Deb’s House Concerts …………

Deb’s House Concerts

.

I’ve had allergies to one thing or another for most of my life. But, it was not until I was an adult that I finally realized that it was not normal not to be able to breathe well at all times. I finally made the connection between allergies and colds and sore throats. That was quite a realization.

.

Since my great awakening to the possibility of being allergy-free and cold-free, at least to a large degree, I have tried to be aware of my diet and environment in order to stay well. And, I’ve made use of various antihistimes and decongestants over the years, as needed.

.

When I moved to Oklahoma a few years ago, people talked all the time about how humid it was. They talked about taking a shower and then being wet again from the humidity almost immediately. I thought they were surely mistaken because I thought North Carolina was more humid, so Oklahoma did not feel humid to me at all. I was delighted with the lower humidity, because my allergies seemed to disappear. When there were humid warm summer days, I loved the humidity, because with that Oklahoma wind, I could imagine I was walking on a beach in North Carolina.

.

I tried each year to return home to NC in April, a beautiful month when flowers and trees are in full bloom. It was not possible every year, but a few times I was able to return to NC during the full bloom of spring. It was beautiful enough to bring tears to my eyes just thinking of it.

.

Unfortunately, one year when I returned to NC in April, the beauty was all around, but the pollen was in the air. I could stay inside the house and look out the window. But, every time I tried to step outside to enjoy the sight and fragrance of the blooms, I suddenly could not breathe through my nose. Even OTC medications were of no use.

.

If you’re one of those people who are extremely grateful for the existence of antihistamines and decongestants, you know what I’m talking about. Yesterday, I read one of those ‘natural healing’ articles about keeping one’s sinuses clear and staying well. Now that I am approaching my first spring after returning to North Carolina, I am especially interested in keeping the lower allergic response I had during the years I lived in Oklahoma. I’m always on the lookout for ideas for natural ways to stay healthy. Here’s the link to Dr. Mao’s Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally that I read yesterday. And, here’s the entire post (below):

Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity

Allergy Alert: Breathe Easy, Naturally

Itchy, watery eyes, running nose, an aching head, and sinus congestion. Sound familiar? You may be among the 37 million people in the United States who suffer from allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. Consider combating your springtime woes naturally with these time-tested self-healing techniques.

Allergens in the Air
When your sinuses, the air-filled hollow cavities around your nose and nasal passages, become inflamed, fluid can accumulate and interfere with normal drainage of mucus in the sinuses. This condition is known as acute sinusitis. The result? You may have trouble breathing through your nose and feel your eyes and facial tissue swell up.

Your symptoms may include a headache, fever, a nagging cough, post-nasal drip, thick green or yellow discharge, and a feeling of facial “fullness” that gets worse when you lean forward; during a severe sinus infection, some people even experience a toothache.

This uncomfortable condition has many possible causes, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, allergies, or a deviated septum. Synonymous with spring, allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, is the inflammatory result of your immune system’s overreaction to allergens in the air.

Pollen is one famous offender. Other allergens include dirt, pollution, animal hair, food particles cloth fibers, and mold.

Surprising Secrets for Sinus Health
Here are some all-natural ways to gain freedom from sinus suffering.

• Clear your sinuses and your mind with a steamy stovetop spa. Add a few drops of wintergreen oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam. Take care not to be burned by the vapor.

• Herbs and spices like ginger, scallion, basil, garlic, oregano, cayenne peppers, white pepper, horseradish and turmeric will have your sinus passageways unblocked in no time!

• The supplement bromelain - a papaya and pineapple-based enzyme - helps reduce histamine release, the body’s natural allergic response.

• Clear your nasal passageway daily for healthy, happy sinuses. Add 1 tsp of sea salt, 1 drop of oregano oil, and 1 drop of wintergreen to a cup of warm water. Fill a small-spouted squeeze bottle with this warm solution. Squirt into one nostril at a time and blow out through the nose. Alternate nostrils.

• Press one clove of garlic, mix with 1 tsp of olive oil and soak a clean cotton ball with the oil mixture and place in nostrils after having washed the nostril with warm salt water. Leave in for 20 minutes and repeat three times a day until the symptoms clear up.

• These two simple self-massage practices that follow are incredibly effective for relieving sinus congestion. For both, sit at the tip of a sturdy chair with your back erect, spine stretched, and your head tilted slightly forward.

1. Inhale and gently press your forehead just inside the temples with your palms. Exhale and release. Repeat three times.

2. Cross your middle and index fingers by placing the tips of your middle fingers on top of the fingernails on your index fingers. Rub the sides of your nose 36 times in a circular motion, warming your fingers first if they’re cold.

What you eat affects your sinus health
Avoid the foods that produce mucous and dampness: dairy products, cold and raw foods, corn (including corn syrup), and simple sugars. Choose whole grains like quinoa, amaranth and brown rice instead of wheat, rye and barley, which are typically high allergy grains. Opt for papaya, cranberries, pear, pineapple, cherries, mango, and citrus fruits. Eat more green vegetables such as artichoke, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and spinach.

Both alcohol and smoking should be avoided during a sinus flare-up as they irritate the respiratory tract and worsen nasal inflammation. Also, sinus congestion is often worse with lack of quality rest so be sure to get plenty of sleep and keep your stress level low.

I hope that you find the ways to keep your sinuses clear and freely flowing. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao