Natural Remedies against Seasonal Allergies, if you're still suffering.

I still see many of my clients suffer from high pollen count, and allergy are brutal way to spoil the pleasure of being outside, when good weather is finally with us. So here we go again.

Allergy Prevention 101

First and foremost, eating foods high in vitamin C, quercetin, and inflammation-busting omega-3s can prevent allergies. But what you eat can be just as important as what you DON'T eat.

I found that avoiding dairy completely was the only way to completely shut down any tendency towards inflamed sinuses and congested nasal passages during allergy season. Sorry to say for muffin, bread and croissant lovers, wheat doesn't help either. Sugar is also inflammatory, so I tend to avoid it as much as possible, but especially during allergy season. That means added sugar, like in sweetened beverages. It's no good for your immune system, and no good for allergy sufferers.

Avoid:
Dairy
Wheat
Eggs (arachidonic acid in eggs is pro-inflammatory)
Sugar
Food to Eat:
Foods high in Vitamin C:
Dark leafy greens
Broccoli
Kiwi
Organic strawberries
Yellow bell peppers
Peas
Papaya (also rich in inflammation-fighting enzymes)
Citrus
Foods high in Quercetin:
Green tea
Apples
Raspberries
Blueberries
Cranberries
Capers (highest concentration of all these foods)
Foods high in Omega-3s:
Wild, cold-water fish (like salmon, sardines)
Flax, chia
Almonds, walnuts
Avocado
Mast Cells -- Allergy Symptom Promoters
Mast cells are those cells lining your nasal passages, sinuses, and airways that secrete histamine in response to airborne allergens. 

Take a Mast Cell Stabilizer
So, the best way to prevent allergy symptoms is to take a mast cell stabilizer when you feel allergy symptoms coming on, or better yet, even before they start.  And for your benefit, I've linked effective products to this message.

At the first signs of sneezing, take Buffered Vitamin C 1000mg, and repeat every 4 - 6 hours. To this, you can add Quercetin 500mg 2 - 3 times per day. This combination works great for quieting unruly mast cells.

If you have a runny nose with lots of sneezing, I find that nettle leaf can provide immediate relief with its anti-histamine properties, but without the unpleasant side-effects of the OTC remedies. You can drink it as a tea from the dried leaves of the stinging nettle plant. As a supplement, take Nettle Leaf 500mg 2 - 3 times per day.

Other natural symptom relievers that stabilize mast cells and have an anti-inflammatory effect to reduce the pressure of inflamed sinuses include:

Xlear - a natural, steroid-free nasal spray that is proven to reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Use as directed.
Bromelain - an enzyme derived mainly from the pineapple core. Take 1000mg between meals on an empty stomach, at least two hours after a meal or one hour before the next meal.
Butterbur - this anti-inflammatory is also used to help asthma symptoms. Take 150mg 3x/day.
Boswellia - another potent anti-inflammatory phytonutrient. Take 300mg 3x/day.

And for a quick pick-me-up nasal passage refresher and opener, try a small dab of peppermint oil at the base of your nostrils. I offer the strongest peppermint oil in a roller bottle, just ask me on your next Reflexology/Reiki session. You can also open up the nasal passages with a steam inhalation infused with a few drops of essential oil of eucalyptus. Place 4 cups of water in a pot, add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil, and bring to a boil. Place a towel over your head and lean over the pot, inhaling the steam while using the towel to trap it around your face.

Also, don't forget the utility of a neti pot or saline wash to simply wash out all the airborne allergens sticking to the insides of your nasal passages that are causing the symptoms in the first place. Same goes for the eyes. Isotonic sterile saline eye drops provide immediate relief for red, itchy eyes when the pollen count is high. Optique 1® by Boiron is a safe blend of homeopathic ingredients that work naturally to relieve minor eye irritations caused by airborne irritants, such as pollen, dust or ragweed. It can be used throughout the day without any risk of overdosing. Finally, there's relief for dry, itchy, burning, red eyes without the rebound effect of all those OTC vasoconstrictors or astringents that only provide temporary relief. Sabadil is also another one of Boiron's homeopathic products to help relieve allergy symptoms.

