In the mid 1980s, Dr. Devi Nambudripad discovered that allergies could be permanently eliminated using acupuncture or acupressure.
Archive for the ‘Allergy And Sinus’ Category
NAET Allergy Elimination – Is it Right For You?
29
Aug
Faucet Water Filters Can Purify Your Drinking Water By Removing Chlorine & Many Harmful Contaminants
27
Aug
Investing in one of the many faucet water filters on the market is the best way to ensure that the water you drink is clean and safe. Many consumers feel that there’s no need to invest in a filter when they can buy bottled water from their local grocery store. Unfortunately, what many of these consumers don’t know is that bottled water isn’t really much safer than your everyday tap.
This may come as a shock, but there are no government standards that require bottled water to be safer or purer than your everyday tap water. Basically, that means you are paying more for bottled when it’s essentially the same as what you can drink from home, oftentimes even worse. In the long run, owning your own filter will allow you to save money and have healthier water available all of the time.
There are over 2,000 cancer-causing contaminants in our water. Unfortunately, with the production of more man-made chemicals, the toxicity will only continue to get worse. Before the invention of these chemicals, the population had a 1 in 50 chance of getting cancer. Since the creation of these chemicals, water consumers now have a 1 in 3 chance of getting cancer. Faucet mounted water filters are a wonderful way to purify the water used for drinking and cooking.
Another great benefit of quality faucet water filters, is that they remove contaminants without stripping the water of the natural trace minerals our bodies need, like distillers and reverse osmosis systems do. These two types of filters give you de-mineralized water with a very acidic pH, which is highly unhealthy.
One of the best faucet water filters you can purchase is a twin cartridge system. A quality filter will have a dual system that uses a combination of carbon filtration, ion exchange and sub-micron filtration. This produces healthy and great tasting water. Even better, it can be available at the convenience of your kitchen tap, by hooking up directly to your faucet, or being installed under the sink.
These multi-stage faucet water filters are a wonderful investment because two cartridges are more effective at purifying water. The first stage removes chlorine, sediment and other microscopic particles. The second stage then removes lead and volatile organic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and industrial solvents that can be damaging to your body.
As stated earlier, dual filter systems make great water. However, there are some faucet mounted water filters that also add potassium. When potassium is added to water, it enhances the mineral balance, which gives water a natural spring-like taste. If you’re looking for that extra bonus for your water, this is the way to go.
If you still feel like faucet water filters are unnecessary, think about this–there is no new water. This means that what goes down our drain gets recycled for future use. Yes, this also includes what gets bottled for sale. Due to the lack of standard regulations concerning the purity of water, the equipment used at your local water facility remains very primitive.
When you understand that low-grade equipment produces low-grade water, the importance of faucet mounted water filters becomes quite clear. The best way to have pure water on a regular basis is by investing in a filter for your home.
Remember, the best faucet water filters are the ones that eliminate contaminants using a dual filtration system. These filters use a combination of carbon filtration, ion exchange and sub-micron filtration to effectively remove chlorine, lead, volatile organic compounds, MTBE and other chlorine resistant chemicals. There is nothing wrong with investing in a more basic product, but if you want a truly effective product, this multi-stage process gives you more for your money.
In order to make a wise investment in faucet mounted water filters, it is best to ask the distributor for a performance data report. Doing so will prove a company’s reputability as well as the product’s reliability.
A reputable company will want to prove that they can provide the best faucet water filters. Therefore, they will want to assure you that they have the proof to back it up. If you find a company unwilling to oblige, steer clear and find a distributor you can trust.
Your health is important and owning faucet water filters for your home can help you maintain it. When you have control over what you put into your body, you can easily improve your quality of life.
Under the Sink Water Filter
22
Aug
The under the sink water filter is one of the most popular forms of water filtration systems in households who desire a water filtration system. The under the sink liquid filter is placed exactly where it says, under the sink. This prevents the need for large and bulky parts that have to be attached to the head of the faucet. The faucet head attachments can also leak, and the under the sink liquid filter eliminates this problem as well.
Most under the sink water filters employ the use of reverse osmosis water filtration. This is one of the most effective water filtration methods around, and is very effective at removing trace amounts of metals, viruses, bacteria and microbial cysts that can be found in common tap water.
