Seasonal allergies can put a damper on the beauty of spring flowers in bloom and green landscapes — especially for the 35 million Americans who suffer from them yearly due to high pollen counts in the air. So, this is the time of the year when many of you may find anti-histamines become your wingman.
Every spring, many of my patients walk into my office blood shot, teary eyed, sniffling, and stuffy. Their seasonal allergies can be very debilitating to day-to-day activities and the medications can be sedative. In my practice, I offer people natural solutions to carry them through the spring and help them actually enjoy the season of renewal.
Natural therapies for seasonal allergies are geared towards three basic goals:
These tools provide relief without the extra chemicals, are non-sedative, and address the underlying cause of the liver’s inability to properly detoxify.
Our liver is our body’s filtration system that traps toxins entering the body through our respiratory system, digestive system, and skin. It is arguably the hardest working organ, as it’s constantly converting hazardous material into safer compounds to be excreted.
Our liver filters two quarts of blood per minute, extracting 99% of viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins, and more before recirculating it through the rest of the body. Pollen is considered an external offender by the body, so the liver packages it to be excreted as well.
Once filtered, these toxins need a way out. Our body’s three exit strategies include the skin, urinary tract, and digestive tract. If these areas are not optimally functioning, they will recirculate back to the liver. Seasonal allergy symptoms are a result of the liver’s inability to keep up with the workload it is dealt.
Here are five strategies for dodging seasonal allergies:
1. Pour a Cup of Nettles Tea
Nettles tea remains my number one seasonal allergy weapon. Nettles is an herb that specifically grows in the springtime for situations like allergies. It is highly nutritive to the liver, and studies have shown its ability to reduce histamine levels. For most of my patients, this alone does the trick.
I usually prescribe 3-4 cups per day in the form of tea instead of capsules because the hydration helps flush toxins more efficiently. You can brew it ahead of time and drink it hot or cold.
2. Decongest – Bromelain & Quercitin
Bromelain is a compound found in pineapples, and quercitin is a compound found in various fruits and vegetables. These antioxidant compounds combat congestion in the nasal cavities and chest by stabilizing immune cells and reducing inflammation. These both typically come in the form of capsules.
3. Up Your Fiber
The average American gets a total of 15 grams of fiber per day, where primal predecessors were getting upwards of 120 grams of fiber per day. Fiber assists in regular bowel movements and also binds to toxins for excretion. Increasing your daily intake of vegetables, seeds, and whole grains improves detoxification and chronic disease in the long term.
4. Adequate Hydration
By drinking plenty of caffeine-free fluids, your body is better able to flush toxins from your system. To determine hydration repletion, the general rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Herbal teas (including nettles tea mentioned above) can count towards your daily water goal. For every cup of caffeinated beverage you consume, it’s best to add an extra cup of water to compensate for dehydration.
5. Break a Sweat Daily
This can be a double-edged sword for allergy sufferers. You may want to exercise outside, but you have a flare up every time you try. Consider exercising indoors until you have a handle on your allergies. Our skin is our largest organ and sweat is a great vehicle for excreting toxins. Aside from exercise, dry saunas are another tool for enhancing detoxification if you have the access.
The content presented above is for informational purposes. Please consult with your doctor if you are interested in implementing any of these suggestions to ensure it is safe for your personal health care needs.
- Dr. Thalia Farshchian, N.D.
Dr. Thalia Farshchian is a Naturopathic doctor. As an expert in women’s health, digestive conditions, hormone conditions, autoimmune disease, weight loss, and environmental medicine, Dr. Thalia’s extensive health toolbox includes herbal medicine, diet and nutritional supplements, lifestyle modification, intravenous therapy, bio-identical hormones, and conventional medications when necessary. You can follow Dr. Thalia on her Web site, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@DrThaliaND) where she regularly posts her medical insights, recipes, and latest findings in healthy living.
This post is solely for informational purposes. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for medical advice. Before undertaking any course of treatment or dietary changes, you should seek the advice of your physician or other health care provider.
This sleek, classic men’s wallet makes for a timeless gift for dads, grads, or the minimalist-loving guy in your life. Handmade by MotorStreet, an Etsy artisan, the wallet/thin card case is built to last. The leather is hand-picked, stitched, treated, packaged, and sent. The designer shares, “I love knowing that every item I make will find a good home.” We love that, too.
