I personally have had my daughter treated holistically and happy with her results. Though we still keep a mild watch for her allergen (nuts) she has had no outbreaks since her treatment. My take on many of these treatments is that it won’t hurt to try as they are very non-invasive and do not encourage prescription reliance.

NAET
This is the method we used with my daughter. It is a non-invasive, drug-free method for relieving allergy symptoms  (NAET stands for Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique). This treatment usually takes a few sessions depending on the severity of the allergy and can incorporate acupuncture, acupressure, even meditation and visualization while the patient holds a small, sealed, glass vial of the allergen. The allergen never comes in contact with the body. One way to look at this is the treatment resets the body to not react to the allergen.

EFT
This method, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques, incorporates tapping and verbal affirmations to reduce or remove the allergies from the body. Tapping is a common method used in people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Because the tapping is conducted at the meridian points on the body (where energy flows) it, again, is a sort of technique to reset the body and how it reacts to situations or allergens. It is also something a patient can be taught to do on his or her own.

Acupuncture
This is probably the one most common, or at least most well known to those who practice Western medicine. Acupuncture has its basis in traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting thin needles into the meridian points. Again, this method may take a few sessions and the patient may be prescribed herbs during the treatment.

Though many people balk at the idea of needles inserted throughout the body, it really doesn’t hurt. With my first hand experience, I can attest to that. It is in fact, a very relaxing treatment. With different sized needles and quite small ones available, even children can benefit from acupuncture treatment.

Acupressure
This is quite similar to acupuncture, but instead of needles, lights are used on the meridian points. Visualization is incorporated. Though acupuncture is usually more effective, acupressure is a nice alternative for children who don’t want the needles, or anyone else who may be wary of acupuncture.

Many Westerners who receive holistic treatment combine it with Western medicine. For instance, it is perfectly acceptable to use the holistic treatments, but if a bad allergy attack happens, by all means, take some medicine. Some people like the fact that even those these treatments may not completely eliminate an allergy, they can reduce it enough so that fears of anaphylaxis are eliminated and day to day activities can be resumed.

A lot of Eastern medicine depends on mind set. Visualization is a big part and a practitioner may ask the patient to visualize himself suffering an allergy attack and then again as allergy free. Those that can open their minds to this have a bigger change of  successful treatment. I think it is definitely a viable option of treatment for those who have been suffering allergies and can find no relief, or those that have a life threatening allergy. Be sure, however, to find a reputable practitioner before undertaking any treatments.

for more information:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/lifeandculture/ci_18378240

http://ahha.org/rosen.htm

We can still be vigilant and keep watch over what goes on over the summer. Here are some tips to get you started:

•    Write the same letters to camps that you do to schools. Let them know fully of your child’s allergy – the triggers, reactions and treatments. Many camps have nurses, speak to them. Find out where the medicine should go, with your child or counselor or nurse. Pack it up and send it!
•    Find out about foods. Whether it is a birthday party, swim party, or camp event, find out what will be served. If your child is still little, go with him if it’s a party or play date.  Then you can make sure he doesn’t get into anything allergic and you can bring his own snacks. If a friend wants to take him for the day, find out what they’ll be eating. If needed, send food. If it’s a friend close enough to have your child for the day, she should be close enough to trust to do the right thing regarding allergies.
•    Make sure any sitters know. Often parents need daycare, whether it is a sitter, nanny, or other situation during the summer. Treat this as you would anything else regarding the food allergy. Make sure any sitters know what to do in case of emergency; leave a  detailed written plan and go over any medication uses. If it’s a daycare situation, do the same as you would for school; they may even work with you on adapting to your needs.
•    Start getting ready for next school year! Now is the time to get prescriptions refilled and over the summer you can talk to the school administration about needs at school. Don’t wait till school starts to do all of this.
•    Summer is a great time to load up on new allergy free foods and recipes. Your child can help you make some recipes and even help choose some so he will have some ownership over it. He may not fill excluded from other foods if he has had his hand in making something yummy and safe.
•    Plant a garden. This is a great summer activity and fill it with allergy safe foods. Not only will this provide a wonderful experience for your family, but you will know exactly what everyone is eating.
•    Remember to keep meds with you. Because summer is more casual, we often run out to the pool or a friend’s house with more spontaneity. Just make sure you have emergency supplies and meds with you. Same for traveling. Keep it with you and take plenty. You never know if you may lose an Epipen or antihistamines. It’s always best to have too much than too little.

Don’t let the allergy keep anyone from having fun! You can always modify, adapt and do what needs to be done to make a great summer. Remember, you can be in charge of the allergy, don’t let it control you and your family.