Under the sink liquid filters can range greatly in price, depending on what you are looking for. The more complex the system, the more you will spend for it. Some even come with lighted reminders that you can place in an obvious location. These reminders blink when it is time to change the filter in your system, so you can ensure that your system is working to the best of its ability. You can install the system yourself, or you can have a plumber install it for you. With more sophisticated systems, it may be advised that you get a professional to perform the installation to ensure that the system is installed properly. These under the sink water filters are used by many types of individuals.
Whole House Water Filters and Home Water Filter Systems – What You Really Need to Know
10
Aug
The Different Kinds Of Filters
Whole house water filters are connected to the main line coming into your home. That means all the water coming into your home is being filtered. This includes the water that you shower or bathe with, your drinking water, and even the water that washes your clothes. If you want total protection home water filter systems that are connected to your main water line are the way to go. You will need a plumber to install a system like this. House water filters can also come in the form of countertop water filters, under sink water filters, and shower filters, and protect only the water that comes from the faucet that they are attached to.
Why These Systems Are Important
Why is it so important to use these systems and filters to keep your water pure? There are many contaminates that get through city filtration systems and even well water has been found to be contaminated these days. What are the benefits of drinking clean pure water? The body is mostly water; the percentage is 60 to 75%. If the water you drink and cook with, wash your clothes in, and use to bathe isn’t clean, your body takes the impurities into your system through consumption or absorption through your skin.
You Need Sufficient Water
Drinking sufficient water every day softens your skins and makes it supple, is good for your circulation, assists your liver and kidneys in removing toxins, and prevents headaches. The crux of the matter is that only pure water can help your body. Water containing toxins works against the bodily systems it should help keep healthy.
The Reasons Are Clear
The reason that home water filter systems and house water filters are important is clear. When all of your water outlets are protected then your water is completely cleaned and that is the job of filter systems and water filters. When you get them installed you are assured of having clean safe water.
Best Quality – Best Prices
If you want the best quality home water filters check with Consumers Digest. They rate the best filters every year. If you know where to look on the Internet you can buy the best rated filters direct from the manufacturer for big savings.
Sinus Pain Treatment – How to Cure a Sinus Pain
10
Aug
Pain with sinus is synonymous. The unwanted pain and distress pain include eye pain, headaches, neck pain. Sometimes even back pain due to fatigue. Sinusitis headaches cause a dull, deep, or severe pain in the front of your head and face. They are caused by an inflammation in the passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. Bending down or leaning over usually makes the pain worse, as do cold and damp weather. These are headaches that have a “butterfly” distribution where the headache is centered across the forehead between the eyes and on the mid face. A sinus headache is often bad in the morning and improves by afternoon. Many times they are confused with migraines or tension headaches. The nerve that supplies the sinusitis and nasal lining becomes irritated or inflamed, thus causing the pain. If an isolated ethmoid sinus or frontal sinus or spenoid sinus becomes obstructed or infected, it can cause pain without causing nasal congestion or drainage.
Nasal septal deviations often cause airway obstruction and can cause pain.
Much relief from sinus pain can be achieved by using acupressure. It gives quick relief from the pain. For a person suffering from sinus pain the first treatment is usually with steroid nasal sprays and the occasional use of decongestant sprays and oral decongestants. If a person is suffering from chronic pain then surgery is suggested.
At times when there is pain in the ear or temple region then it is said to be Temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction syndrome. Treatment in such cases can be from a dentist who with simple measures or with splints and bring relief to the pain. Pseudoephedrine and Advil/Tylenol help with the symptoms of pain and congestion. The occasional use of Afrin type sprays can relieve flare ups of congestion and pain. Saline nasal sprays, or saline rinses can really ease the pain to a great extent.
Other sinus pain treatment includes steroid nasal sprays, decongestants, sometimes oral steroids, leukotriene receptor antagonist and long duration broad spectrum antibiotics.