Image by MotorStreet
Here at the Honest offices, we get pretty geeky about our product formulations. Most people cringe at the idea of spending hours and hours poring over scientific studies, but we find it fascinating. And that’s how we end up creating products that are not only safe, but also super effective, too. We keep the nasty stuff out and find the best stuff to put in.
We spend a lot of time thinking about every ingredient that we include in our formulas, and wanted to share some of the exciting things we’ve learned about lavender (which is currently used in our Lip Balm and brand new Healing Balm). It’s a delicate little flower with some amazing super powers!
Here’s a little about what we’ve learned…
Lavender essential oils have been used both cosmetically and therapeutically for centuries and are considered to be some of the mildest of known plant essential oils. Since it’s been used for so long, there’s oodles of anecdotal evidence, but what do the scientific studies say? Although some of the data is still inconclusive, there does seem to be both scientific and clinical evidence revealing some pretty exciting stuff:
During our research, we also found various Web sites expressing concern over the use of lavender – primarily because of estrogenic properties and cases of contact dermatitis. So, we looked into that, too – and here’s what we found:
In 2007, several doctors released a brief report linking tea tree and lavender oil to male prepubertal gynecomastia (breast growth) because three boys who were using products containing these ingredients were diagnosed with the condition. Since then, the report has been mentioned widely online and has caused much confusion and, we’d say, unnecessary worry.
There were many flaws in this report including:
What about other testing for estrogenic impacts? Well, there was a follow-up test that indicated a hormonal effect, but it was in vitro (test tube) testing which simply doesn’t translate to actual human exposure. (Also, it should be noted that over 4,000 components of plants have shown some degree of hormonal effect – that’s just the chemistry of nature and life!) Another follow-up study testing lavender oil as it might impact humans in real life exposures (using the model regarded as the “gold-standard in vivo test for estrogenic activity”) showed NO evidence of estrogenic activity.
And, what about contact dermatitis?
Well, skin allergies to lavender oil can happen, but it appears quite rare – and might possibly be due to oxidization (which happens when the oil is stored improperly). Considering that lavender is one of the most widely used essential oils and the cases of reported allergic reactions are so few and far between, we really don’t feel it should be considered an irritant. (Though, please consult your family doctor if you’re still concerned about it.)
All in all, the long list (and evidence) of benefits far outweighs the concerns of risk – and we’re excited to include it in some of our newest formulations!
References
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Cassella S, Cassella JP, Smith I 2002 Synergistic antifungal activity of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils against dermatophyte infection. The International Journal of Aromatherapy 12(1):2-15
Cavanagh H, Wilkinson J 2002 Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytotherapy Research 16(4):301–308
Cherng J-M, Shieh D-E, Chiang W 2007 Chemopreventive effects of minor dietary constituents in common foods on human cancer cells. Bioscience, Biotechnology & Biochemistry 71:1500-1504
D’Auria FD, Tecca M, Strippoli V et al 2005 Antifungal activity of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil against Candida albicans yeast and mycelial form. Medical Mycology 43:391-396
Edwards-Jones V, Buck R, Shawcross SG et al 2004 The effect of essential oils on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using a dressing model. Burns 30:772-777
Gattefossé RM 1993 Gattefossé’s aromatherapy. CW Daniel, Saffron Walden
Ghelardini C, Galeotti N, Salvatore G et al 1999 Local anaesthetic activity of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia. Planta Medica 65:700-703
Goiriz R, Delgado-Jimenez Y, Sanchez-Perez J et al 2007 Photoallergic contact dermatitis from lavender oil in topical ketoprofen. Contact Dermatitis 57:381-382
Gould MN, Malzman TH, Tanner MA et al 1987 Anticarcinogenic effects of terpenoids in orange peel oil. Proceedings of the 78th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 28:153
Guba R 1998/1999 Wound healing: a pilot study using an essential oil-based cream to heal dermal wounds and ulcers. The International Journal of Aromatherapy 9(2):67-74
Hartman D, Coetzee JC 2002 Two US practitioners’ experience of using essential oils for wound care. Journal of Wound Care 11(8):317-320
Henley D et al 2007 Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oil. New England Journal of Medicine 356: 479-485
Herz R 2009 Aromatherapy Facts and Fictions: A Scientific Analysis of Olfactory Effects on Mood, Physiology and Behavior International Journal of Neuroscience 119(2): 263-290
