For some this is a beautiful time of the year, but for others Spring time is the most dreaded!

The increase of pollination combined with the urge to spend more time outside in the sunshine, can trigger those awful hay fever symptoms that you forgot about during Winter.

Spring time is a special time of the year, and shouldn’t be missed by anyone. So if you are a sufferer of hay fever during Spring and Summer, than right now is a good time to start putting in some preventative measures so that you don’t suffer for the rest of the year.

Hay Fever Relief Tips

If antihistamine medications aren’t cutting it, or you prefer a more natural approach then check out these top hay fever relief tips.

Get Your Vitamin C

It works by reducing the amount of histamine released by mast cells that triggers the runny, stuffy nose and the itchy eyes. If you find it difficult to eat a wide range of these vitamin C rich foods everyday, then you can look at supplementing with a 1000mg of vitamin C (adult dose).

Foods high in vitamin C – Strawberries, Oranges, Mandarins, lemons, paw paw, pineapple, broccoli and sweet potato are all good sources of vitamin C but it’s something you must eat everyday for it to have any effect on your allergies.

Steer Clear of Foods You Are Sensitive To

Try to avoid possible food allergens that you may be intolerant or sensitive to.

If you are sensitive to particular foods without even knowing it, your body will continuously produce an immune reaction to that particular food on an everyday basis.

This puts your immune system into a hypersensitive state and makes you more prone to environmental allergens by increasing the production of histamine which is responsible for a variety of allergic symptoms.

If you suspect you have food intolerances, there are many blood tests available that can accurately test what foods your body is reacting to.

Common food intolerances and sensitivities include wheat, dairy, egg, nuts and citrus fruits.

I’ve seen hay fever symptoms completely abate after an elimination diet was followed when the food culprit was discovered – it’s incredible how common food sensitivities are!

Quercetin, Rutin, Citrus Bioflavonoids and Hesperidin

These are flavonoid and bioflavonoids which are usually found in combination in a supplement. They are naturally occurring in a range of fruits and vegetables that have potent anti-inflammatory and antiallergy properties. Their very useful in the treatment of hay fever and sinusitis.

They can be used long term or for immediate relief usually with in 20 minutes, for acute allergic conditions.

Increase Your Water Intake

In allergies, histamine is seen as the bad guy. Histamine is seen as something that must be eliminated as fast as possible so that your allergic symptoms can begin to decrease. Anti-histamine medications will fix that pretty fast, but not for long as it isn’t fixing the real problem.

What if fixing the real problem was as simple as drinking more water?

Funnily enough, histamine actually has a number of jobs (other than to make your life miserable) in the body, but a very important job is to distribute water around the body when it is dehydrated.

When you aren’t drinking enough water and your body is dehydrated, histamine is released to preserve the water in your body. Histamine production is increased dramatically creating the classic allergy symptoms of runny nose and itchy eyes.

Many of you may be dehydrated without even knowing, and this could be a key factor in your hay fever symptoms. The optimum amount of water you should be drinking to ensure your body is well hydrated, is to drink 1 litre of water per 25 kilograms of body weight per day!

Swap that coffee, tea or soft drink for another tall glass of filtered water and give your body a helping hand. Regaining adequate hydration can take some time, so be persistent with your water intake.

Do this along side the other hay fever relief tips, and you should be well on your way to a hay fever free Spring and Summer!

Related posts:

1. Top Five Natural Allergy Treatments Youve Never Heard Of

Are you running to the bathroom after you eat something deep fried, greasy and oily? Or perhaps you suffer with heart burn or nausea after eating fatty foods.

You may have an intolerance to fatty foods – which is very different to a food allergy. It doesn’t involve the immune system like an allergy does, but instead it is caused from the inability of your digestive system to break down the fat.

The symptoms that you experience after eating fatty foods may turn you off eating anything soaked in oil ever again – which you know isn’t particularly healthy for you anyway!

But you can’t help but wish that this didn’t happen to you. Lets face it, it’s not fun being in pain for hours on end after you have indulged in rich food.

Well I am going to tell you, that it is possible to alleviate these symptoms naturally by simply supporting your body to digest fats!

Before i tell you how, lets first look at what symptoms you may be experiencing so that you can know for sure if you have an intolerance to fatty foods.

Fat Intolerance Symptoms

These symptoms can occur immediately or up to a couple of hours after you’ve eaten fatty foods, and these foods don’t need to be just rich, oily junk foods either.

They can be healthy fats too! Often taking fish oil capsules, which are high in essential fatty acids (good fats) can cause unwanted side effects as well. This doesn’t happen to everyone, so it really depends on the severity of your fat intolerance.

• Reflux
• Heart Burn
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Bloating
• Bowel movements called Steatorrhoea (stee-at-OR-rea) that are frothy and smell foul
• Wind

How To Relieve Fat Intolerance Symptoms Naturally

Fat intolerance usually occurs in those of you who have an under functioning liver. The liver is so important in digesting fats because it is responsible for releasing a substance called bile, which is stored in your gallbladder and released every time you eat fatty foods.

