Treating seasonal allergies naturally and the truth about detox

By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Spring is coming! No kidding, it really will be here before we know it. For those of you, who suffer with seasonal allergies, let me remind you that this is the time you should begin taking your natural preparations. It is very important to try and desensitize now while you have the opportunity. Waiting until the trees and grass pollens are out miserable. Your body needs enough time to prepare for the pollen onslaught. Herbal formulas such as Dr. Clayton's Sinus-Ade or Nature's Way HAS can be started now at very low dose and can really minimize the allergy response when everything is in bloom. For those of you who are using bee pollen and/or honey, this is definitely the time to get going. Allergies and Echinacea Many articles on treating allergies will say not to use immune boosting herbs such as Echinacea, because allergies are auto immune diseases, and further stimulating the immune system is counterproductive. That may be so, and in theory it makes sense. The problem is there is no real evidence to prove it. The original research was done many years ago in Germany. The Echinacea plants were sent there and since they did not have enough material to do in-depth research, many ideas about the herb's activities were speculative. Further research has disproven the earlier ideas, but the stories continue to circulate. Many herbal preparations contain immune modulating ingredients. They are also blended with other herbs that may balance the effect In general, herbs do not cause the body to overreact. They tend to restore the body to normal balance, or homeostasis. Homeopathy and allergies If there is any concern about using particular herbs, then a homeopathic remedy is probably the right choice for you. Homeopathics are found in most health stores and the over-the-counter brands such as Bio-Allers or Natra-Bio can be very specific for which allergens are causing you the most problem. If you are not sure which allergen is your trigger, Homeopathic physicians can help you find the culprit and prescribe specific treatments for you. Lipitor and memory News Flash: This past week, the big story was reports that Lipitor was linked to rapid memory loss. Pfizer, the company that makes Lipitor said these stories were anecdotal and had no basis in fact. Well, I beg to differ with the reports. It seems that SMART MONEY magazine reported this problem with Lipitor back in November of 2003! Shame! They knew, The FDA knew, Pfizer knew, and our radio show listeners and customers knew, but the rest of the public was kept in the dark. Maybe they forgot. Foot bath detox? Let's talk about the latest craze hitting the public. Have you heard about the Ionic foot bath, or better yet, the Detox pads you put on the soles of your feet? In a week they supposably magically clean out your system of toxins and heavy metals and everything else under the sun. Please, try not to make P.T. Barnum any more right when he said "there's a sucker born every minute." These detox pads are cleaning your feet. That's it, period. Your feet sweat, and in the sweat there are some 'toxins and heavy metals, etc.' These pads are drawing out the oils and stuff from your feet. This is not cleaning your liver, kidneys, lungs, bowel or the other channels of elimination. "But Jonathan," you say, "The pads get dirty and all this stuff is coming out and there were all these people who wrote about how good they felt after using the pads of the foot bath" If you soaked your feet and cleaned them well for a week, these pads would have nothing to draw out. Again, refer to the quote from P.T. Barnum. If you are truly interested in doing a detox or cleansing, try a traditional method that actually works. There is no magic in it. Your ancestors did spring and fall cleaning, both in the home and the body. Spring and fall tonics have always been used. My suggestion is try a product such as Renew Life's First Cleanse. It is gentle and progressive and it is very good. Renew Life is the number one company in the country for this kind of product. They specialize in cleansing products, they use organic ingredients and they even give you an 800 number for any questions. The company founder, Dr. Brenda Watson has even appeared on PBS specials. Please, use products from a reputable source. Go to a health food store, and ask questions. Be discriminating and skeptical. If not, then let me tell you about a bridge I have for sale. Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013.