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First-Person Stories (May 2010)

News, ideas, and musings from the allergy world and beyond.

Please scroll down to view past entries.

May 31, 2010

Uninformed, excessive use of antibiotics had contributed to my chronic allergy problems. So eating or drinking things that restore the 'good' bacteria in my body is essential. One of them is Kefir, a yogurt drink (mentioned in the video below), I tried recently. It comes in many different flavors which tastes great. Learn more about probiotics here and this video gives further information on where to get these friendly micro-organisms to cultivate healthier you. As a person who cannot live without the ubiquitous Korean dish, Kim Chi, I am thrilled that it's included here as one of the beneficial foods (though I already knew of its awesomeness all my life!).

May 26, 2010

With one of the worst allergy seasons at hand, "The Dr. Oz Show" recently recommended a nasal spray of salt water with a drop of peppermint oil to relieve nasal allergy symptoms. Dr. Mehmet Oz told the audience that "Peppermint is a decongestant. If you just inhale peppermint, it opens your airways up a bit. The salt will irrigate your airways, and it's sort of like using a neti pot. You're washing out the sinuses, at the same time using solutions that open up the airways. It's one of the reasons we think it works for congestion."

Also, this remedy was featured in the book, Secrets of Self-Healing: Harness Nature's Power to Heal Common Ailments, Boost Your Vitality,and Achieve Optimum Wellness by Dr. Maoshing Ni.

The following describes how to make peppermint nasal spray at home: In a nasal spray bottle, mix together a few drops of peppermint oil in a container of warm saline solution or salt water. Spray into each nostril and breathe in. Gently wipe away excess solution, avoiding forceful nose-blowing. Soon the congestion will dissipate and you can experience easier breathing.

May 23, 2010

A New Jersey based engineer, Ashok Wahi, has developed a new gel product called Allergen Block to obstruct the air-borne allergens. Being chemical-free, it supposedly doesn't cause negative side effects of many conventional allergy drugs.

As the name implies, Allergen Block works by blocking the allergic substance from entering the body in the first place, rather than merely suppressing the symptoms. The gel can be applied on a fingertip and rubbed inside the nasal cavity. It can also be applied on the upper part of lips and act as an invisible guard against allergens.

Allergen Block is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

(Source: www.topnews.in)

May 19, 2010

As a big fan of tea, I was happy to learn more ways tea is useful as natural remedies. Consider the following:

-Dry a weepy poison ivy rash with strongly brewed tea. Simply dip a cotton ball into the tea, dab it on the affected area, and let it air-dry. Repeat as needed.

-What can you do when you forget to use sunscreen and have to pay the price with a painful burn? A few wet tea bags applied to the affected skin will take out the sting. This works well for other types of minor burns (i.e., from a teapot or steam iron) too. If the sunburn is too widespread to treat this way, put some tea bags in your bathwater and soak your whole body in the tub.

-Revitalize tired, achy, or puffy eyes. Soak two tea bags in warm water and place them over your closed eyes for 20 minutes. The tannins in the tea act to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes.

That's just a few awesome things tea can do. Did you know it can also get the gray out of your hair, tan your skin, soothe bleeding gums, and stop foot odor? Come to think of it, maybe tea can bring world peace and harmony. I mean, just picture world leaders enjoying calming, healing tea together and allowing its effect to take over?! Imagine what wonderful, positively transforming changes may occur.... I know, I sound naive and silly... dreaming, but I can hope, right?

Want to know more about tea's healing benefits? Then click here.

May 17, 2010

We use a nasal spray to ease congestion so we can breathe better. Well, did you know that it can also be used to stop nosebleeds? Surprising! Here is how....

Most nosebleeds can be stopped by simply pinching the nose for 10 to 20 minutes, but if yours persists, nasal spray may do the trick. According to Amy Sutton Peak, PharmD, director of Drug Information Services at Butler University, about two-thirds of people who visit an emergency room for a persistent nosebleed are successfully treated with oxymetazoline, the decongestant found in common drugstore nasal sprays such as Afrin and Mucinex.

To stop the bleeding, she recommends tilting your head forward and clearing your nose by blowing out any clots (this may increase bleeding for a few seconds). Next, inhale through your nose while spraying oxymetazoline into the affected nostril(s), and then pinch the soft part of your nose closed. Maintain pressure for 10 full minutes. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, continue pinching for another 10 minutes. If none of these measures works, see a health care provider for further treatment.