Browsing online today after class, getting ready to do some work, I came across an article from The Times of India entitled none other than Yoga Poses to Ward off Allergies. This is also in the middle of all the other articles describing an ongoing, severe allergy season, how people are suffering through it and how miserable people are due to their allergies. I’ve written of yoga and allergies before, but here is even more proof!

Because allergies stress our bodies (which leads to stressful minds), yoga can help deal with the stress and help us to feel better. It’s also the deep, watchful breathing that yogis do that settles the body and can help fight against allergies. The article I read specifically lists two poses (asanas) that are good for allergies.

1.    Warrior One Pose. This one allows your lungs and chests to open and helps the mucous drain to relieve stuffiness and congestion.
2.    Half Moon Pose. This helps in opening the lungs and chest to help you breathe normally, too.

See the article for details on the poses as well as a video for each of them.

The relaxation that benefits your body during yoga with deep, focused breathing not only clears your stuffy chest and nasal passages during allergies, but it can also combat the release of histamines that cause all the allergy symptoms.

It seems the poses that open the chest and focus on breathing are what helps allergies the most through yoga. Remember, if you choose to begin a yoga practice, be gentle with yourself at first. Many yoga poses take lots of practice to get into and are not as “gentle” as they seem. One of the pluses of yoga is that it can be done anywhere, so if you travel a lot or don’t have access to a gym, you can still do yoga and relieve your allergies wherever you are. When the weather is pollen free, you can even take it outside on nice days, but while the pollen is out, keep your yoga practice indoors with closed doors and windows.

If you are already practicing yoga, ask your instructor about some more poses that will open your chest and clear your body of allergies. Holding the poses also helps your body detox, and that can get the allergens out, too. Whenever you feel your arms or legs or other big muscle groups shaking, that is your body releasing toxins. Yoga also has a stabilizing effect on the body’s immune system and can not only strengthen it but help in its overall resistance and tolerance to allergies and infection.

Where yoga may not be all you need to combat your allergies, it may become an integral part of not only your allergy regimen, but also just an important part of your life.

It seems pretty obvious that these things are connected, but she can’t get help. She wants to know is it dietary, environmental, what is it? Is it a combination? She’s debating a total elimination diet, allergy shots, and/ or allergy eliminations through alternative methods. Also on her list is a nutritionist, but the only one she has spoken to so far only said get your kid off of soda (which she doesn’t drink). HELP is what she is screaming and help is what she can’t find.

It’s difficult when you know something is wrong but don’t know what to do. She wants to go beyond allergy and have her daughter feel healthy, like a five year old should. Allergies are so individualized it can be tough to get the right answers for the right kids. Not every case is solved with a prescription for an epipen. It’s not just black and white. That is what drove me to NAET with my daughter and alternative medicine. I do completely believe there is definitely a need for western medicine and I am completely thankful we have the access to it that we do it, but I also know sometimes we need to think beyond what one doctor tells us. After my friend’s doctor visit, she felt worse about her daughter’s treatment than before. That’s not how it should be. So I am really proud of her for going beyond.

This reaction is also different than the denial one. She knows there is something going on with her daughter, she just wants more of an explanation and more of a treatment. Maybe it means going gluten free or getting the shots or being in a peanut free class. Maybe it means no playing outside during pollen season, and she’s willing to do things, but just needs to know what to do. Not fill her daughter with medicine after medicine and worry about traces of peanuts. It’s about empowerment and knowing what you have to deal with, for both the parent and the child. It’s about moving beyond the allergy. I know they’ll do it!

Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of both pharmaceutical (over the counter and prescription) and natural allergy relief:

Pharmaceutical Pros:
• Regulated by FDA so you know exactly what you are taking
• Proven to work and provide relief
• Stricter guidelines on dosage and usage
• Sometimes covered by insurance
• Can enhance quality of life

Pharmaceutical Cons:
• Can cause numerous side effects including drowsiness, lack of attention and trouble sleeping.
• Some side effects may be unknown
• Often need to take on a regular basis

Alternative Pros:
• These are natural instead of contrived ingredients
• Can take as needed
• Few (if any) side effects.
• Some can be less expensive than other medications

Alternative Cons
• Not regulated by FDA
• Could have side effects/reactions that are unknown
• Usually insurance does not cover

Some people choose to do one or the other while others like a combination. For instance, you can take your regular over the counter allergy medicine, but add rooibois or green tea to your daily diet to help out. These teas have quercetin and anti oxidants which have been shown to help combat allergies. For those who don’t want any medicine, they can find different herbs and supplements to help with their allergies on their own. And for those who don’t trust the alternatives, or simply want the hard evidence that studies can offer on prescription and OTC medicine, they may choose to go that route alone.

