Spring Newsletter

            Soon the birch trees will be in bloom, signaling the beginning of Spring, and another season of burning eyes, running noses, and general allergy misery will be upon us. If you, or someone you know, suffer from hay fever, seasonal allergies, or asthma the time to take preventive action is now before pollen begins to fill the air (and your sinuses, lungs, and eyes).

            All allergic conditions represent an overly sensitive and overactive immune system. The natural strategy to begin to rebalance the immune system is to reduce the total antigenic load by removing as many allergens as possible and nutritionally supporting the immune system to calm its response. For most allergy sufferers, the symptoms of seasonal allergies can be reduced by 70-80% fairly easily.

            It’s helpful to identify and remove any foods that may be exciting your immune response. The best way to accomplish that is by doing the Elimination-Challenge Diet found on our website. The most helpful supplements I have found for allergy sufferers are fish oils and vitamin C with high quality bioflavanoids, especially quercetin. Fortunately, you can accomplish this by taking two simple supplements in moderate doses:

·        Eskimo-3 Fish Oil: 1 tsp (5ml) twice a day (equivalent to 9 capsules twice a day)

·        Vital Aller-C: 2 capsules twice a day

(If vitamin C upsets your stomach, it is best to replace the Aller-C with Poly-Ascorbate ( a buffered C) and Vital BCQ, with 2 capsules of each twice a day)

These supplements work best if you start them at least a month before your allergies normally kick in. All these products are available from our office if you phone Gerrie.

For patients with severe seasonal allergies, I strongly urge you to come in for a full evaluation and more personalized therapy.

Finally, remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With allergies it is far better to balance the immune system before it comes under attack.