Jo's Health Corner: allergies

Allergies in Children

According to a CDC study survey, 1 in 20 children have food allergies which is a 50% increase since the late 1990's, and 1 in 8 have contact allergies. Dr. Benjamin Perkus said at the Young Living Convention, "kids and teens who are born abroad and immigrate to the United States are about half as likely to have asthma and allergies as those who are born in the U.S."

As a European who has lived in several countries I have noticed a few things:

More food in other countries contain less or no preservatives than here in USA.
More food in other countries contain natural food colorings (from vegetables) than here in USA.
A lot of chemicals are forbidden in Europe but still allowed here in USA. American food manufactures have to make special products for the European market.
Genetically modified food has been banned in many countries, and GMO food is required to be labeled in several countries.
The amount of vaccines children receive is less in many other countries than here in USA. Swedish children receive less vaccines than most other children in other countries and the amount of SID cases are among the lowest in the world.

So I am not surprised to find out that children born abroad will develop less asthma and allergies than children born here in the U.S. The European Union has also taken an interest in what damage chemicals can do to children. It is now a law to label products aimed at children that contain artificial coloring. EU recognizes that food dyes can cause allergies, asthma and cancer.

Dr.Perkus recommends to use lavender, and an anti-microbial blend of rosemary cineol, clove, cinnamon, lemon and Eucalyptus radiata for children. He recommends to use the anti-microbial blend for mold. He also recommends to use probiotics and enzymes.

What to do about allergies
Fortunately as parents we can be proactive and protect our children here in the U.S. Whether your child is allergic or not, it has to start with the diet.

Make sure to purchase food that doesn't have any nasty chemicals, but as you will notice it will be hard to find good quality food in the stores. Your best bet is to make as much as possible from scratch and to buy organic.
Eat wholesome food with plenty of fruit and vegetables, replace the sugary snacks with some fruit, veggies, smoothies, chicken, eggs etc.
Make sure that your child receives sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, it is said it is impossible to receive all the nutrients we need through food alone so purchase a good quality multivitamin.
Vitamin D and omega -3 fatty acids are said to decrease allergy symptoms.

Replace all the toxic household products and personal hygiene products with natural products. It doesn't have to be expensive, you can use vinegar and baking soda for a lot of things in the house. Check out my Natural Cleaning Post.

It is recommended to keep a log once you notice your child show signs of allergies. It is important to ask what has your child touched, inhaled, smelled, eaten prior to the change. Contact and inhalant allergies are usually instant while food allergic are usually delayed 20 min - 2 hours.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

12:55 PM | Read more...

Emergency Preparedness – Allergies

This is my fifth post in my Emergency Preparedness series where I address an important issue such as lack of access to medicine and medical care in case of emergencies.

What if access to medication and medical care is denied?

In my first post, Emergency Preparedness, I was wondering how people on prescribed medications would handle an emergency situation if access to medication and medical care is denied. I encourage you to go back to my previous posts and read them. My previous posts cover high blood pressure, a nxiety & depression, pain ,and diabetes

I urge you to take charge of your own health so you're better prepared for any situation where you might not be able to fill your prescription or use any medical facilities.

Natural solutions
Below are some natural solutions to the most prescribed drugs in America today.

Why essential oils?

You can stockpile essential oils, and they have no expiration date if they are stored correctly. Herbs also lose their potency over time.
They are small enough so they can be put in a pocket if needed.
They are more potent so less amount is needed for healing. You have to drink 26 cups of peppermint tea in order to get the same healing effect as one drop of therapeutic peppermint essential oil.

Treat the body holistically
It is important to remember to take a holistic approach to healing and not only rely on natural remedies. Dietary changes, living a toxin free life, exercise, sufficient rest and sleep, and incorporating other healing therapies into your life should also be considered.

Okay, here we go:

#4 Allergy medications are some of the most prescribed drugs in our country

It is said that 35 millions suffer from allergies and many of them need prescription medications.

