| Environmental Sensitivities? |
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| Written by Dr. Veronica LaChapelle, ND, PhD(c), CHS, CN |
| Sunday, 11 December 2005 23:08 |
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Do environmental sensitivities and plant growing seasons have you trapped inside your home suffering with red, itchy eyes and nose, sneezing, sinus headaches and congestion? Do you suffer from central Texas’ cedar fever? Are you one of 40 million Americans that shy away from the outdoors during the height of the pollen season? It is estimated that nearly 20% of Americans suffer with the discomforts of allergies. Cedar fever, oak and many funguses, molds and grasses are some of this area’s greatest generators of seasonal distress. These conditions are rarely life threatening; however, they do lead to periods of great discomfort, sleep loss and lack of productivity in the work place and personal activities. There are many over-the-counter medications which may assist in temporary relief of symptoms but most of them have side effects and offer no real solution! These products attempt to mask the annoyances after it is too late to address the cause. We suggest a look at the causes of allergies and why sufferers have so much difficulty. An allergic reaction can be summarized as a dysfunction of the immune system creating a cascading set of inflammatory reactions to environmental antigens that may usually be considered harmless. The immune system then overcompensates, creating an allergic reaction, or more properly described as sensitivity. Over time, cellular memories are created that trigger reactions which generally produce greater symptoms. Frequently, seasonal allergies are self-diagnosed and self-treated. Most people know exactly when their allergy season begins and how they will react. There are many medically-based tests for allergies- blood and skin tests are most frequently used. Both are invasive, may be painful and expensive. Once the allergens have been identified, the long process of “allergy shots”, also invasive, begins along with the risk of local or systemic reactions. Current research has produced non-invasive test methods that identify allergies; these tests are painless and reasonably priced. After the allergens are identified, their effects are eliminated through natural methods that are free of side-effects. “Cedar fever” is particularly bothersome in this area. Well, though it is no comfort, the term “cedar” is a misnomer; the real culprit is juniper! The good news is that natural health practitioners can now easily identify the allergen and assist you to improve the immune system utilizing several different approaches. One method often used is a liver cleanse. The liver plays an important role in the detoxification process and needs to be functioning properly, especially if food allergies are also involved. Not all liver cleanses are effective so individuals should be very careful to work under the care of a properly trained health care practitioner. Other approaches to limiting or eradicating the impact of airborne allergens may utilize homeopathy, nutritional supplementation, and/or lymphatic drainage remedies. Diet plays a large role in allergies and can impair the immune system’s performance against other allergens. A nutritional consultant will assist you eliminate offensive foods. Currently, there are many techniques for eliminating allergies that are all natural and non-invasive such as JMT. JMT is a technique that helps redirect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which manages many bodily processes including the immune system. If your immune system is reacting to any type of allergen, your body perceives it as an invader (when it may not necessarily be unhealthy) and acts to remove it. The immune system may overreact or be misdirected for any number of reasons. Through a series of muscle tests and corrective actions, JMT can redirect the immune system so that it will not overreact to common substances. At Health Matrix we utilize all of the above methods along with others to boost your immune system and improve its selectivity so that the allergy season no longer exists for you! |
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