NATURAL ALLERGY RELIEF

Spring has sprung and with it comes Allergy and Hay Fever symptoms for many people.  We had a greater amount of rain in the Los Angeles area this year and of course that means more plant growth and more pollen, the allergy trigger for so many.

Allergies are one of the auto-immune diseases. The immune system becomes over-activated and attacks the body.  In the case of allergies, activated immune cells form a memory of "perceived invaders" by producing antibodies to otherwise harmless pollen, trees, grasses, etc. The antibodies then trigger the release of histamines and other compounds into the blood.

This starts an inflammatory response in the respiratory tract, particularly in the nose and eyes. The veins and capillaries in the nasal/sinus area become congested, swelling occurs, profuse nasal discharges occur, the eyes become red, itchy and watery and often one feels irritable and spacey.

Over the counter and prescription drugs, anti-histamines and decongestants, dry you up, take down the swelling and reduce itching. However, this relief is then followed by what we call a boomerang effect. As the medication wears off there is a return of symptoms, often stronger than the original symptoms. In the world of alternative medicine we call this action suppressive. We've all seen the television commercials that mention higher blood pressure and a "balloon head" sensation as side effects to the drugs.

However, there are natural ways to deal with Allergies. We can bring the immune system into balance with immune modulators and homeopathy. This is especially effective because it eliminates the cause rather than just silencing the symptoms.

Below is my Allergy Protocol.

Immune modulator
Source Naturals - Mushroom Immune Defense 2 tabs 2 X day

Anti-inflammatory/Anti-histamine/Anti-oxidant
 Twinlabs - Quercitin + C 1 cap 2 X day

Anti-inflammatory
Paradise Bromelian 1-3 caps/day

Saline Spray Solution
Rinse the nose by spraying 4-8 X day
This will flush out the pollens.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep the mucus thin.

Homeopathic Constitutional Treatment- This is always the first choice of treatment.  (See my entry on The Types of Homeopathy.)  When you can't get to a homeopath, use the combination remedy below or choose one of the individual remedies described.
These can be used with the supplements above.

Boiron – Sabadil is a combination allergy remedy. It contains Allium cepa, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Histaminum hydrochloricum, Euphrasia officinalis, Sabadilia officinalis and Solidago virgurea.
Recommended use:  2 tablets in the mouth every 15 minutes for 1 hour.
Then, 2 tablets 3 times a day.

Boiron – Optique is a combination remedy for eye symptoms. It contains Cineraria maritima, Euphrasia officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Kali muriaticum, Calcarea fluorica, Magnesia carbonica and Silicea
Recommended use: 1-2 drops in each eye, 2-6 times a day

Cell Salts  (There will be a later blog entry on Cell Salts  You can use these with the combination remedy above or the individual remedies below.  There are many who believe Cell Salts are activated in water, hence the instructions for use in water.)

Ferrum phosphoricum 6 X   Used for inflammation and swelling.
Put 8 tablets in 1 liter of water.  Drink the liter during the day.

Kali muriaticum 6 X   For sticky mucus, clear to white-colored.
Put 8 tablets in 1 liter of water. Drink the liter during the day.

Natrum muriaticum 6 X   For a clear runny nose and sneezing. There can be a loss of smell and taste. The mucus is like the white of an egg. The eyes are especially sensitive to light. Symptoms are worse in the hot sun and better at the ocean. There can be cold sores around the mouth at the same time.
Put 8 tablets in 1 liter of water. Drink the liter during the day.

Individual Remedies

Allium cepa 30C
There is a temporary catarrhal (mucus) deafness and dry cough. The eyes run like a faucet with clear, non-irritating mucus. The mucus from the nose causes the nostrils to be sore. The symptoms are worse from flower pollen, worse in a warm room and worse on the left side. They are better in open air.

Arsenicum album 30C
The eyes feel dry, water and burn. The whites of the eyes may be quite red (conjunctivitis). The nose drips watery, clear mucus out the front but, at the same time can feel obstructed. The nostrils become sore. There is frequent sneezing. If the throat is sore it may burn. There is a great deal of restlessness and often the person feels fearful without cause. There may be a feeling of chilliness which is better with heat and hot liquids. Everything seems worse between 12 and 1 AM.