A German study found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids decreased the allergy symptoms. A Swedish study found that children who regularly ate fish prior to the age of one had much lower allergies by the time they were four. Omega-3 fatty acids sources are eggs, krill oil, and grass fed meat.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to allergies and more severe asthma in children.
Horseradish, hot chili peppers, and hot mustards are natural decongestants.
Locally produced honey which contains pollen spores, may act as a "natural allergy vaccine" according to many. They introduce a small amount of allergen by eating the honey and the immune system is activated, over time can build up the immune system against it.
Historically, quercetin rich food such as red grapes, red onions, capers, black tea, and apples have been used to prevent a histamine release, meaning they are natural antihistamines.
According to Steven Horne, the body needs to be purged from toxins and the immune system needs to be stimulated. All processed food with artificial chemicals add to the toxic burden of your body. Refined products are mucus forming and they don't do anything to relieve your allergies.
Increase wholesome food, dark leafy vegetables, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices in your diet.
According to Steven Horne, other nutrients that may be beneficial are selenium, zinc, pantothenic acid, and antioxidants.
Other things that may play an important role in allergies are adrenal insufficiency, liver problems and leaky gut syndrome according to Steven Horne.

Time for the oils:
It is said that lavender has anti-histamine properties. Studies also show that luteoln-7-orutinoside in peppermint has antihistamine properties. Gary Young says frankincense may help with allergies and Battaglia says it may be helpful for asthma. . Read my post, Essential Oils & Allergies for more detailed information.

Remember
Never quit any prescribed medication on your own since it may be dangerous. Some medications needs to be weaned of slowly. Consult with your doctor first.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives. She also runs Naturally Sports & Wellness together with her husband.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Connie and Alan Higley, (Twelfth Edition, revised 2010). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Abundant Health
Gary Young, ND (2006). Essential Oils, Integrative Medical Guide. Essential Science Publishing

Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

Julie Behling (2011). Medical Preparedness for Adults E-book

Photo credit

This post is linked to:
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1:56 PM | Read more...

Essential Oils & Allergies

The weather here in California has been lovely the last few days and I have enjoyed sitting outside soaking up some sun. Spring is the time when we feel awake and start living again after a long winter. If you suffer from allergies you probably don't enjoy the spring as much as you would like to. You probably suffer from congestion, have watery eyes, runny nose, earaches, and headaches. I know many people that have reduced their suffering by using natural remedies for their allergies. If you haven't tried natural remedies for your allergies yet, then it might be time to give it a try.

Triggers

As most of us know allergies can be triggered by many different things such as environmental chemicals, pollen, food, insect bites dander and dust. People with allergies may suffer from the following:

Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
Dermatitis, rashes
Itching lips, swelling of the tongue or lips
Wheezing and labored breathing

Essential oils may be helpful
Essential oils may be of help when suffering from allergies but it is also important to look into what is causing the allergy. Looking into the underlying causes of your allergy is important, my post Do You Have Allergies? will give you other natural tips to consider when suffering from allergies.

What we used on our dog
We managed to get our dog's congestionunder control with the help of frankincense, but we also changed her diet. We put a couple of drops of frankincense on our hands and rubbed them together, then cupped them over her nose so that she could inhale the oil. It was an instant relief from her congestion. Our dog preferred frankincense since it also calmed her from the panic attacks she had when she couldn't breath.

"An allergy is a damaging immune system response to a substance that does not bother most people." Reference Guide for Essential Oils

Antihistamines
According to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils, Roman Chamomile, lavender and Melaleuca (tea tree) have antihistamine properties. It is important to avoid chamomile if you're allergic to the ragweed. Studies how that luteolin- 7-orutinoside in peppermint has antihistamine properties.

The Reference Guide for Essential Oils writes that patchouli, elemi (rashes), eucalyptus, melissa - Lemon Balm (skin and respiratory), and spkikenard are other single oils used for allergies.

What we do for allergies:

We apply lavender to the sinuses to work as an antihistamine.
We apply to bottom of feet.
We put 2 or more drops into the palm of our left hand, rub clockwise with the flat palm or the right hand. Cup our hands together over the nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Don't touch your eyes!
We apply oils to a cotton ball, tissue, or handkerchief and place in the air vent of the car. Make sure you don't use any synthetic materials.
Rub 2 or more drops on our wrists, chest, neck, or under the nose and ears. (Indirect inhalation)

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Connie and Alan Higley, (Twelfth Edition, revised 2010). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Abundant Health