How To Relieve Sinus Pressure
09
Aug
Swollen, inflamed sinuses are, to put it mildly, very uncomfortable. Sinuses get infected and inflamed through various means. Sinusitis is caused by allergies to something in the air we breath or even to the food we eat. Finding out what is causing the infection is the province of ear, nose, and throat specialists. Sometimes weather is a factor. How to effectively get relief is the subject of this article.
One of the things to do is to go on a minimal liquid diet or a water fast to see if the infection is caused by something in the diet. If you get relief then you know it is something that you are ingesting. Slowly resume your normal diet by adding a few foods at a time until you find the cause or go to an allergist for him/her to find the cause.
A good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement is also a good idea with additional vitamin C and vitamin A. See a health practitioner for other vitamin/mineral suggestions. Proper digestion and the elimination of stress(as much as possible) is also suggested.
There are also some herbal remedies that sometimes work very well depending on the person. Some of these are: goldenseal, yarrow, garlic and elderflowers. These can be purchased at most health food stores as a tincture. There are many herbal formulas that are also available from the same source.
One of my favorite, immediate relief of symptoms of sinus congestion is the use of aromatherapy. A mixture of a few drops of lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils on a tissue and sniffed sometimes offer great, immediate relief, while waiting on sinus decongestants to kick in.
Another favorite method is to inhale steam by bending over boiling water with a towel around your head to ‘catch’ the steam.
These methods are not intended to replace normal medical care by your health care provider but to supplement their care or to provide relief until your next office visit.
I hope that one of these methods or a combination of them will provide you with a measure of relief.
Alternative Allergy Treatment With NAET – What is it and How Does it Compare to Standard Treatment?
09
Aug
Nambudripad’s allergy elimination techniques or NAET for short, is a holistic method of allergy identification and neutralization. It was developed by Dr. Devi Nambudripad of Buena Park, California. It is based on alternative medicine health principles taken from the worlds of chiropractic applied kinesiology and traditional Chinese medicine.
Allergy by NAET standards is defined broadly to mean any unexpected reaction that occurs from a given substance which would otherwise not produce those reactions in most people. This is somewhat different from the traditional western medical definition which defines allergy as a set of signs and symptoms that develop due to specific biochemical and immunological interactions measurable through standard lab tests.
Within the NAET definition, some but not necessarily all allergens might be measurable through standard medical tests. The reason for this is because the cause of the imbalance is believed to be due to weakened energy meridians. This is where NAET’s connection to traditional Chinese medicine occurs. Briefly stated, within the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, twelve primary energy channels, or energy meridians have been defined. Meridians circulate “chi” which has various meanings, but essentially could be defined as “vital energy”. Each meridian individually corresponds to a specific organ system. The health and vitality of each organ system is then dependent on the free, unobstructed flow of chi through an unobstructed meridian. Within this understanding, an allergen then could be thought of as anything that blocks the free flow of chi.
Within the NAET definition, things like pollens, dusts and foods could be allergens. Most of these would meet the western medicine definition, but other things like vitamins, hormones, or even thoughts, beliefs and emotions could be viewed as allergens as well as they might block the free flow of vital energy or chi.
The methods of allergy determination and treatment are also very different between the western medical approach and NAET. With NAET, muscle response testing is used to determine if various acupuncture meridians become weakened when a sample of the allergen is held by the patient.
Muscle response testing is a simple method of determining what I call a “stress response” from the body. A subjects muscle that is initially tested to be strong when given a neutral stimulation may then be found to test weak when challenged with an irritating substance, like an allergen. Though this definition is an oversimplification, this basic meaning is accurate.
Once it is determined which allergen is producing a stress response, a gentle form of acupressure is then applied to the patient, with particular emphasis in treating the weakened meridians. After adequate treatment is verified again with muscle response testing the patient simply must avoid that allergen for 25 hours for the treatment to take.
Within the conventional medical approach, some allergens, like foods are not believed to be treatable and complete avoidance of the substance is the only viable treatment option. In other cases, immunotherapy or “allergy shots” are recommended along with prescription medication to block allergy symptoms. Testing is generally performed by skin scratch or patch testing or sometimes with blood work.
Chi and muscle response testing are foreign concepts to the conventional medical approach, but as previously noted are part of two well established and credible healing arts, namely traditional Chinese medicine and Chiropractic.