Source: Prevention

May 12, 2010

Are you feeling overwhelmed and stress-out? Here is a de-stressing technique from Harvard Medical School's Dr. Herbert Benson to help you let go of negative thoughts and facilitate well-being of your mind and body.

May 10, 2010

Wow, I knew vinegar was quite useful in many ways but 25 ways to clean with it?! That's impressive!

Vinegar bottle Pictures, Images and Photos

1. Deodorize the sink: Pour 1 cup baking soda, followed by 1 cup hot vinegar, down the drain. Let sit for at least 5 minutes, then rinse with hot water.
2. Deodorize the garbage disposal: Make ice cubes out of vinegar. Run the disposal with a few vinegar ice cubes and cold water.
3. Clean countertops: Wipe down surfaces with a rag dipped in vinegar.
4. Clean the fridge: Use a mixture of half water, half vinegar to wipe down the interior shelves and walls.
5. Remove soap build-up and odors from the dishwasher: Once a month, pour 1 cup of vinegar into an empty dishwasher and run the machine through its entire cycle.
6. Bust oven grease: If you’ve got grease spots on the oven door, pour some vinegar directly on the stains, let it sit for 15 minutes, and wipe away with a sponge.
7. To make old glassware sparkle: To get rid of the cloudy effect, wrap a vinegar-soaked towel around the glass and let it sit. Remove and rinse with hot water.
8. Get rid of lime deposits on your tea kettle: Fill the kettle with vinegar and let it boil. Allow it to cool, and rinse with water.
9. Remove stains in coffee cups: Create a paste using of equal parts vinegar and salt (or in lieu of salt, baking soda) and scrub gently before rinsing.
10. Treat Tupperware stains (and stinkiness): Wipe the containers with a vinegar-saturated cloth.
11. Remove stains on aluminum pots: Boil 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water.
12. Deter ant infestations: Spray outside doorways and windowsills, and anywhere you see a trail of critters.
13. Clean can openers: Scrub the wheel of your can opener with vinegar using an old toothbrush.
14. Remove stickers or labels: Cover the sticker with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Let it sit overnight—it should slide right off by morning.
15. Shine porcelain sinks: A bit of vinegar and a good scrub should leave them sparkling.
16. Clean grout: Pour on some vinegar, let it hang out for a few minutes, and buff with an old toothbrush.
17. Clean the shower door: Spray them down with vinegar pre-shower, or post (after you’ve squeegeed the glass) to remove hard water deposits.
18. Clean a grimy showerhead: To get rid of scum, fill a Ziploc with ½ a cup of baking soda and 1 cup vinegar and tie it around the showerhead. Let it sit for an hour, until the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and run the shower.
19. Make a toilet sparkle: Pour in a cup or two of vinegar and let it sit there overnight before scrubbing with a toilet brush.
20. Polish linoleum floors: Add 1 cup of vinegar for every gallon of water you use to wash the floor.
21. Clean paintbrushes: Soak paintbrushes for an hour before simmering them on the stove to remove hardened paint. Drain and rinse.
22. Clean grills: Spray vinegar on a ball of tin foil, then use it to give the grate a firm scrub.
23. Disinfect wood cutting boards: Wipe down wood boards with a wash of vinegar.
24. Clean the microwave: Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 2 cups water and ½ cup vinegar. Heat it on full power for 3-4 minutes until it comes to a boil. Keep the door closed for a few minutes longer to let the steam fill the microwave, loosening the grime. Remove the bowl (carefully!) and wipe down interior walls with a sponge.
25. Polish patent leather accessories: Give them a rub with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Buff with a dry cloth.

Source: Shine

May 06, 2010

Relying on three kinds of oils - essential, plant, and volatile - aromatherapy calms and relaxes the body and mind.

May 03, 2010

AllergySuperstore.com offers non-prescription products designed to relieve indoor as well as outdoor allergies, including over-the-counter medicine, cleaning products, air purifiers, bedding products and gluten-free foods.

The site also offers $1.99 standard shipping on every order within the contiguous 48 states. For prescription medicines, the site provides a link to the online pharmacy at drugstore.com.

"Our goal is to help our customers literally breathe easier by offering products in one, easy to shop online store with the convenience of home delivery," says vice president of merchandising Julie Johnston.

Source: internetretailer.com

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