The best thing of all of this is that we have so much choice. If you try something one season and it doesn’t do the trick, try something else. A lot of the alternatives can be used in combination with other things, so it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you. Make sure you give it enough time, though, which could mean up to a few weeks. Many people start taking their relief before the season kicks on, which is a good idea. Just be ready, allergy season is just about upon us!

When working towards an allergy awareness program in your school, numbers always help. I mentioned in the earlier piece that it helps to have an in house ally, and it also helps to have numbers on your side, as in other families. You can get a support group going, and this will not only help in the school itself, but also for your family.

One way to get this going is to advertise it in your school newsletter. Most schools have a weekly eblast or some sort of communication to the parents. Go through either the school nurse or the PTA to get a blurb out about forming a support group. This can go under a PTA sub committee (maybe you are willing to chair it) and you can meet at school. Check with the school otherwise, some are more strict than others about having local meetings take place there. If your school won’t allow it, go off site. At least you can brainstorm how to get into the schools.

With a support group, you have back up. When you are ready to go into the school to give talks and presentations, you have help. Whether it is to the teachers or other parents, even in the classrooms to the kids, the more experiences, the better. It also is beneficial to have the wisdom from the different allergies; those with peanut allergies need different advice and restrictions than those with milk allergies.

Hopefully your school will back you in getting started, if not, at least they should listen when you are ready to share information. If nothing else, you will have a good core group to support each other. Again, the PTA is a great place to start. It has the credibility already in the school, and there is a national committee called Health and Wellness which allergies can fall under. The school nurse should also be a person who can help you.

Start here and the road is just beginning. You are on the right path.

However, one often overlooked way of dealing with any kind of allergy is acupuncture. Reports show that often relief is immediate, though it can take many sessions for consistent relief. With food allergies, there is more of a technique referred to as NAET which involves acupuncture (or acupressure) along with some other techniques to eliminate the body’s response to the allergy.

Though many people unfamiliar with acupuncture may be skeptical because it is not as well known in western countries as other areas of the world, it does have huge benefits. When my family first tried it, we weren’t completely sure, but also realized there is nothing really to lose (except money if your acupuncturist is not credible). Because it is noninvasive and you aren’t taking any medication, it does not have side effects. Also, people may tend to think the needles will hurt, but with a good acupuncturist, there is no pain, often you can barely even feel the needles.

Children can receive acupuncture, too, and it helps with any side effect from allergies, including headaches, stomach issues and fatigue. Often an acupuncturist will have tiny needles to use on a child, which is a bit less scary than larger ones to a child. And if acupuncture itself is too frightening, the practitioner can perform acupressure, which is similar but uses lights and lasers instead of needles. It is not always as effective, but can still have many benefits.

Also, for those accustomed to their allergy medications, they can continue to take them while getting acupuncture, and many find that as the process goes on, they don’t need the medication as much. Some people do not want to give up the medication until they know something else will work.

It may take a few sessions of acupuncture to see lasting relief of allergies, and for some people, they won’t need to go again. Some people will go for more acupuncture during a high allergy season, or every so often for a “tune up.” The best thing to do is have an open, comfortable relationship with a reliable, credible practitioner.

When it comes to explaining acupuncture, that’s where I am not so adept. The best analogy I have heard is the one that compares the body to a garden hose. When a hose gets a kink in it, the water can’t flow to its best potential. When the body has a “kink” in it, the chi can’t flow smoothly and something will not act as it should, whether it is a headache or a reaction to pollen. That’s when people look at me, when I mention the word “chi.” So if you are really interested in learning more about acupuncture as a treatment you better go to Wikipedia to educate yourself before deciding if it’s for you.