Bile acts like the dish washing liquid that you use in the sink to dissolve grease and fat off your dishes. It emulsifies and breaks down the fat you have eaten once it enters the small intestine.

If you have a lack of bile being produced every time you eat fatty foods, the fat won’t be broken down and emulsified adequately which will cause many of the symptoms mentioned above.

If you have had your gall bladder removed, or have a history of gall stones – it is usually a big indicator that your liver isn’t doing too well which can be causing your fat intolerance.

Anything that places stress on your liver like; alcohol, caffeinated drinks e.g. Redbull, Mother, V, coffee, medications or recreational drugs can greatly diminish the functioning of your liver.

If you combine this with a diet lacking fresh fruits, vegetables and good quality protein you may be deficient in the necessary nutrients needed to support your body to detoxify, produce bile and function and its full potential.

Support Your Liver To Help Digest Fat

These are simply ways you can help support the functioning of your liver to help you better digest fat.

• Lemon – Squeeze 1/4 to 1/2 a fresh lemon into room temperature water and drink immediately upon rising, this kick starts your liver and assists with digestion of food
• Lecithin – Add 1 tablespoon of lecithin on your cereal or in smoothies once to twice daily. Lecithin contains something called choline which is a ‘lipotropic’ and is necessary component to help you metabolize fats
• Dandelion Root Tea - Dandelion has several properties to help support your liver to detoxify and function better. It has ‘cholagogue’ and ‘choleretic’ actions that stimulate the release of bile from your gallbladder, as well as increasing the production of bile by your liver. Caution – This should not be used if you have gallstones
• Globe Artichoke – This is another herb that has similar properties to Dandelion which can be taken in capsule form after each meal to assist with the digestion of fats. Caution – This should not be used if you have gallstones.

Give your liver some TLC and it will repay you! If you have tried any of these recommendations or have found a great natural remedy for relieving your fat intolerance symptoms then please feel free to share in the comments below.

Related posts:

1. Common Food Allergy Symptoms
2. IBS and Fructose Intolerance – The New Connection
3. Understanding Salicylate Sensitivity – Treating It Naturally

Save money on your Naturopathic consultations with me!

If you are with a health fund, you can now claim back money from Naturopathic consultations and supplements.

I will give you a receipt after each consultation that you can use to claim money back from your health funds.

The Health Funds That Apply

• Australian Unity – Available Soon
• AHM – Available Soon
• CBHS Friendly Society
• Cessnock & District Health Benefits Fund
• CUA Health Limited
• Defence Health
• GMF Health
• GMHBA
• GU Health – Available Soon
• HCF
• Health Care Insurance Limited
• Health Partners
• HIF
• Latrobe Health Services
• NIB
• Manchester Unity
• MBF
• Medibank Private
• Mildura District Hospital Fund
• Mutual Community
• Navy Health
• NRMA
• Onemedifund
• Peoplecare Health
• Pheonix Health Fund
• Police Health
• Queensland Country Health
• Railway & Transport Health Fund
• Reserve Bank Health Society
• SGIC
• SGIO
• St Lukes Health
• Teachers Federation Health
• Teachers Union Health
• Transport Health
• Westfund

No related posts.

Are you sick of suffering with allergies, food sensitivities or constant sinus congestion and have no clue where to start?

Or perhaps you suffer with skin problems like acne, keratosis pilaris and eczema or other complicated health problems that you need help with.

See me and i will take all the guess work out of it for you.

Book your Naturopathic appointment today.

To find out what to expect from your consultation – please read further.

What to Expect – Initial Naturopathic Consultation

Typically, your first consultation is 1 hour long focusing on gathering information about your current state of health.

This information will give me a better understanding on the causative factors that are contributing to your health conditions, so that the symptoms and underlying problems are being addressed for long term results.

To get a more accurate picture of your current state of health and what may be causing your health concerns there are a few tests that are taken out during the initial consultation.

Tests During The Consultation

1. Zinc Tally Test
If you are deficient in this mineral, it can make you more prone to acne, other skin problems, allergies, colds and infections. Zinc deficiency is one of the most prevalent mineral deficiencies worldwide.

It is essential for healthy skin, wound healing, regulation of hormones and for a healthy immune system.

2. Urinary Indicans Test
An overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in your digestive system can be a big contributing factor to allergies and food sensitivities/intolerances.

This test shows us if there is a problem in your digestive system that needs to be addressed.

After all of the testing has been done, I will go through with you a preliminary treatment plan to start on straight away so that you can begin addressing your health concerns. This may include dietary changes, herbal or nutritional supplements.

Treatment Program Follow Up Appointment – 30 – 45 minutes

During this appointment, I will discuss with you the treatment plan that I have tailored for you that addresses all of the causative factors that I received from your first consultation.

I will show you the outline of the treatment plan so you have an understanding of what to expect from week to week so that you are completely informed on every part of your journey with me.

You will be given a dietary outline to follow, as well as prescribed nutritional and herbal supplements to support your body throughout the healing process.

Review Appointments – 30 minutes

These appointments are scheduled anywhere between 2-4 weeks depending on the treatment plan given.

