May winds doth blow and that means pollens, dust, and other allergens are airborne and making life miserable for allergy sufferers.  We brought in a product from a lab in Sedona called Allergy Aide that seems to be helping quite a few of our patients.  It is a homeopathic tincture made up of many of the plants from this area and seems to promote a healthy immune response to pollens from those plants.  This, along with the bioflavonoid quercitin and overall immune support, may calm reactions and support a healthier response to allergens.

Let your bedroom be a haven from allergen exposure by using an air filter and replacing carpet with tile or wood floors.  If you use a dry cleaning service for clothing, hang these clothes in another room for 2-3 days after cleaning to reduce exposure to chemicals used in that process.  Switch to natural cleaning products or consider using vinegar and water or baking soda for bathrooms, kitchen and countertops. 

Read food labels and stay away from added chemicals, preservatives, food dyes and any processed foods with words you cannot pronounce.  Personal hygiene products can also contain many added ingredients that irritate skin and cause allergic reactions so consider switching to all natural shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, lotions and make-up.  Your skin is not only a detoxification organ but it is capable of absorbing anything you apply externally so use caution in choosing skin products.

Consider keeping a diet diary to identify potential symptom-producing foods.  By recording everything that goes into your mouth and noting things like headaches, mucus production, bowel changes, foggy thinking, bloating, gas, sleep difficulty, fatigue; anything you experience as less than optimal health could be related to food sensitivities. 

The Blood Type Diet is a good place to begin incorporating foods that are more beneficial for you.  We have hand-outs for the different blood types and Dr. D’Adamo’s books, Eat Right For Your Blood Type  and and Cook Right For Your Blood Type are excellent resources for making this life-style change.  The website for support is http://www.dadamo.com   We also carry a product called Ultra-Clear pH that is used in conjunction with a 28 day cleanse that can provide a jump-start for allaying inflammatory and allergy-related symptoms.  Another resource is a blood lab that identifies the specific foods you are sensitive to along with dietary guidelines and a money-back guarantee from the lab if you do not see results after following their protocol.  There are many resources for addressing both inflammatory and allergy-related symptoms.

Remember to keep it simple.  A diet that is predominately whole-food based is the best medicine.  Spend organic dollars on any animal products as these represent the highest exposure to hormones, anti-biotics and other chemicals.

Set your intention for the day before rising.  Celebrate your food and be in the moment when eating.  Drink plenty of water throughout the day.  Focus on what IS working in your life and smile every chance that you get.