If you have ever suffered from eczema and had to scratch until you gave yourself a secondary infection – or even if you’ve just had the unsightly flaky and itchy skin without all the drama – then you know what a pain it can be.  Just think about an infant with baby eczema, and realize that what you’ve gone through is nothing in comparison to the helpless innocent child.

One of the last things you will want to do to cure your baby’s eczema is to use some harsh chemical or steroid cream – even if your pediatrician gave it to you.  Getting an alternate treatment in such a case would be warranted, since these creams pack a serious wallop.

You can try a number of natural remedies to address baby eczema that won’t carry with them the side effects of the medical creams.  The simplest remedy would be to invest in a humidifier, and keep it in the baby’s nursery.  Avoiding dry skin is the best remedy to prevent the breakdown of the skin, and moisturizing the air will be a great way to do that.  This will also help address their need to scratch themselves. (more…)

Although modern treatments are available to fight against allergies, a few alternative allergy therapies that may cause considerable difference. It is a vibrant approach for healing and it’s also often known as holistic therapy. Today many prefer alternative therapy than modern treatments for prevention of allergies or curing them. The survey made by National Institute of Health and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America indicates that, almost 50% of the American population are looking for alternative therapies at some stage for allergies along with other health conditions. However, for severe conditions like anaphylaxis, alternative therapy is not recommended. Only conventional medicines are highly recommended for such serious cases.

Types of alternative therapies:

Asthma, allergies and other similar problems can be cured by alternative therapy. Examples of the most extensively known alternative therapies are:

1. Herbal Therapy
2. Supplements
3. Homeopathic medicine
4. Desensitization techniques
5. Ayurveda
6. Acupuncture
7. Chiropractic medicine
8. Hypnosis

Before taking such alternative therapies that include herbs or tinctures, the patients with allergies have to consult a trained herbal medicine specialist. You should understand that herbs are also medicines and may have different effects depending on the type of herbs and how frequent you’re taking them. (more…)

Personal Story…

I was a first time mother. With labor a few weeks early, my baby girl was a bit small but healthy. It was only when she turned one years old, that we noticed something was wrong. The red cheeks, dark bags under the eyes, dry skin and cranky child, she just looked sick.

I am not sure how we thought of going to an allergist. Neither my husband nor I have much allergic histories. My husband did have some asthma as a child, but he outgrew it a while ago. I had a sister who was mildly allergic to eggs for a few years of her childhood… that was all. Could my daughter be allergic?

We were shocked but relieved to find the answer. After her first skin test done, she showed positive to eggs, milk, oats and beef. No wonder, she drank 6 bottles of milk a day! We took these results at face value (only later finding out that these tests are not always 100%) and began to learn to read labels and watch what she ate. She did improve, her face and eyes looked healthier…but her skin, it was dry, itchy and red. We discovered she had eczema. Was it a result of what she ate? Or was it a separate condition? The next two years we spent going from pediatric dermatologists, to top pediatric allergists. We did allergy blood work tests followed by skin tests. Results showed positive to tens of foods, including eggs, milk, fish, chicken, potato, banana, sesame, soy, and legumes; and now showed negative to beef and oats that were originally positive. (more…)

Millions of allergens are possibly present in the air that we breathe. The daily sneezing attacks that you have or the intermittent respiratory problems you or any one of your family members might be experiencing could be attributed to these allergens. Maybe it is high time for you to get an allergy relief air purifier installed in your home. There are various types of these purifiers to choose from. You can sneeze-proof your home with any one or a combination of these air purifiers. Purifiers that are specifically designed to either prevent the growth of or to stop entry of allergens in the air can easily be installed in your home.

Dirty air laden with allergies could cause minor bouts of sneezing, rashes, rhinitis, and even serious asthma attacks that could lead to bronchial spasms and life threatening anaphylaxis. This should be reason enough for you to feel the urgent need to have an allergy relief purifier at the soonest possible time. Among the allergens that could be removed from the air in your home are airborne pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and molds. If you care enough about your family’s health, you will look into the viable options for air purifiers in your home now. The small investment that you will shell out for the installation of these air purifiers is such a small price to pay for your health and the health of your loved ones. (more…)

Newly diagnosed celiac and wheat/gluten allergy patients often feel overwhelmed once the reality of their new lifestyle hits them. Patients are told to completely stay away from gluten and wheat in their diets, but are often left to guess how to proceed with such a restrictive diet and lifestyle.

Many health care providers do not offer information to fully educate their patients on the “how-to’s” of adapting to the new challenges and changes that come with diagnosis. Patients who truly want to become healthier and completely adapt to their new lifestyle must embark on a journey of self-education.