Each step of the treatment progress will require different nutritional/herbal supplements and lifestyle changes which I will explain in these review appointments. I will also assess how well you are doing on the plan and if you are happy with your progress.

If necessary, there may be slight changes in the treatment plan depending on your progress.

Make Your Appointment Today

Contact Complexion Code for your Naturopathic Appointment with me Chloe Orford on (07) 3862 2778.
or
Email chl...@complexioncode.com.au

Where Are We Located?

We are located at 278 Sandgate Road, Albion QLD (Next to Chemworld Pharmacy).

You may find street parking along Sandgate Road, at the Albion public parking carpark, or parking at the Albion Hotel.

Pricing

• Initial Naturopathic Consultation- $99
• Follow Up and Review Appointments 30 to 45 minutes – $60
• Food Sensitivity Testing 40 minutes – $199
• Food Sensitivity Testing with Initial Naturopathic Consultation 1hr 45 minutes – $298 (Now $269! For a limited time only!)

(click for more details)

Related posts:

1. Food Detectives Test – Shows You What Your Food Sensitivities Are In 40 Minutes Not 2 Weeks
2. Naturopathic Medicine

Research has demonstrated that an application of honey to Seborrheic Dermatitis can help relieve itching and scaling in as little as one week and even heal it completely

I know it sounds too good to be true, but raw honey (unprocessed) has naturally occurring antibacterial and antifungal properties. So it makes sense that it helps reduce the itching of Seborrheic Dermatitis as this is exacerbated by the yeast Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum Ovale).

This yeast has infinity for the sebaceous glands as it requires the oil to survive, grow and replicate. So you can commonly find Seborrheic Dermatitis where the sebaceous glands are most prominent.

Where Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Located?

The face and scalp are the most common areas to see Seborrheic Dermatitis, especially around the nose, on the nasal creases, eye lids, eyebrows, and also behind the ears.

When affecting the scalp it is commonly called ‘dandruff’, when it occurs in babies it is called ‘cradle cap’.

When the yeast grows rapidly, the cell renewal of the skin is disturbed and can result in Seborrheic Dermatitis which is characterised by itchy, red, flaking, scaly skin.

It also has been hypothesized that there may be an abnormal immune response to this naturally occurring yeast on the skin resulting in inflammation producing the skin problem.

None the less, it would be very beneficial for you with Seborrheic Dermatitis to use natural antifungal treatments to help manage the growth of yeast on the skin in turn reducing the itchiness and the redness.

Step By Step Treatment

I am recommending here what was demonstrated in the clinical trial of thirty patients with the topical honey treatment on Seborrheic Dermatitis lesions.

• Step 1. Apply a diluted raw honey mixture (90% honey diluted in warm water) directly to the Seborrheic Dermatitis lesions, of the scalp, face, chest or wherever it is located. Do so every two, to three days for 4 weeks. (Apply after cleansed skin)
• Step 2. Gently rub the diluted honey into the lesions for 2-3 minutes
• Step 3. Leave the honey on for 3 hours
• Step 4. Rinse the honey off with warm water

When to Expect Results

According to the trial, within one week the itching and scaling had disappeared.

In the second week, the skin lesions were healing and some had disappeared completely by the end of the second week.
Those who had the skin lesions on their scalp with associated hair loss received a marked improvement in the rate of their hair loss, decreasing dramatically.

The patients who were treated once weekly for the following 6 months (15 patients) after the initial 4 week treatment did not show any relapse of the skin condition. The other 15 patients who stopped treatment had relapse of the lesions within 2-4 months.

What Else Contributes to Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Applying the honey treatment will greatly provide you with fast relief of the skin condition. Whilst you do the external treatment it may also be beneficial for you to look into the deeper underlying causes to your skin condition.

Other factors that have been associated in causing Seborrheic Dermatitis are:

• Candida Overgrowth – Candida is another type of fungal infection found in the digestive system tract and is commonly found in Seborrheic Dermatitis sufferers.
• Food Allergies/Sensitivities – Getting tested for food sensitivities may be a good idea to determine what foods trigger your skin condition.
• High Fat Diet – The use of a lot of bad fats in the diet can create a worsening of the skin condition
• Poor Immune System Function – Low immunity can make you more prone to fungal infections, viruses and bacteria.
• Nutrient Deficiencies – Deficiencies of Zinc and B vitamins can lower you immune system but also increase sebum production that could contribute to Seborrheic Dermatitis
• High Refined Sugar Intake – Sugar can trigger Seborrheic Dermatitis by suppressing the immune system and being a source of food for the yeast.

There you go, a natural skin care treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis – but please don’t forget to look at your body holistically and what you can change in your lifestyle or diet that will give you a healthier body and healthier skin!

Also, just a warning – please do not use honey on open wounds like ulcerations or cuts as it can actually make it worse. When using honey on open wounds and cuts only use the medicated wound care and not just the straight raw honey as it has been treated in such a way that it is safe to use.

