions. Do you also suffer from fatigue and exhaustion, dizzy spells, excessive feelings of being cold, nasty headaches, paleness of skin??? If so, these are all symptoms of iron deficiency anemia ...... without calcium your iron absorption will be inhibited........ pump up your leafy green vegies mate ..... the calcium, magnesium vitamin C, phosphorus, vitamin A, B vitamins and iron too in green vegies are second to none...... give you more clarity and peace of mind....... more sanity and sleeeeeep...... i know it's a hassle cos i gots to do it too mate ........... 2 bowls full daily ..... if i miss a day of my vegies, cos i'm lactose intolerant (amongst others too boring to mention) i get my calcium from my green vegies and rice milk fortified with calcium and almond milk ........ if i miss a day of vegies i start losing sleep, getting headaches, sore bones blahblahblah. Pump up you fresh filtered water intake too as the healthiest and happiest body will always be the most hydrated one. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and Vitamin B3 (Niacin) work together to produce the brain chemical serotonin, which is essential for restful REM sleep, so take a multi B complex supplement that includes all the B's at least 4 hours before bedtime, ie ~ B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12...... if you take them any later you tend to get a restless bad dream sleep .... take them with food when you get up in the morning ..... do not buy any of the B complex of vitamins individually unless under instructions from a qualified practitioner or naturopath as the B complex all work best as a group. ~ pump up your green vegies ~ take a fish liver oil supplement ~ take a good quality B complex ...... Blackmores does a good one ~ slowly wean back on caffeine and don't drink it within 3 or 4 hours of going to bed ~ slowly wean back on sodas and pop if you drink any at all ~ be especially particularly extraordinarily nice to wonderfull fabulous spectacular you♥ Naturally resolving the problem will always be the best way .... and i hope i haven't bored the living pants off ya babe but you know how much i luv ya. ♥ They actually say for each 8oz of coffee you need to replace it with 16 oz of water !!! baaaah, that's why i drink 4 or 5 litres of water daily ........ 1 litre gets ditched on replacing the water the caffeine has eliminated ..... yes it is a natural diuretic ........... oh, and will also inhibit iron absorption so if you're having coffee buddy don't eat for a few hours .... as far as the fish oils go mate you could try drinking vitamin D fortified organic milk or the yolks of eggs are rich in vitamin D ...... do you eat eggs?? bonemeal they say is rich in vitamin D but they no longer recommend it because of its possible high lead content ..... you could always check with the manufacturer for an analysis........... go to your local healthfood store and grill them ..... they don't charge for off the cuff advice and are more than happy to share their knowledge ...... sorry i can't be more usefull. ♥ i am soooo proud of ya luv ...... just promise me to take it slowly ....... Rome wasn't built in one day you know..... baby steps will move mountains hey. Ohhhh yes sweet sweet fruit ............ i always start my day with fruit babes ....... a few hours after early morning coffee comes fruit ....... watermelon, grapes, strawberries, cantalope..... yuuuuummy ...... and yes, way more energy and zest in it mate. Sweet DReams peace baby ♥

Question: Cat bites his skin...please help!? I feel like we have exhausted all options, including vet bills!! my cat is a 6-7year old male he continuously bites himself, all over his skin, whereever he can physically reach. He will literally pull the fur right out of his skin. He soemtimes even draws blood. He is left with patches of rough, scaly, dry skin in certain areas of his body. It seems as if something is causing him pain, and its frusterating that we cannot figure out what it is. We have taken him to vets which say numerous things such as: he has allergies which we are doughting only because it is all the time, or stress related. Although it cannot be stress related because he has done it for the majority of his life-all the time. For a temporary treatment we have bought a light sweater for him to wear so he cannot access the areas which are affected. this works for the most part, but if infact he is in pain we would still like to figure out why, and how we can help. Even with the sweater he soemtimes takes it off when we are not around and when we find him (often in the morning) he is covered in wet patches (from biting) and sore red areas. The areas which he bites are not central in one area. Although mostly on his back, his legs, and his tail. We have even tried a stress relief herbal medicine. any input would be great!!! we would really like to figure this out. Thanks alot We did look into allergy testing, but it was quite expensive..the food is something which a pet store owner also recommended and we soon will try this option, one that lacks all the additives that normal cat food has. We had him on steroid injections for quite awhile, we found that they were only helping a small amount and found out the shots lead to diabetes if they are taken long term, so we stopped that (he still was biting with the shots anyways). He is also an indoor cat, and he is given flea treatment every 6 months, i have never been able to see any on him. On his skin though he does seem to have what almost look like feckles in the areas which he bites??i dont know if this might be related or not, or if they are just small scabs..thanks for your answer though it was very helpful!! :)

Answer: My first guess would be a food allergy and I would try changing his food first. You should know fairly quickly whether this is the case or not. Personally, I would suggest a raw diet, or canned with no grains, and no dry food. Actually, even if it turns out to not be a food allergy it is a better diet for kitty anyway. My second guess would be a flea allergy. Even if you don't see fleas it only takes one, and even an indoor cat can get a flea now and then. Try using the flea medication more often, and I recommend Revolution. After the allergies, I would guess that he has an obsessive compulsive disorder. This is not too common but it does occur more than most people realize, and I'm surprised your vet did not think of this. People can laugh and/or scoff, but Prozac is used successfully for treating cats (and dogs) with any number of behaviorl/psychological issues including OCDs, it is quite safe, and not expensive although you may have to have some blood work done initially, and occasionally thereafter. A friend's sister has a cat that was biting itself raw, similar to what you have described, and stopped doing so right after it was put on Prozac. The cat actually was "cured" after it was on Prozac for approximately a year, and no longer needed the Prozac. I recommend finding a "cats only" vet and talking to the vet before you take the cat in so you don't waste more money.

Herbal Allergy Relief

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