Preventing Allergies

Preventing Allergies

      Now is the time to get ready for allergy season. For people who suffer from Spring allergies, it would be advisable to get the Chinese herbal formula Jade Screen and start taking it now. Most health food stores carry the Plum Flower brand. It builds up the immune system. Taking it 2-3 times a day and should help alleviate allergies in the spring. For allergy season itself there is another formula, Clean Air, also by Plum Flower. If these formulas are not available at the health food store, check with the Acupuncturists in your area. They should carry it, or be able to tell where to get it

      In the mean time, cut way back or eliminate foods that cause mucous and phlegm, and impair the immune system, like dairy, sugar, wheat, corn, and alcohol. Not always easy things to cut down on, but it makes a huge difference for allergies. Foods like these that are difficult to digest cause the immune system, specifically the white blood cells, to jump in to digest the food. If white blood cells are working on digestion, they can't do their job. Sugar, for example, depletes the immune system for 4-6 hours. Alcohol is a concentrated form of sugar. Anything high on the Glycemic Index is difficult to digest and therefore impairs the immune system, which therefore contributes to or causes allergies. 

      In cases of sweet, or junk food cravings, it is an indication of Candida, in which case it is also necessary to address Heavy Metals, including detoxing each day if teeth have any metal fillings. 

     Eating organic protein, preferably protein on the neutral or highly beneficial list for one's blood type (Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter D'Adamo) and a wide range of many colors and textures of vegetables 3 times a day, (yes, vegetables for breakfast), builds up the body, the immune system, and helps normal detoxification, so you don't have to detox through a swollen, runny nose.   

      All this sounds like a lot to have to do, but until learning and applying all this my allergies were so horrific that my eyes would swell shut. I got so tired of being miserable that allergies became one of my specialities, when I learned the tools to stop them. When eating anything I have advised avoiding during allergy season, which is inevitable, check and see how you feel the next day, which is usually when the problems show up.

      Acupuncture is another way to build the immune system, and if the suggestions here aren't enough it is time to get in to an Acupuncturist, or Naturopath who can check the function of digestion, the gallbladder (its ability to break down fats and phlegm), the body's drainage/ detox systems (the liver, spleen, kidneys and lymph), the thyroid, and hormones. All of these contribute to the bodies ability to deal with external pathogens like pollen.

     Allergies are not something people have to suffer with, given the right tools.

                                          Health & Happiness,

                                                 Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                       534 Washington St.   Ashland, OR  97520

                                                                    For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134