References

1. Al-Waili NS. Therapeutic and Prophylatic Effects of Crude Honey on Chronic Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff. Eur J Med Res, 2001 July 30:6(7) 306-308.

Related posts:

1. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Natural Treatment Guide

Are you familiar with that constant ‘eh hem’ sound you make whilst you clear your throat of mucus?

Constant coughing and chest infections can be caused from excessive dripping of mucus down the throat. Yep mucus is a great breeding ground for infections!

If you have the above symptoms, you may have what is termed ‘post nasal drip.’

Why Does Post Nasal Drip Occur?

There can be two forms of post nasal drip – thick and sticky that can often be yellow/green indicating an infection or it can be thin and watery. Both types of post nasal drip have very different causes.

Thick and Sticky

Thick and sticky post nasal drip can occur as a result of an infection usually triggered by upper respiratory infections during a cold. When the sinuses aren’t being cleared properly, the excessive mucus is forced to drip down the back of the throat.

Chest infections and coughing usually result from this type of post nasal drip.

Yellow/green post nasal drip usually corrects itself after the upper respiratory infection has cleared.

If the mucus is yellow or green long term in absence of a cold, there is still an infection which must be assessed and treated by boosting the immune system and using anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.

Where there is thick mucus without the yellow/green colour, it may be caused from the lack of moisture in the air which can dry out the mucus membranes of the nose.

This dryness forces your mucous membranes to work overtime to try and produce the mucous to protect the lining of the nose. Overcome this by ensuring you drink enough fluids to keep your body hydrated, and using a saline nasal drop to lubricate the nose.

Thin and Watery

The thin and watery type of post nasal drip tend to have it either daily or weekly in absence of an infection. There can be many triggers of this type of post nasal drip -

• Food Sensitivities – I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but many people who have post nasal drip that is constant and quite chronic can be reacting to gluten or dairy. When these are eliminated, the post nasal drip tends to completely eliminate itself. If you think this may be you, going through a Naturopath or Doctor for an IgG antibody blood test will determine what foods you may be reacting to.
• Environmental Irritants – Dust, dust mites, mould, animal dander and pollen can all act like an irritant in the nose in sensitive individuals. These allergens irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, making your nose produce more mucus to protect itself and trap the irritant to eliminate it. As a result post nasal drip can occur.
• Cold air - Air conditioning, and cold climate can cause your nose to run more.
• Spicy Foods – Spicy foods increases circulation and makes the mucus very watery causing your nose to drip

Natural Treatment

• Avoid food you are sensitive to once you have been accurately tested through an IgG blood test
• Bromelain – Assists with reducing swelling of the nose and inflammation that can make your nose feels like it’s blocked and you can’t blow the mucus out. It will also reduce the stickiness of the mucous if you have thick sticky post nasal drip
• Quercetin - Reduces allergic responses by inhibiting histamine release from mast cells that trigger an allergic response to environmental allergens that can lead to a runny nose. This will assist those of you with post nasal drip commonly triggered by dust mites, mould, pollens and animal dander
• Neti Pot - This is a tea pot shaped device that involves using a salt water solution that you use to wash out your nasal passages. Do this twice a day and it will help clear out allergens, excess mucus and any bacteria.
• Avoid spicy foods- If you find that spicy foods can cause your nose to run, try to avoid it as much as you can. The worst is when you’re at a restaurant eating something super spicy and you are having to wipe your nose every 5 minutes! Curry powder, chilli,
• Increase your immunity – If you are prone to sinus/chest infections caused from your post nasal drip then improving your immunity will be very beneficial to prevent these infections from occurring. Assess your diet by ensuring you are eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, minimise fried foods, junk foods and sugar, drink 1.5 – 2L of water daily. Zinc and Vitamin C are very important for healthy immunity. Herbs such as Echinacea, Olive Leaf, and Astragalus may be beneficial to take as a preventative.

Post nasal drip can be quite a mystery to treat at times, I hope that the above has given you a bigger picture into what may be causing your post nasal drip so you have a better chance of getting rid of it for good!

Please post your experiences on post nasal drip and what may or may not have worked for you.

Related posts:

1. Top Five Natural Allergy Treatments Youve Never Heard Of
2. Allergy Medication
3. Seborrheic Dermatitis – Natural Honey Treatment

There are many underlying causative factors that could have initiated your sensitivity to low amounts of chemicals in your environment.

You may genetically have a poor capacity to detoxify certain chemicals – 50% of the population have this genetic tendency towards slow detoxification of chemicals. If you do not have a family history, it is still very possible to develop MCS in our modern environment.

Over exposure to large amounts of chemicals could have triggered your MCS, even viruses or severe stress can leave your immune system hypersensitive to its environment.

Often nutritional deficiencies caused from a poor diet, gastrointestinal inflammation and excess alcohol intake can greatly deplete the body of specific nutrients essential for adequate detoxification – causing more and more chemical/food sensitivities.

If your body does not have the tools it needs to detoxify chemicals properly then you are definitely going to know about it.

Symptoms such as headache, irritability, fatigue, restlessness, muscle pain and poor thinking to name a few may occur as you come in contact with chemicals your body can’t cope with.