Euphrasia officinalis 30C
The eyes burn and feel irritated. They are very sensitive to light. There may be a need to blink constantly. There is profuse, bland (non-irritating) and watery discharge from the eyes and nose.

Gelsemium sempervirens 30C
There may be violent sneezing. The nostrils feel swollen. There is watery mucus which causes the nostrils to be sore. The throat may itch and be irritated. There is a sense of fatigue, even talking is an effort. The eyes seem to droop.

Histaminum hydrochlorum 9C
Used for allergic reactions along with other remedies.  It seems to work like an antihistamine. Read about The Law of Similars in the “What is Homeopathy?” entry.

Kali bichromium 30C
The mucus feels stuck. When it can be blown out it is sticky and ropey in appearance with a yellow-green color. There may be violent sneezing. There may be hoarseness.  If the facial bones are sore they feel better when pressure is applied.

Nux vomica 30C
There is severe sneezing and mucus in the morning on waking with irritability, impatience and a sense of being hung over. The symptoms become better as the day goes on there is a great deal of itchiness in the nose, ears and palate. At night there is no discharge and the nose is dry and itchy.

Sabadilla officinalis 30C
There is persistent, violent sneezing with great itching in the nose.  It feels like ants crawling in the nose. The eyes are red, water and burn. Hay fever is greatly aggravated by flower pollen.

Wyethia helenoide 30C
There is intense itching of the palate, nose and eyes. The throat feels hot, dry and swollen with a constant need to clear the throat.

Give a few of these products a try and let me know how it worked for you.

My next blog entry will be on "The Benefits of Drinking Water.”

WHAT IS HEALTH?

I recently gave my first year students an assignment entitled, What is Health?  I thought you would enjoy reading one of the papers.  True health is quite different than what we normally think it is.  My student, Ashleigh Brackett, did a beautiful job of defining Health.

"To accurately define health, one must go beyond its standard definition.  A complete picture of health must include much more than mere freedom from disease.  The epitome of health is achieved when the individual's body, mind and spirit are in perfect balance.  When these three elements act as one, the individual is able to manage both internal and external environmental disturbances by its own natural means.  It is able to maintain balance with its own methods even when negative influences act upon it.   At this level of health, the individual's body, on a biochemical level, is in a state of homeostasis.  Homeostasis describes a state of physiological equilibrium where the body's self-regulatory duties all perform properly.

If health was defined solely by the term, freedom from disease, one might be lead to believe that the absence of symptoms is evidence that an individual is in a healthy condition.  This is inaccurate.  Symptoms are necessary as they provide evidence that the body is auto-correcting or can be seen as indicators that point to a problem within the organism.  By ignoring or covering up symptoms, the source of the disease or problem does not disappear.  It is important to use them as warning signals and provide assistance to the body as it attempts to clear the issue.  

A complete picture of optimal health would include: properly functioning organs, balanced biochemical processes, sharp senses, a strong immune system, a good respiratory system, neuromuscular system, digestive system and motor skills.  It would reflect a vibrant, abundance of energy, the ability to think clearly, a strong short and long term memory, the ability to concentrate, even emotions, a calm demeanor, and the experience of refreshing sleep."

As you can see from Ashleigh's writing, Health is a multifaceted aspect of life.  I would also add the body's ability to cope with stress, the ability to experience joy and the expression of creativity to her list.  I hope to add more of my student's writings and opinions as time goes on.

The next blog entry will be, "Natural Allergy Relief."

"May the blessing of light be on you-- light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you 

and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire."   

~Old Celtic Blessing~

WHAT IS A HOMEOPATHIC PROVING?