IFRA 2009 Standards, including amendments as of October 14th 2009. International Fragrance Association, Brussels. http://www.ifraorg.org
Kerr J 2002 The use of essential oils in wound healing. The International Journal of Aromatherapy 12(4):202-206
Kim HM, Cho SH 1999 Lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction in mice and rats. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology 51:221-226
Kunicka-Styczyńska A, Sikora M, Kalemba D 2009 Antimicrobial activity of lavender, tea tree and lemon oils in cosmetic preservative systems. Journal of Applied Microbiology 107:1903-1911
Kunicka-Styczyńska A, Sikora M, Kalemba D 2011 Lavender, tea tree and lemon oils as antimicrobials in washing liquids and soft body balms. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 33:53-61
Lis-Balchin M (Ed.) 2002 Lavender: The Genus Lavandula. Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Meneghini CL, Rantuccio F, Lomuto M 1971 Additives, vehicles and active drugs of topical medicaments as causes of delayed-type allergic dermatitis. Dermatologica 143:137-147
Opdyke DL J 1976 Monographs on fragrance raw materials. Food & Cosmetics Toxicology 14 supplement
Politano V et al 2013 Uterotrophic assay of percutaneous lavender oil in immature female rats. International Journal of Toxicology 32(2):123-129
Prashar A, Locke IC, Evans CS 2004 Cytotoxicity of lavender oil and its major components to human skin cells. Cell Proliferation 37:221-229
Sakurada T, Kuwahata H, Katsuyama S et al 2009 Intraplantar injection of bergamot essential oil into the mouse hindpaw: effects on capsaicin-induced nociceptive behaviors. International Review of Neurobiology 85:237-248
Sakurai H, Yasui H, Yamada Y et al 2005 Detection of reactive oxygen species in the skin of live mice and rats exposed to UVA light: a research review on chemiluminescence and trials for UVA protection. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 4:715-720
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Soković M, Glamočlija J, Marin PD et al 2010 Antibacterial effects of the essential oils of commonly consumed medicinal herbs using an in vitro model. Molecules 15:7532-7546
Vakilian K, Atarha M, Bekhradi R et al 2011 Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: a clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 17:50-53
Yang SA, Jeon SK, Lee EJ et al 2010 Comparative study of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of six essential oils and their components. Natural Product research 24:140-151
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Play dough remains a childhood classic because what’s not to love about squashing, poking, pounding, rolling, and sculpting this flexible medium. But beyond being a fun afternoon activity, it’s a great learning tool for kids.
If you make your own, your children will avoid toxic ingredients (like PVCs softened with phthalates) and learn about science, math, and kitchen safety through cooking. They’ll expand their imagination with creative play by making figures and building their current obsessions (ponies or garbage trucks, anyone?). And their use of tools to cut, roll, or make an impression will teach them about shapes and improve their dexterity.
Did we mention that making your own worry-free natural version is easy to do at home, inexpensive, and fun for everyone? Here’s a classic stove top recipe that makes smooth, durable play dough—guaranteed to provide hours of entertainment.
Ingredients
Directions
Shortly after having my daughter, my new social life revolved around bonding with other new mothers who were navigating the same challenges that I was. Long gone were spacious blocks of time for dinners and trips to the spa. I was looking for other women whom I could commiserate with about nursing, sleep challenges, and adjusting to life with a newborn.
When my daughter was six-weeks old, we ventured out for the first time and met some other new moms at a local cafe. At a time when I felt a deep transformation happening within me, I felt comforted as I connected with others who were also navigating the path of motherhood. Together, we explored the wide-range of motherhood experiences—joyous and difficult.
As a psychologist who specializes in perinatal wellness, I think it is important to discuss the internal and emotional changes that ensue during the first few months of the postpartum period, also referred to as the fourth trimester. Often, health care providers focus on what bodily changes occur during pregnancy, but education stops as soon as the baby is born and mom’s overall wellness fades to the background. During this vulnerable time, it is grounding to learn about the wide-range of emotional changes taking place.
For example, the postpartum period is filled with hormonal shifts/fluctuations, healing from childbirth, sleepless nights, breastfeeding, caring for a newborn, and adjusting to your new identity as a mother. This is an overwhelming burst of change for any new parent to digest.