So what can you do? You can give your body the tools it needs to function optimally and to detoxify chemicals properly.

Supporting Your Body to Heal

Avoiding chemicals that you know can affect you is of the upmost importance whilst you work on your body through dietary and lifestyle changes.

By doing so it will alleviate the symptoms that you experience so that you can at least function a lot better.

How to Avoid Chemicals in Your Environment

Avoiding chemicals completely is of course impossible and out of your control.

But what you do have control of are the chemicals used in your home – by doing the following you can greatly reduce your overall exposure to chemicals.

• Eat Organic – This will help you avoid pesticides and agricultural chemicals used on spraying crops, fruits and vegetables that you could potentially ingest.
• Drink Filtered water – Chlorinated water through the tap can cause problems in susceptible individuals
• Avoid wearing perfumes/colognes – These often create headaches in MCS
• Use unscented natural skin care and cleaning products – If you use chemical laden skin care products such as body lotions and face creams that you put on every day, you are adding to your overall toxic load as it can be absorbed through the skin. Cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals that can be inhaled as can skin care products that are highly fragranced. Look for all natural alternatives. Yes that does include makeup, shampoo/conditioner, mouthwash, toothpaste and laundry detergent.
• Avoid artificial colours and flavours that are added to processed foods – Eat closest to nature as possible by organising your own meals
• Avoid toxic paints – The fumes from paint can be extremely toxic to your body and can linger long after the room has been painted. Avoid this at all costs.

Optimise your diet

Eating fresh fruit and vegetables are very important to ensure that your body receives the nutrients it needs for proper detoxification. Antioxidants are also very important to protect your cells and tissues from the damage that can occur from toxic chemicals.

If you are confused on how to eat healthy, then visiting a nutritionist or a naturopath can put you on the right path to help modify your diet to suit you.

Optimise your Gastrointestinal Tract

A sluggish and unclean digestive system can cause your body to become very toxic – giving your body more work than it can handle! A healthy digestive system will help support your body to detoxify chemicals a lot better.

Think of your digestive system like a waste disposal bin. Every day you top it up with food regularly throughout the day, but before it gets really stinky and fly infested you must empty it out!

With your digestive system, it must be emptied everyday – 2-3 times is optimal but once a day is the absolute minimum. Anything less than this and you will start having problems; problems with your immune system and problems with your liver which is the main organ that detoxifies chemicals!

So to ensure you are emptying out the trash regularly you need:

• Adequate fibre – Food sources such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains like oats, brown rice, whole wheat (unless you have a gluten problem) and barley, legumes, nuts and seeds. If you still have a problem getting enough fibre you can use 2 tablespoons of linseed/flaxseed meal separately or psyllium husks (but make sure you follow with a lot of water)
• Healthy Bacteria – Good bacteria also known as probiotics are very important for the proper functioning of your digestive system. They prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria/candida; they assist with the absorption of nutrients and support a healthy immune system
• 1.5-2 Litres of Filtered Water Daily - Drinking filtered water is important so you can avoid chlorine and bacteria that may be present in normal tap water. Drinking enough water is important to soften your bowel movements so you do not become constipated

Nutritional Supplements

Though you may be eating as healthy as you can be, the foods you may be eating may not be as jam packed with nutrients as you would like to think.

The soils may have been depleted with nutrients where the foods were harvested; storing vegetables/fruits for long periods of time before being eaten can have little nutrition once they reach your mouth. Cooking your foods at high temperatures for long periods of time can also destroy the vitamins, and enzymes naturally present.

Supplementing with nutrients alongside a healthy diet may be beneficial for you to really ensure your body receives the nutrients it needs everyday for adequate detoxification.

Any of the following may be beneficial to you – but before supplementing please ensure you talk to a Naturopath or qualified health professional to ensure it is right for you.

Multivitamin

A multivitamin will give your body the minimum requirements of vitamins and mineral it needs every day. Multivitamins can be made very differently so do your research before you buy one. What you want to aim for is one that has reasonably high doses of the following:

• Vitamin B1 – 20% of those of you with MCS are commonly deficient in B1. It is necessary for aldehyde detoxification that’s found in many artificial scents and fragrances
• Vitamin B6 – 60% of chemical sensitive individuals have been found to be deficient in B6. It is necessary to support an amino acid Taurine with the removal of toxic chemicals
• Folic Acid and B12 – A deficiency of these two nutrients are increase your sensitivity to chlorine and xenobiotics (estrogen mimicking chemicals that can have a negative impact on your hormones)

Magnesium

A deficiency in Magnesium can greatly affect your detoxifying capacity, as it is essential in 500 enzyme systems of the body. To learn more about Magnesium and deficiency symptoms, I have covered it in more detail here.

Protein

Protein is made up of twenty amino acids that all have specific roles to play in the body. Many of them such as methionine, taurine and the branch chain amino acids are extremely important to support your liver to detoxify toxic chemicals.