Self-education is an on-going process for patients, and leads to empowerment and self-confidence by gaining knowledge and understanding of their condition. With knowledge, patients can face Life and safely take part in the world around them. Quality of life is greatly enhanced when patients are feeling good and more confident. Self-education is a very powerful tool for newly diagnosed patients who suffer from celiac disease and wheat/gluten allergies. (more…)

Many people suffer from sensitivity to various types of pollen and need to find the right treatments for their pollen allergies that will provide them with relief. The constant congestion, headache, itchy nose and eyes or trouble breathing can make life hard. Although many children tend to grow out of their problems with allergies, most adults seem to retain their allergies. New studies have shown that many herbalists, naturopathic doctors and natural healers believe that it is possible to actually get rid of allergies through alternative treatments, although there are also many traditional ways to treat pollen allergies as well.

The obvious first step is to get tested to make sure that your allergies are actually pollen allergies. The next step is to avoid those things that cause your allergies, but that is easier said than done. Adjusting your environment can make a big difference in the severity of your allergies. For instance, as part of your treatment for pollen allergies, hire someone else to mow the grass and keep your yard in shape so you are not subjecting yourself firsthand to the pollen that causes your allergies. Your doctor will probably prescribe allergy medicine, which you should take daily per the given instructions. If you know you are likely to be around pollen, take your medicine in advance to help prevent or lessen the symptoms. (more…)

Metal allergy refers to a type of hypersensitivity reaction of the body against metal substances. One of the most common types of metal allergy is skin allergy against nickel especially in women who are using cheap jewelries that are made from nickel or with high nickel alloy. It has been said that 10 percent of the population unknowingly suffer from some sort of metal allergy. This cell-mediated type of hypersensitivity reaction can irritate the skin, causing rashes, eczema and inflammation with every close contact with a metal allergen.

Orthopedic patients who have implants in them may suffer from metallic allergies in one way or the other and may manifest the same signs and symptoms of cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction. These manifestations will only stop when the implants made of metal are removed.

Back in the Victorian era, the aristocratic women of Europe were fond of white creams to make their faces powdery white. This back then was trend of beauty and refinement. However, this powder caused poisoning because the powder itself was made of lead. For women who used this on themselves who had suffered from lead poisoning also suffered severe cases of metal allergy from using lead. (more…)

When most homeowners think of electronics and electronic appliances their first thought is entertainment devices. It makes sense because in many homes the HDTV is the center of family life. MP3 players, radios, and DVD players are all more popular than health and wellness electronics.

Did you know that according to the EPA that indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks? The easiest way to handle this risk is just to open the windows and let some fresh air blow in. This easy option, however, is not available to most of us for most times of the year. Nobody who lives in Florida is going to open the windows in the middle of the summer and the same for everybody who lives in New England in January.

All the sneezing, sore throats and runny noses that your family experienced this winter may not be due to colds at all. Dust, smoke, pollen and animal dander, to name a few of the particulates found in almost every home or apartment, can cause these cold-like symptoms. People susceptible to allergies are especially vulnerable to mold spores and dust mites, both of which are commonly found in indoor air. The complete list of indoor pollutants reads like the monster credits in a horror show. (more…)

House dust mite allergies are probably much more common than you imagine. Almost every home has dust mites. They are most frequently found in beds and other soft furnishings. When you consider you spend a third of your day in bed then you are disposed to them for a long time.

It is actually the proteins found in the excretion of dust mites that causes the problem. If you inhale or touch these proteins, your body can produce antibodies, these then cause the release of a chemical called histamine which causes swelling and irritation of your airways. This can give you asthma and hay fever type symptoms. But unlike hay fever dust mites are there all year long. If you suffer from year-round allergic rhinitis, that is a snuffly nose, then it might be a smart allergy causing it. If your snuffly nose gets worse at night, then it seems logical to assume that something you are being exposed to at night is causing it.

Dust mites feed off human skin. The body releases a great deal of dead skin every day, especially when you are in bed. This is why it’s important to regularly wash and change your bedding. If you suffer badly, then you might consider having only looks that can be washed and board flaws that can be kept clean easily. Dust traps like teddy bears, cushions and general clutter encouraged us. (more…)

Keep it dusted! That’s the prime rule for the spaces you spend a lot of your day in. Take a look at your keyboard and monitors and other, perhaps tucked away, electronics too. Those things attract dust like magnets. If you are allergic, keep them, dusted. Do be careful of what you use on LCD monitors. Spraying glass cleaner on them won’t do them any good, and besides, you can be allergic to that as well. If you need to dust or clean wood surfaces, test your wood cleaner first to see if it makes you sneeze. if you have to work it’s no good trying to type and sneeze at the same time. If you have a lot of knick-knacks in your office, dust those as well. Plain warm water (damp only) in a cloth is good for those, as well as any flat screens you have, or TV sets.

Your office chair is also important for good posture, and make sure that your computer height and keyboard are comfortable to use. If you practice “hunt and peck” keyboarding then there’s not much risk of your wrists getting tired because you are all over the place. If you are a touch keyboardist them using one of those gel arm/wrist rests works great. Your office chair is a critical factor in a healthy home office. If you find that leather or vinyl gets hot, then using a fabric chair works out, but only if you can keep it clean. (more…)