• Store everything air tight. Storage is important as it maintains the condition where you will find everything for next year. Store your ornaments in an air tight container, and pack them carefully (use egg cartons or other plastic grocery packing to ensure careful packing). Wipe them off before packing, as they may have been out a month or more, and not many people dust their Christmas tree. Make sure they are free of dust, tree needles and anything else that may have landed on them.
• If you have an artificial tree, store it air tight as well. You may want to blow it off with a leaf blower before you pack it away to get its dust off like the ornaments. Make sure it’s clean and stored where dust won’t befall it over the next few months.
• Airtight and covered goes for everything – decorations, wreaths, garlands, whatever you have. Things sit over the months and collect; you want them clean for when you are ready for them again.
• Once you have it all put away, you probably need to clean. I know we’ve go some dusty places where we have things out that are normally easy to dust. With more clutter, more dust can collect. As I take away, I dust and then I love the open spaces to really get in and clean.
• If you had a real tree, make sure all the needles are vacuumed up, then toss the bag and put in a new one before you vacuum again. You may find needles for months to come, but the key is to get the tree out before it drops to many needles.
• While you have furniture or other things out of the way, if you moved things around to fit the tree or other decorations – clean before you put it back. It’s a great time to get in those spaces otherwise occupied.
• Try to find a home for your new things so they don’t sit and collect dust and cause clutter. It may take a few days, but the sooner the better.

As much fun as it is to decorate and embellish for the holidays, there is something to said for the clean up. With a clean house, anyone will feel ready to take on a new year!

Here are some good ideas for gifts that will help them see how important they are and how meaningful their extra attention to your child’s allergy is. As the trend now is class gifts and you may have chipped in already, these don’t have to be expensive, but they can be a personal token of your appreciation.

• A nice ornament (but not a teachery one) that exemplifies their personality or hobby. One year my daughter’s teacher was also a dancer and we got her a ballet ornament which she really loved.
• Make her a meal to have over the busy holidays. Again, it doesn’t have to be extravagant, but a nice pot of soup and fresh salad would be perfect after a long day at school or shopping.
• Often in cold weather, the teachers have to be outside with the kids during recess. Maybe a scarf or gloves in her favorite color would keep her warm.
• Tie it in somehow to your child’s allergy – for instance, if he is allergic to bees, get his teacher some yummy tea and a jar of local honey. If it is peanuts or nuts, even eggs or gluten, make her some allergy free cookies to show her how good they can be. If it is environmental and your child is always sneezing, maybe a fun tissue box to brighten the classroom. A sense of humor is always a good thing!
• Because of all the sneezing and sniffling in the classroom, teachers wash their hands a lot. Get her some nice lotion to prevent her hands from drying. You can purchase nice lotion for not too expensive, but it may be something she wouldn’t buy for herself.
• I know one of our teachers has a young child with allergies and it’s all new to her. Maybe a cookbook or cute Epipen case would be good for her, even one of the many t-shirts for young children with allergies.
• Most of all, try to make it personal. If she loves coffee, a Starbucks card would be fine, but if she hates that place, don’t do it. If she is into gardening or her pet, go with that, but stay away from all the generics that teachers tend to get. If you absolutely can’t think of anything, one of the best gifts is a beautiful thank you from your child. Remember, teachers are in it because they love it, a thank you is always welcome.

1) Vibrations – Apparently, though very rare, people can break out in rashes or hives from vibrations in the air from things like lawnmowers and heavy machinery. The immune system senses something and reacts producing histamines, this skin irritation arises. Antihistamines can help.
2) Money – In essence, it is the nickel in the money, not the money itself that causes the contact dermatitis. Dry skin, rashes, redness and blisters can occur, and it is usually made worse with sweating. Antihistamines and cortisone can help.
3) Water – I’ve heard of this one, Aquagenic urticaria. It is rare but causes hives, welts and lesions on the skin where water has come in contact. Many experts do think it is something in the water, rather than the water itself. Antihistamines do not help as it is not caused by histamines, instead capsaicin tablets are recommended.
4) Deodorant – This one to me is not so strange as I believe I used to have it. Usually the effects come from the perfumes in the deodorant or antiperspirant, especially after shaving the underarms when the skin is vulnerable. For those with trouble with perfume free deodorant, there is prescription available, or the natural deodorants like the salt crystal sticks.
5) Shoes – Red, itching, flaky skin can be caused from the chemicals added in the production of shoes. Often sweat plays a part as the feet can’t “breath” and rashes and itchiness is caused. Wearing natural materials and practicing good foot hygiene may help.
6) Anesthesia – This can be scary as most people don’t know it until it sets in when they are already under. Some people have trouble with dental novacaine, too, and can’t be numbed during dental work.
7) Sun – Solar urticaria causes hives, rashes and other skin conditions. Sunscreens really don’t help but covering the skin with clothes and hats does. Prescriptions medicines are available to help.

Clearly, there is more to be allergic to than peanuts and dog hair. Though these above listed ones are very rare, they are still a life altering condition for those that have them. How do you avoid sunlight and water? Take a look at onlinenursepractitionerschools.com for the full story and more odd, but dangerous and/or annoying allergies, like cold, computers and sex.