Each Homeopathic remedy is scientifically "proven" so that we can know what symptoms it will correct.  A proving requires supervisors and provers.  There is a one to one ratio.  The supervisors take an intake case evaluation on each prover to find out what symptoms are already part of that provers make-up and to eliminate people with chronic illnesses.  We want healthy males and females of different ages in our provings.  Then, these people are given a potentized substance.  Neither the provers nor the supervisors are told what is in the potentized remedy.

Over the next few days, the provers keep a journal of anything unusual to their general being.  No symptom is too small to record.  They may develop a fear of high places, performance anxiety; their dreams may change and have intense themes.  They may develop a dull headache in the left temple area.  The provers are often Homeopathic students who are willing to put up with a few days of discomfort to find new tools for Homeopathy.  Meanwhile, the supervisors are talking with the provers daily and keeping their own journal of the information they collect.

Then the journals are collected from the provers and supervisors.  All the common symptoms from the provers are studied and turned into useful rubrics, our name for symptoms.  We use a Repertory to list symptoms and the remedies that alleviate those symptoms.  The first Repertory of Homeopathic Materia Medica was published in 1897 by J.T. Kent, M.D.  It's a long, painfully detailed process but completely necessary to keep Homeopathy honest and a respected science.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMEOPATHY

There are many types of Homeopathy currently used by Homeopaths around the world.  Below is a short description of the the more popular types.  

ACUTE HOMEOPATHY
The condition you are treating has either just started or it is not more than a day to a month old.  The flu, chicken pox or a sports injury are examples. 

The information needed to find the right remedy is:
Did the problem begin after an event or does it have a cause?  i.e., I woke up with a headache after a stressful week of long hours at work, too much coffee and eating too much fast food.  Or, I suddenly developed a headache after a disagreement with my husband.  
What are the symptoms?  i.e., My head is throbbing on the left side and I'm feeling nauseous. 
What are the modalities?  This means, What makes it worse or better and is there a time or situation that affects it.  i.e., My headache is worse in bright lights and when I hear loud noises.  It was there when I woke up this morning.
Are there any changes emotionally and/or mentally since the condition began?
i.e., I have been really irritable and impatient when people want to talk to me.  I've snapped at my wife this morning.  I'm normally not like that.  

CLINICAL HOMEOPATHY
This is Homeopathy used for a condition you've had for a long time.  We call the condition chronic.  Reflux, arthritis, panic attacks, depression or migraines are chronic conditions.  We basically ask the same questions that we did in an Acute case.  This type of treatment generally deals with only the one condition. 

CONSTITUTIONAL HOMEOPATHY
This is also called Classical Homeopathy.  The Homeopath wants to know everything about you.  It is much more holistic in nature than the Clinical approach.  The following are just a few of the questions you will be asked.
What are the physical symptoms that you are experiencing?  What are the modalities and causes of each of those symptoms?  
Who are you emotionally?  How do you feel and react in certain situations?
How are your mental faculties (concentration, memory, etc.)?  
How are you sleeping?
How is your appetite?  What are your favorite foods and what foods do you hate?
How is your energy level?  How are your periods?  How is your sex drive?  Are you happy with your job, your mate and/or your life?
We collect a history on parents and grandparents.  We want to know about your birth and childhood.
The average case takes one to three hours, depending on the Homeopath and his style.  
The goal is to find one remedy that captures your essence completely and not only helps the physical conditions but deals with the underlying causes so that it will not reappear in another form.  The correct remedy will help you to feel a peace of mind and balance.  You will be more able to go after the type of life you desire.


COMBINATION REMEDY HOMEOPATHY
A combination remedy usually contains six to thirty remedies in each tablet.  It is sometimes referred to as a "shot-gun" approach.  There hasn't been a real case taken.  But, the bottle labeled "Arthritis" is bound to have at least one remedy in it that will at least improve your symptoms.  The theory is that the energy of the remedies that are not needed just falls away.  As a Classical Homeopath I don't agree with this theory but I would rather someone with a sinus infection try this before an antibiotic.  I also believe that the formulas with the fewer remedies are better.  This makes Homeopathy accessible to everyone.  Combination remedies are now available in CVS, Whole Foods and most health food stores.  

The next post will be What Are Provings?