And if you still have symptoms, even with these natural remedies, or need further guidance, don't hesitate to make an appointment to see me. Session on SOQI bed with Far Infrared light may be another effective way to address the inflammation caused by seasonal allergy.

Always
Yours in Health Naturally,
Irina Breslav, MS, ARCB

Sources: Dr. V. Pedre, MD

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International Council of Reflexologists - ICR Conference 2015

As many of you know, I went to England last September for a fabulous gathering of reflexologists from all over the globe. If you have time, watch the video here to see the faces of so many modern reflexologists.

In 1999, I went to my first ICR in Hawaii where I met my reflexology Master, Father Josef Eugster and later learned the incredibly effective Father Josef Method of Reflexology. The pictures below illustrate the history of our 15-year relationship. Father Josef continues to inspire me and thousands of reflexologists around the world. He was again a keynote speaker as this conference, as he was in Hawaii all those years ago.

Reflexology Explained

In my first article on this fascinating subject (November 6, 2007 - The Advocate, Greenwich Times I shared with readers the documented benefits of this popular modality - Reflexology.  Originally trained as a scientist, for the past ten years I have been practicing and teaching my beloved profession - Reflexology.

I was always interested how it actually works. There are several theories and over 50 books written on the subject of Reflexology. In this article I would like to talk about some of these theories.

First of all, let us define the word reflex. A reflex is involuntary response to stimulus, more accurately it is the reflex action of an organ, gland or muscle reached by energy current initiated by a stimulus. Reflexes are specific, predictable and purposeful.

Russian Dr. Vladimir Bekhterev first introduced the word Reflexology to the medical community in 1907. This ancient art can be traced back to Egypt, China and India. There is a lot of detailed information that can be found on the subject in “Reflexology: Art, Science & History” written by a colleague and friend, Christine Issel, world-renowned Reflexology advocate. Dr. William FitzGerald, a Connecticut physician, a head of the Nose and Throat Department of St. Francis Hospital In Hartford, CT, 1909, did significant input into modern application of Reflexology. He mapped out various areas on hands, feet and over joints, which upon pressure would provide the pain relief at distant points. In 1917 he wrote in his book “This science I have named zone therapy”

“Reflexology is a wholistic energy based discipline within complimentary medicine, which works through energies of the nervous, chemical, electrical and magnetic systems of the body by application of pressure to reflexes found on the feet, hands and ears” – description was offered by Christine Issel at the International Council of Reflexologists’ conference in Australia last year.

 Medical studies dating back to the18th century conclusively proved a neurological relationship between internal organs though neurological pathways on the skin to the brain. In 1932 Sir Charles Sherrington and Edgar Adrian won the Nobel Prize for their work on the physiology of the nervous system. Adrian also discovered that electrical intensity of the nerve impulse depends on the size of the nerve. Our feet are particularly abundant with nerve endings. Studies have shown that chemicals in the form of hormones and endorphins are released to the blood when pressure is applied to specific points on the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine originated 5,000 years ago is based on belief that our body is complex energy system that uses energy channels, called meridians to move Body Fluids, Blood, and Qi. The feet and hands have starting and ending points of these meridians.

The final concept I would like to introduce is the bio-holographic theory, a new branch of biology that studies the correlation in biological properties between the parts and the whole, for example every cell contains the DNA blueprint of the entire body. Similarly we can apply that feet, hands and ears are microcosms of the whole body.

Discussing the mechanism of action in any touch therapy dictates the recognition of the effect on all aspects of human beings – body, mind, soul and spirit. The healing process in this regard is still a mystery, no matter how much we have already learned and proved through scientific experiments and findings.

Reflexology is a wholistic healing technology, valuable part of emerging dynamic Energy Medicine field.

I invite you to experience it yourself.