RAGWEED - SEPTEMBER 2014 - VOLUME 6 ISSUE 5
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I hope you had a great summer, and that you haven't been bothered by seasonal sensitivities! But if you are, or if you know anyone who is, I have some up-to-date information for you. We're still in ragweed season, which, for some, is worse than the earlier tree pollen and grass allergies. Of course, the ragweed will soon be followed by leaf mold, so the allergy season is far from over. With the hot humid weather over the summer, mold inside the home can also be an issue well into the fall. |
For a more detailed explanation of sensitivities (intolerances), please see our newsletter of May 2009 /newsletter/allergies-may-2009-volume-1-issue-3.html. Briefly, a sensitivity or intolerance might be described by a medical person as an abnormal reaction of the immune system to a substance that is usually not harmful. A natural health practitioner would describe a sensitivity as the inability of the liver to neutralize certain substances that build up within the body and eventually trigger an immune reaction. The immune system produces an inflammatory response, involving the release of histamine - hence antihistamines are often used to counter the effects of hay fever type sensitivities. The May 2009 newsletter also discusses food sensitivities, but for now, we'll stick to the hay fever type. |
Ragweed pollen is one of the leading causes of hay fever in the United States, and undoubtedly the same is true in Canada. The 41 species of annual ragweed have adapted to live in most areas of the U.S. and Canada. Ragweed season As if hay fever weren't enough, some sensitive people may develop contact dermatitis when exposed to ragweed as well. The rash will usually resolve on its own within 2 or 3 weeks as long as there is not further contact with the plant. Ragweed pollen spreads best on dry sunny days; in fact, humidity over 70% makes it more difficult for the pollen to travel, so there's an advantage to humid days. Foods to avoid
Ragweed's here to stay! Ragweed loves farmland - can you see where this is heading? Yes, some ragweed in the U.S. has become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, used on genetically modified crops (e.g. corn, canola, soybean). This is the most recent development after years of unsuccessful attempts to eradicate ragweed by other means. So now it's more resistant than ever. |
Mold thrives in damp locations, especially basements, but also bathrooms and laundry rooms. The damper the conditions, the more mold with thrive. Of course, humid weather plays an important role. Mold spores are spread by the wind, much like plant pollens. However, unlike plant pollens, they are not destroyed by cold weather. They simply become dormant over the winter, and reappear in the spring. Fall and spring are generally their 'best' seasons (or our worst). But summer humidity can increase the risk of exposure to mold as well. |
Avoiding pollen:
Avoiding mold:
Treating symptoms: Histablock is a Nature's Sunshine product, and a sort of natural antihistamine that you can order directly from our office. Benefits:
There are a number of additional ways you can minimize your susceptibility to allergens, for example by strengthening your immune system by taking AL-J http://www.ramilas.com/store/#!/~/product/id=6402681, vitamin C http://www.ramilas.com/store/#!/~/product/id=6402670, and taking anti-inflammatory products, such as Zambroza http://www.ramilas.com/store/#!/~/product/id=7802979.
Please contact us for further information. |
You're probably familiar with the option of being tested for your sensitivities by means of small injections of substances to find out which you react to. Then, typically, you receive an injection at intervals that range from each week to every 3 weeks for several years. During this time, and sometimes even at the end of it, you still have to cope with your sensitivities. Well, the good news is that we offer identification and 'clearing' (getting rid) of sensitivities that is not invasive, totally painless and quick! We can test you for several hundred individual environmental sensitivities, as well as equal numbers of food sensitivities if needed. If you are interested in this, please contact me for an appointment at 613.829.0427. For more information, please see our web site at /allergy-testing/. Please note that while the web site mostly discusses food sensitivities, that the methods are equally applicable to, and effective for, environmental sensitivities. For additional information, please email ramila@ramilas.com; or call Ramilas Healing Arts Clinic at 613.829.0427 for an appointment. Please continue letting friends and family know about this newsletter. Also on our website, please see back issues of this newsletter, additional information about products, order products, and see information about our Clinic. |
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The suggestions and recommendations in this newsletter are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic. The information is accurate and up to date to our knowledge, but we are not responsible for any errors in our sources of information. |
These newsletters will help you make better choices for better health. The choices that you make today can either have a positive or negative impact on your overall health. Begin by choosing better. It is a step toward longevity. Sincerely, Ramila Padiachy |
Ambrosia psilostachya
A new way to treat allergies is with the Bionette, which you can purchase from our office. The Bionette is a revolutionary electronic sensitivity relief device which uses red light phototherapy to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms. Using low-level narrow band red light technology, this anti-inflammatory, intra-nasal device effectively relieves hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny or stuffed nose, headache and teary eyes. Bionette should be used for 4.5 minutes 2 to 3 times a day upon the first appearance of hay fever symptoms. Once improvement occurs, the frequency of use can be gradually reduced as required. 