If you are a vegetarian and find it difficult to receive enough protein for your body every day, then it could be a good idea to look into a vegetarian protein supplement such as pea protein or rice protein that is going to ensure you receive the amino acids needed for proper liver detoxification support.

Those of you with poor digestion may not be digesting the protein component of food adequately which can result in a deficiency in a number of amino acids needed for chemical detoxification.

To find out if your digestive system needs help please go here for more information so that you can learn how to treat your poor digestion so you can absorb these essential amino acids properly.

Liver Detoxification Supplements

Impaired liver function is often found in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity individuals as many of you have had over exposure to chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, formaldehydes and heavy metals to name a few. This exposure has increased the toxic load of your body to a point where your liver is unable to keep up.

Liver supplements supply your body with herbs and nutrients needed to support the detoxification pathways of the liver and to protect it against toxic insult from chemicals.

Using a liver formula can be very beneficial in MCS but should be cautioned – when liver detoxifying is not done properly it can have a negative impact on your health as opposed to a positive one. So if you are interested in this please seek a natural health practitioner that can assist you through the right process.

Keep Fighting

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome can be an extremely frustrating condition that can greatly reduce your quality of life. I hope that this two part series has given you a better understanding of how to support your body to heal – even though this may be a long process it is possible! So what ever you do, don’t stop trying.

Remember, your body has an amazing ability to heal but you must supply it with the right tools to do so.

Related posts:

1. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part One – Symptoms and Triggers
2. Post Nasal Drip – Causes and Treatment
3. Food Sensitivity – What Causes It And How You Can Fix It Part Four

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is also known as Environmental Sensitivity and is a condition that is exactly that – a hypersensitivity to low levels of chemicals found in your environment.

This condition is relatively new and is a direct result of the toxic world we live in. We are surrounded by all sorts of chemicals from the polluted air we breathe, the pesticide rich vegetable and fruits we eat, to the cleaning products we use in our homes.

Everyday we are all in contact with hundreds of different chemicals usually without even realising it. This is because our bodies have in place certain detoxifying capabilities that are able to detoxify these toxic substances adequately before producing negative effects.

Unfortunately for those of you with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, contact with the slightest amount of chemicals can negatively impact your day to day life.

For many reasons, your body has reached its detoxifying threshold and is struggling to deal with further exposure to toxic chemicals. As a result you will experience a broad range of symptoms that is communicating to you that it is struggling.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Symptoms

Those with MCS will experience a wide range of symptoms that can often occur every day.

• Headaches
• Disorientation
• Dizziness and Faintness
• Nausea
• Rapid Heart Beat
• Rashes
• Breathing Difficulties
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Muscle and Joint Pain

Long term symptoms that are the most debilitating for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferers are;

• Long Term Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle aches
• Memory difficulties
• Mood Disturbances – Depression/Anxiety/Irritability

How is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Triggered?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity can often begin after certain situations that exposed you to abnormally large amounts of chemicals such as the installation of new carpeting, painting the house or excessive use of drugs/medications.

The excessive exposure of these toxic chemicals has caused your body to reach its saturation point where it can no longer detoxify the huge burden of toxic chemicals placed upon it.

Following this, when you come in contact with anything that requires your body to detoxify a synthetic chemical a wide range of symptoms will result.

You may begin to find that you are overly sensitive to perfumes, fragrances and odours – even the smell of a new car may make you feel nauseous and headachy.

Common MCS triggers

Knowing common triggers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity symptoms are important to be aware of.

Though you cannot control all of these triggers, by being able to reduce the overall exposure to chemicals you will be able to reduce the amount of unpleasant symptoms that you experience.

• Pesticides
• Car fumes
• Fragrances
• Preservatives
• Artificial Flavourings
• Sodium Nitrate found in processed meats to preserve colour – bacon, ham, sausages, burger patties
• Cleaning agents
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Air Fresheners
• News Print

Reducing your exposure to chemicals is the first step you can take as a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferer to become more in control of your symptoms.

In Part Two I will talk about how to support the body to detoxify better so that you can better cope with exposure to chemicals.

References

1. Claudia S Miller. Chemical sensitivity: symptom, syndrome or mechanism for disease? Toxicology 1996. Volume 111, Issues 1-3, pages 69-86

2. Gibson, P R et al. Sickness-related dysfunction in persons with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity at four levels of severity. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2008, Volume 18 Issue 1, Pages 72 – 81

Related posts:

1. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part Two – Underlying Causes and Treatment
2. Asthma – Causes and Triggers Part One
3. Common Environmental Allergy Symptoms

Hopefully you have read Part One of Asthma – Causes and Triggers and are a little more aware of underlying causative factors that may be maintaining your chronic asthma.

Addressing these causative factors is really important because the last thing you want is for your asthma to get even worse over the next few years. So getting to the cause of it now will allow you to control it a lot better later down the track.

Prevention is the best medicine!

Here you can learn about one of the most prevalent mineral deficiencies that have been extensively researched to benefiting asthmatics. I’ve also included a few extra tips to help relieve your asthma at the end of the article.

Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in your body which means it’s extremely vital for your well being.