Vitamins And Supplements To Reduce Allergy Symptoms
29
Jul
Allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a running nose, coughing, and watery eyes can make your life very miserable. It is therefore paramount that you find ways to reduce your symptoms so that you can lead a better quality of life. One of the most effective way of boosting your immune system to fight allergies is with consuming vitamins and supplements. Here are some:
- Vitamin C. Vitamin C can act as a mild antihistamine, which can help you to have fewer allergy symptoms when you come into contact with a particular allergen. Two to ten thousand milligrams of this vitamin can be taken in divided doses throughout your day to help keep that antihistamine property throughout the day, since Vitamin C is excreted from the body after four to six hours.
- Beta-carotene. This vitamin works to boost the immune system, which can help you to naturally fight off the histamine or allergy response to specific allergens. Some foods naturally contain beta-carotene, including deep orange vegetables and fruits like papaya or cantaloupe. You can up the intake of these foods or you can choose to take a beta-carotene supplement.
- Magnesium. Magnesium has been found to help make breathing easier. It helps in decreasing the constriction response in the lungs. If this has been one of your allergy symptoms, then magnesium could be an excellent choice for your allergy regimen.
- Vitamin E. Vitamin E is known as an antioxidant that can help boost and increase the effect of your immune system. It has been found very effective in studies in decreasing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which an inflammatory response in the nose, eyes, and throat that is caused by allergen exposure.
- Vitamin B Complex. Studies have found that taking Vitamin B Complex can help to reduce your allergy symptoms by half. This is a significant finding, because it can move most allergy symptoms down into a more manageable range that is easier to deal with. Some patients saw their symptoms decrease to almost nothing, which gave them the opportunity to live a normal life for the first time.
Allergy vitamins can strengthen the immune system of your body so that it can work better than before. They can help decrease your histamine response when your body comes into contact with an offending allergen. Taking high quality vitamins and supplements is a much healthier preventative option as compared to treating yourself with over-the-counter medications and/or prescription medications. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider about taking any of the above mentioned vitamins and supplements and their recommended dosages before consumption.
Help I Am Allergic To Sulfite
27
Jul
If you have a Sulfite Allergy then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Sulfites have been used for centuries as a preservative for drinks, foods and medication. They preserve the color and flavor and increase the shelf life by inhibiting bacterial growth. About 1 percent of the populations are allergic to sulfites. Sulfite allergy reactions tend to manifest in respiratory symptoms.
Prior to seeing any allergy specialist for testing you will need to stop taking any anti-allergy medication or over the counter antihistamines 2 to 3 days before the test are to be performed. Talk to the allergy specialist if you are unsure about any medications that need to be stopped and for how long.
Patients allergic to sulfite rarely show a positive allergic response to skin testing. The most reliable way to test for this allergy is commonly called The Food Challenge. You are told to avoid all sulfite-containing foods for several weeks.
Avoidance can be very difficult because sulfite is often hidden in other foods. Read the labels of every food that you bring into your home. Because the manufacturing processes change continuously re-read the labels each time you purchase a product. On January 1, 2006 a new law was passed stating that all labels should be designed in such a way that a 7-year-old child could read and understand the ingredients.
The doctor will then have you take pills containing sulfite under close supervision. If symptoms appear after ingesting the sulfites then you are allergic to sulfites and will need to avoid anything that has it on the label.
The USFDA requires the labeling of foods containing 10 ppm or more of sulfites and in 1986 the FDA banned the use of sulfites on fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw.
A growing awareness about food allergies is becoming well known in the United States. Food manufactures and restaurants are becoming more understanding and willing to accommodate people living with food allergies.
Living with any food allergy is no longer a major undertaking; it is now just a minor adjustment to your life-style. You will need to avoid baked goods, Soups, jams, canned vegetables, pickles, potato chips, dried fruit, trail mix, most condiments, shrimp, guacamole and anything that has sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium bisulfite and potassium metabisulfite on the label.
Some of the common vitamins used to treat sulfite allergy symptoms are Vitamins C, Quercetin, and Bromelain.
Vitamin C is nature’s protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system. Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.
Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms. Take 500 mg twice daily.
