Allergy season will soon be here or, depending on where you live, you may already be experiencing it. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures encourage long-dormant plants and trees to burst forth in fragrant and colorful blooms, releasing the herald of Spring – POLLEN! In some areas of the country, like Tidewater Virginia, morning-released pollen accumulates on any surface it can – covering cars, trucks, outdoor furniture, etc. with a yellow-green film. You can watch as waves of pollen float by creating an eerily-colored haze before landing. Regardless of where you live, it’s only a matter of time until the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis – better known as hay fever – arrive, bringing misery to an estimated 40 million Americans. (That estimate comes from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.)
Pollen irritates the mucous membrane tissues in our eyes, nasal/sinus pathways and oral cavity resulting in itchy eyes, nose and throat irritation, sneezing, post nasal drip, chronic cough, fatigue and in more severe cases, asthmatic reactions. Is there any way allergy sufferers can protect themselves from this springtime invader? According to Dr. Susanne Bennett, a top allergy specialist, the key to warding off allergic responses to pollen – or any other inhaled allergen – is prevention. Dr. Bennett, D.C., CCSP, is the creator and author of THE 7 DAY ALLERGY MAKEOVER (Penguin, March 2014), a step-by-step clinically proven program that helps individuals break free from their allergy symptoms by utilizing natural therapies and solutions- without drugs or injections. As founder of the Wellness For Life Center in Santa Monica, California, Bennett specializes in allergies, clinical nutrition, environmental and lifestyle medicine, with an emphasis in pediatric and young adult health care.
DR. BENNETT’S NATURAL REMEDY EMERGENCY KIT
Based on her 23 years of clinical experience, Bennett believes that there are many natural remedies for children and adults that work surprisingly well to relieve allergy symptoms from outdoor seasonal inhalants.
The makings of the Emergency Kit can be found at most health food stores or holistic pharmacies. Using these remedies individually or in combination may help alleviate your or your child’s symptoms and also prevent future reactions. Before using any of Dr. Bennett’s suggestions, confirm with your personal physician that they are right for you or your child.
• Vitamin C: an essential nutrient, which help modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation
• Quercetin: a powerful bioflavinoid found in fruits and vegetables that prevents immune cells from releasing histamines
• Stinging Nettles: Nettle leaf extract contains compounds that reduce inflammation and histamine production
• Bromelain: a natural enzyme from pineapple and an effective anti- inflammatory when taken on an empty stomach
• Black Currant (Ribes Nigrum) Gemmotherapy: Gemmotherapy formulas are plant stem cell extracts from buds and shoots of organic plants. Extremely powerful in minute doses, black currant extract is known as the “natural cortisone” to help alleviate inflammation and allergic symptoms.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: an optimal anti-inflammatory supplement when taken regularly with meals
• Pycnogenol: A study (June 2010) by Dale Wilson et al, in Phytotherapy Research concluded that pycnogenol (pine bark extract) taken 5 weeks prior to allergy season improved allergic rhinitis symptoms. This super anti-oxidant can reduce symptoms of inflammation, runny nose and itchy eyes.
Dr. Bennett wrote THE 7 DAY ALLERGY MAKEOVER for people who want to take an active role in their own healing. The book lays out action- oriented, step-by-step instructions on uncovering the root cause of allergies, and makes simple but specific changes that can stop allergy symptoms from recurring. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of health and environment for a person suffering from allergies – nutrition, air quality, living environment, water, body hygiene, and emotional and mental stresses. Dr. Bennett’s passion to be of service as a lifestyle medicine expert and provide cutting edge natural health practices to facilitate optimal healing, vitality and vigour is evident throughout her transformational book.
Note: Before beginning any new health regimen, it is important to consult your family physician or health care professional first. The information given in this issue of A Closer Look is for your consideration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Before starting or stopping any exercise routine or nutritional supplementation, please consult your family physician or health care professional about any contraindications that would make doing so inadvisable.
Information found in this edition of A Closer Look is taken from the book, THE 7 DAY ALLERGY MAKEOVER: A Simple Program to Eliminate Allergies and Restore Vibrant Health from the Inside Out by Dr. Susanne Bennett (Copyright © 2014 by Dr. Susanne Bennett; Penguin, March 2014). All rights reserved.
About the Author
Dr. Susanne Bennett, D.C., is a holistic chiropractor specializing in allergies, clinical nutrition, environmental and lifestyle medicine, with an emphasis in paediatric and young adult health care. She has earned nationwide recognition among physicians and patients for her pioneering efforts in treating chronic health problems that resist conventional medical treatment.