Unfortunately many of you will be deficient in Magnesium – and yes that included me a few years ago, restless legs, muscle twitches and lower back pain I sure don’t miss that.

A deficiency may occur purely because you’re not eating enough sources of Magnesium.

Or it could be based on the scary fact that our food is growing in mineral depleted soil and is lacking this vital mineral that our bodies need in abundance – which sure makes it difficult for asthmatics like you to receive your daily amount of Magnesium.

Low dietary intakes of Magnesium can cause impaired lung function, bronchial hyper reactivity and increased bronchial smooth muscle contractility that leads to wheezing.

Magnesium is very important for the adequate relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle. If there is a deficiency present, the contraction of smooth muscle will be greater prolonging shortness of breath.

The recommended daily allowance of Magnesium is 300-400 mg over 15 years of age. Approximately 49% of the population is deficient in Magnesium and can be due to several other factors not previously mentioned such as the depletion of Magnesium from the body due to excess sweating, stress, gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease that reduces the absorption, alcoholism and poor digestion.

Food sources of Magnesium include almonds, molasses, parsnips, soy beans, wholegrain cereals, eggs, sunflower/pumpkin seeds, brewer’s yeast, cashews and cacao.

Magnesium Supplementation

Supplementing with a Magnesium supplement may be something you may want to consider as it will ensure that you are reaching your Magnesium quota for the day. A therapeutic dose will be reached daily so that you have a higher chance of Magnesium benefiting your asthma.

When supplementing with Magnesium, I recommend avoiding the forms of Magnesium called Magnesium oxide which is cheap and nasty and causes stomach upsets. Instead opt for forms of Magnesium called amino acid chelate, aspartate and orotate.

Before supplementing with a Magnesium please talk to a qualified health professional so that you can be advised what would be most suitable for you, especially if you have any previous history of kidney disease.

Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency:

• Restless leg syndrome
• Muscle cramps
• Anxiety
• Poor sleep
• Irregular heart beat
• Startled easily
• Cold hands and feet
• Chronic Fatigue
• Muscle Twitches
• Fibromylagia

Some More Handy Tips

Here are a few tips that you can easily incorporate into your lifestyle which may help reduce the severity of your asthma.

• Drink Gingko Biloba tea or take as a supplement – It reduces PAF (platelet activating factor) which initiates excess mucous production, and bronchospasms causing symptoms of asthma
• Drink fenugreek tea – Fenugreek is a great herb for breaking down mucous which is associated with asthma.
• Increase your fruit and vegetable intake – Ensure you are receiving plenty of antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables daily which naturally assist in reducing inflammation of the airways and protect against air pollutants.
• Improve your immunity – Asthmatics are very prone to chest infections because of the excess mucous production that encourages a nice breeding ground for bacteria, in turn worsening your asthma. Reduce sugar and food sensitivity/allergy exposure that suppresses the immune system; take a herbal immune support formula such as Olive leaf, Echinacea root or Astragalus as a preventative.
• Take Vitamin C to prevent exercise induced asthma Taking 2000 mg of Vitamin C about 1 hour prior to exercise has shown to reduce the airway hyper reactivity in some asthmatics
• Make sure your digestive system is working at its absolute optimum – Ensure you have an abundance of good bacteria (probiotics) in your digestive system, ensure you have good digestion to break down your food and ensure you are having regular bowel movements. Having a strong digestive system will greatly reduce your allergies and the production of mucous that initiates asthma attacks.
• Reduce your salt intake – Reducing your salt intake has been shown to reduce exercise induced asthma.

Note – If you are on any other medication please talk to your doctor before taking any of the herbs recommended or high doses of vitamin C. None of these recommendations should replace your asthma medication.

That’s It Folks

So we have come to the end of my part two series on Asthma – I hope I have given you a better understanding of your asthma so that you are now a little more empowered to get back in control of your health and asthma!

Please feel free to post any comments about your asthma or anything that you have done to help your asthmatic symptoms.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Chloe

References

1. A Emelyanov, G Fedoseev, and PJ Barnes. Reduced intracellular magnesium concentrations in asthmatic patients. Eur Respir J 1999; 13:38-40

2. Omer S. B Alamoudi. Electrolyte Disturbances in Patients with Chronic, Stable Asthma Effect of Therapy. Chest August 2001 vol. 120 no. 2 431-436

3. Ligia J. Dominguez et al. Bronchial reactivity and intracellular magnesium: a possible mechanism for the bronchodilating effects of magnesium in asthma. Clinical Science (1998) 95, (137–142) (Printed in Great Britain)

4. Ziment, Irwin. Alternative therapies for asthma. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine (1997) Volume 3, Issue 1

5. Herman A. Cohen., Itai Neuman, MD and Hermona Nahum. Blocking Effect of Vitamin C in Exercise-Induced Asthma. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(4):367-370.

6. Gotshall, R W., Mickelborough, T and, Cordain, LOR. Dietary salt restriction improves pulmonary function in exercise-induced asthma. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, November 2000 – Volume 32 – Issue 11 – pp 1815-1819

Related posts:

1. Asthma – Causes and Triggers Part One
2. Signs and Symptoms of Asthma
3. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part One – Symptoms and Triggers

Breathing naturally on a day to day basis is something that many chronic asthmatics like you may dream of. With daily symptoms of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath – breathing is definitely not something that comes easy

Usually more than one type of asthma medication is needed to help you control these symptoms, and quite often you are probably using them more than once daily.

Though medication works very well at managing your symptoms of asthma as they arise and worsen, but what if you could prevent the severity of your symptoms long term?

Learn about the underlying causes that trigger your asthma to worsen so that you can prevent those terrifying symptoms from occurring so regularly.

What are the triggers of Asthma?

There are many triggers to asthma that you are probably very well aware but in case you aren’t, please have a look at the following common triggers amongst asthmatics.

• Cigarette smoke
• Mould
• Animal dander
• Dust
• Pollen
• Cold drinks
• Air Conditioning
• Diesel fumes

Being a chronic asthmatic, these environmental triggers are most likely second nature to you, so knowing to avoid these triggers the best you can is probably something that you do not need to hear again.

So what I will talk about instead are the lesser known causative factors and triggers that you may not know about.

Omega 3 Fatty Acid Deficiency

If you do not eat fish at least three to four times a week at least then you be at risk of an Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency which sucks because Omega 3 is great for asthmatics like yourself!

Being deficient in omega 3 means you miss out on the natural anti-inflammatory action that omega 3 fatty acids contain – and you need all of the anti-inflammatory action you can get because asthma is caused from excessive inflammation of the airways.

I know I know, you may not like the taste or smell of fish, or maybe the price of fish doesn’t suit your weekly budget but there are alternative ways to still receive your omega 3.

You could take a fish oil capsule so you don’t have to taste the fish at all – but you must ensure you have a minimum of 3-4 capsules a day for it to be beneficial.

Or if you are vegetarian or vegan you could take a flax seed oil liquid that you can throw in a smoothie or put in a salad dressing at 1 to 2 tablespoons a day or take the capsules!

Food Allergy and Food Sensitivities

Food allergies and sensitivities are commonly linked to the worsening of asthmatic symptoms.

You may have had a skin prick test that indicated you were allergic to a variety of environmental allergens, but failed to show any allergy to food.

Skin prick tests only test for immediate allergic reactions which involve IgE antibodies. But in the case of food sensitivity, IgG antibodies are only involved which are not picked up on a skin prick test.

Getting tested by an Allergist that tests for both IgE and IgG antibodies or doing a food challenge will help you find out exactly what you could be reacting to so that you can avoid exposure to these food sensitivities that may trigger a worsening of your asthma or initiate asthma attacks.

Food sensitivities worsen asthma as it induces inflammation and excess mucous production reducing the passage of air as well as inducing bronchospasm.

Cow’s milk, sodium benzoate (preservative), sulphur dioxide (preservative commonly found in dried fruit) in particular are very common food sensitivities amongst asthmatics that you may want to consider in chronic asthma.

Low Stomach Acid

Low stomach acid is a common problem particularly in asthmatics, where an approximate 80% or children with asthma have low stomach acid.

Low stomach acid is often initiated by a cow’s milk allergy, which results in irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and digestive system, inhibiting the release of hydrochloric acid into the stomach for proper digestion.

If you have low stomach acid, you will become very prone to nutrient deficiencies and the production of even more food sensitivities that can worsen your asthma.

So the first step is to determine if you have food allergies that may be maintaining low stomach acid from child hood, and secondly rule out if you have low stomach acid or not.

To learn more about the symptoms to low stomach acid and what you can do to improve digestion, please read my article on Food Sensitivity – What Causes it and How to Treat it Part Two and Three.

Yes There is More

In Part Two I will discuss the significance of Magnesium deficiency on asthmatic symptoms as well as some further handy tips you could incorporate into your daily lifestyle.

References

1. Roberts, G and Lack, G. Food Allergy and Asthma – What is the Link? Paediatric Respiratory Reviews Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 205-212 (September 2003).

2. Nguyen Myngoc T. Effect of Cow Milk on Pulmonary Function in Atopic Asthmatic Patients. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 1997; 79(1): 62-64

3. Noah J. Friedman, Robert S. Zeiger . The role of breast-feeding in the development of allergies and asthma. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – June 2005 (Vol. 115, Issue 6, Pages 1238-1248

4. Jen – Yuan Hsu, Han Chung Lien, Chi Sen Chang and Gran Hum Chen. Abnormal acid reflux in asthmatic patients in a region with low GERD prevalence. Journal of Gastroenterology, Volume 40, Number 1 / January, 2005

5. Okamoto M et al. Effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids compared with n-bronchial asthma. Intern Med. 2000 Feb;39(2):107 – 111

6. Schubert, R et al. Effect of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Asthma after Low-Dose Allergen Challenge. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2009;148:321-329

Related posts:

1. Asthma – Causes and Triggers Part Two
2. Signs and Symptoms of Asthma
3. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Part One – Symptoms and Triggers