Bromellain will enhance the absorption of Quercetin. Take 100 mg twice daily.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
Interfering Factors In Allergy Treatment
15
Jul
In the 8 years or so that I have been working with allergy patients, I have discovered that the most common reason why allergy treatment fails, either conventional allergy shots, or “energy medicine” techniques like I use, is heavy metal toxicity. As a matter of fact, of those patients who have consulted with me who had at one time or another been treated with allergy shots that did not work, ALL of them tested positive for one or more heavy metal toxicities.
It appears that heavy metals cause confusion in the body’s immune system, and predispose the body to developing allergies. I have observed that the patients who show up as having heavy metal toxicity also are usually reactive to many more allergens that those patients who are free of heavy metals. By far the most common heavy metals that are problematic are mercury and lead, but cadmium, thallium, and a host of other metals can show up as well.
Mercury toxicity appears to most commonly be related to amalgam dental fillings, exposure to thimersol (a preserving agent used in vaccines and various liquid solutions used in medicine), and industrial mercury exposure. Although there has been much concern in recent years regarding mercury contamination of seafood, I have not found seafood consumption to be related to mercury toxicity in my patients. It is my belief that the majority of people probably do not consume an amount of mercury contaminated seafood for it to create a toxicity concern.
In my experience, amalgam dental fillings are probably the most common source by far of mercury toxicity. Even so, I usually do not recommend replacement of amalgam fillings unless there is an indication of major leakage of mercury into the body, because the removal process can release such large doses of mercury into the blood and it is usually safer to leave the fillings in place and simply de-tox the mercury accumulation from time to time.
Lead toxicity is most commonly seen in people who were exposed to lead-based paint (and possibly ingested lead paint flakes during childhood). Lead toxicity can also be acquired from occupational sources, such as in electricians who can get it from stripping wiring insulation with their teeth (the insulation often contains lead). Another occupational source of lead exposure is seen in military personnel and police officers who, during training, handled large amounts of lead slugs (I have heard that a common “punishment” in such training is for recruits to have to go gather up lead slugs from the firing range to collect a pre-determined large amount of lead).
No matter what type of heavy metal is producing the toxic effects, there are a variety of ways to test for heavy metals, as well as a variety of ways to treat the toxicity. Testing can be done by conventional blood and tissue tox-screens, by hair analysis, and by muscle reflex testing (“applied kinesiology”). Of the three, I prefer muscle reflex testing even though it is a bit esoteric, because it is simple to do, inexpensive, and if there are multiple heavy metals present it tells me which metal is causing the biggest problem (allowing me to prioritize treatment).
Chelation therapy is the conventional medical treatment of choice for heavy metal toxicity. Chelation therapy injects various binding agents into the bloodstream to pull the heavy metals out of solution so they can be eliminated from the body by the liver and kidneys. Similarly, chlorella (a type of algae) and/or cilantro extract can be used to bind heavy metals making them easier to eliminate from the body. Another method, that is still somewhat controversial even among “alternative” practitioners is the use of special foot baths that utilize a very low-level electrical current to draw out heavy metals and other toxins through the skin of the feet.
The method of detoxification that I prefer is the use of metal-specific homeopathic remedies to assist the body in eliminating the particular metal that is causing the problem. If a patient presents with multiple toxicities, I will usually begin with the chlorella and cilantro approach to start the process and then eventually use homoepathics to eliminate the specific metals. The homeopathic de-tox approach usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to sufficiently reduce the toxicity so that allergy desensitization can be effective.
Once the patient has de-toxed the heavy metal sufficiently, allergy desensitization can be performed effectively. If using conventional allergy shots, the desensitization will take place over a period of months to a few years. If using “energy medicine” techniques, it has been my experience that most people can have the majority of their allergic sensitivities eliminated within a few weeks. Because of the remarkable efficiency of the energy medicine techniques, I favor them over conventional allergy treatment, but to be fair the techniques I use are quite strange to most people and they can be a bit hard to believe. Many people simply cannot believe that these strange methods of treatment work, so they will stick with conventional allergy treatment, which is quite effective in the long-run once any interfering heavy metal toxicities have been handled.