In my clinical practice, I collaborate with Dr. Thalia Farshchian, a naturopathic doctor who examines a patient’s constellation of symptoms. She identifies the underlying imbalance and provides natural alternatives to restore overall health and wellness. She and I believe that each woman is unique in her experience of being a new mom. With that in mind, we provide a tailor-made treatment plan that meets her individual needs, expectations, and limitations. For example, her use of herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle modifications set a foundation for therapy to be more effective. Simultaneously, when patients feel holistically cared for, they are better able to express the wide-range of feelings that emerge during motherhood.
Together, we compiled the top five ways women can easily incorporate self-care routines into their day-to-day lives with baby.
Ask For Help
Eighty-percent of new moms experience “the baby blues.” This typically happens shortly after childbirth and lasts for approximately seven to ten days. Frequent crying, worrying, and sadness are all a “normal” response as your body adjusts to the hormonal fluctuations of childbirth, and you adjust to the emotional change that has taken place. It’s okay to ask for help. Reach out to family and friends for support. Additionally, your OB or pediatrician can provide a postpartum mood screening if your feelings are concerning to you, your partner, or those around you.
Nourish Your Body
You are what you eat, but you also are what you don’t eat. Moms often get wrapped up in the needs and complacency of their baby and forget to feed themselves. This is particularly true during breastfeeding, as lactation will come to a halt if a mother’s nutrition is not adequate. Easy ways of optimizing nutrition are incorporating a quick morning protein shake, keeping snacks near where you breastfeed and in the diaper bag. By maintaining a diet, balanced in protein, fat, and complex carbs, and eating every 2-3 hours, a new mom can better maintain blood sugar balance for sustained energy.
Don’t Isolate
While having a new baby can be exciting, it can also be lonely. A maternity leave often means time away from work colleagues and friends. In parenthood, as with any major life transition, relationships change. You may be the first of your friends to have started a family, or friends may live across the city in an urban area, all of these factors make it difficult to maintain friendships as they were before. Connecting with local, neighborhood playgroups and “mommy dates” can help break up the isolation as you navigate your new identity during this time.
Let Yourself Off The Hook
So often, new moms become all too familiar with one emotion that leaves them feeling inadequate: guilt. Not being able to do things as before, taking time out for oneself, letting the baby cry, not being the “perfect” parent, are all thoughts that tap into this reservoir of “not enough.” Accepting oneself with the same love and kindness that one accepts their baby helps smooth the guilt-ridden, mommy waters, and it’s wonderful parental modeling for our children too.
Get some Air and Take a Walk
Walking is an incredible way to ease back into your physical activity while enhancing mood and energy levels. The postpartum phase has plenty of new lessons and experiences that can send our stress hormone, cortisol, through the roof. Interestingly, most rigorous exercise also causes transient increases in cortisol as well. When life and exercise become too rigorous, we are set up for burnout. Walking is the only cardiovascular exercise that actually reduces cortisol levels. Not only is the physical activity refreshing, but being outside also gives you a break from your normal routine.
~ Dr. Juli Fraga Psy.D. and Dr. Thalia Farshchian, N.D.
Dr. Juli Fraga is a psychologist in San Francisco. She specializes in reproductive and perinatal health and wellness. She has written for Design Mom, The Conversation on Lifetime, and PsychCentral. Follow her at www.drjulifraga.com or on Twitter @dr_fraga.
Dr. Thalia Farshchian is a Naturopathic doctor. As an expert in women’s health, digestive conditions, hormone conditions, autoimmune disease, weight loss, and environmental medicine, Dr. Thalia’s extensive health toolbox includes herbal medicine, diet and nutritional supplements, lifestyle modification, intravenous therapy, bio-identical hormones and conventional medications when necessary. You can follow Dr. Thalia on her Web site, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@DrThaliaND) where she regularly posts her medical insights, recipes, and latest findings in healthy living.
This post is solely for informational purposes. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for medical advice. Before undertaking any course of treatment or dietary changes, you should seek the advice of your physician or other health care provider.
DISCLAIMER: Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis, treatment, dietary, or safety advice, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified expert with any questions you may have regarding a medical question, condition, or safety concern. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of others and does not represent the opinions and views of The Honest Company. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy or efficacy of any content generated by our users or bloggers.
