The Natural Health & Allergy Clinic

25/09/2023

Hayfever & Spring – The Love-Hate Relationship

Hayfever, asthma, eczema, sinusitis, itchy watery everything?

Spring – it’s a love-hate relationship for some…

On one hand we love the end of winter and the beginning of warmer sunnier and dryer days, but if you’re one of the people that suffer hayfever, it’s a real love-hate relationship.

Due to the warmer weather we get an explosion of pollen from trees, grass, w**ds and flowers, and this is what causes hayfever symptoms.

I used to have this myself and suffered every summer with horrendously itchy watery everything – face, nose, throat, eyes and ears. All I could do was take an antihistamine which really did take the severity out of it but I still felt like it was there lurking and although I was itch-free, I felt wiped out and in (allergy) fight-mode. Only for it to all start over again the next day.

Pick your condition… You may not get hayfever but you might suffer from asthma at this time of year, or your existing asthma or eczema gets a lot worse. Some might have sinus instead and battle with recurrent bouts that can frequently turn into an infection (sinusitis).

The other thing that having allergies does to us is really challenge our immune system. We might feel like we have a cold or that we’re always on the verge of breaking into one. For some, this is so chronic that they stop being able to tell if it’s hayfever or a cold. Read my blog here to help you differentiate…

Of course you could do all the…

staying indoors on dry, windy days

avoid lawn mowing, w**d pulling and other gardening

remove clothes that you’ve worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair

not hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels

Or you could get i​n touch and let me help you out.

Hayfever and spring not a problem but something else is? I address intolerances of all kinds.

Or maybe you’re good with allergies but have other health issues you’d like help with?

Feel free to get in touch.

26/07/2023

Our thoughts... 💚

What have they done for you lately?

If they're not good to you, leave them...

Obviously we can't physically leave our mind and our thoughts but we can separate ourselves from them by realising they are not us.

A little exercise...
If your thoughts were a person, would they still be in your life? If all of the self-talk was coming from someone else and directed at you, how would you feel about that person? Would you think they were nice to you, caring and kind, protective or want what's best for you, or even helpful? If yes then keep going, but if not, leave them!

20/07/2023

B vitamins!

We've all heard of them and most of us have had them at some time in our lives.

While I know most are aware of what these are for I just wanted to talk about how important it is to take a 'B-complex' - one that has all of them in, there are 8!

Lots of people tell me they are “already taking B vitamins” and when I get them to show me which one, it's often just B12. If you are taking B12 you're not taking B vitamins, you're on one of them.

The reason it's important to do a basic-B is because when you take them in isolation without the rest, you run the risk of tipping the balance and depleting yourself of the other B vitamins.

You can buy any of them singularly and this is great because many health conditions do need extra of 1 or 2 of them, but when you do this make sure you take that single one WITH a basic formula.

B vitamins are mostly known for their action on the nervous system and role in energy production so they are great for stress and fatigue, but they do so much more. They are heavily involved in the phases of detoxification in your liver, they help make neurotransmitters in your brain, they are calming, they are needed for many enzymatic reactions that basically 'make things happen'. So they really are a great place to start when you're not feeling your best.

Be sure to:
- not take too late in the day, as they are involved in energy production they could keep you awake at night. Before 2pm give or take, is fine for most.

- avoid the synthetic forms. How do you know? If it says 'folic acid' put it back on the shelf and reach for one that says B9 in another form ie folinic acid, folate, MTHF.

- take daily while you're feeling the benefits then you could drop back to every second day and then move to taking as you need. If you feel better on 1/day, stick with that.

- take twice a day if you need – in times of real fatigue and stress you can do 1 with breakfast and 1 with lunch. You shouldn't need to do this everyday so if you do, reach out for help on the other possible reasons you're feeling this tired.

- if you're energy is pretty good in the mornings but you slump in the afternoon, take it at lunch. If it's the other way around, switch to taking it in the mornings.

- if a B vitamin is only helping you get so far in your health journey then it's likely you'd benefit from support in other ways.

- reach out if you need.

18/07/2023

Is it always linked to the gut? No.
Is it a lot linked to the gut? Yes

We walk around with this thing at the centre of our bodies all day and night that you have to think – how could it not be linked to the rest of me?

So many health issues are seen in isolation but when you go back (and then go back some more) the root cause is often the gut. Fix the gut, you fix the problem. Obviously this is after you've identified and eliminated any obvious causes as well.

Some unsuspecting gut issues manifesting somewhere else in the body are:
✔️skin - acne, fungal, eczema, psoriasis, hives
✔️asthma
✔️fatigue
✔️brain fog
✔️brain - mood, no motivation, depression
✔️headaches
✔️food intolerances
✔️allergies
✔️and the list goes on…

Of course we address the presenting issues too so you feel better along the way, but many times we'll be working on your gut because we want to increase your ability to have have permanent resolution. When I say permanent, I mean - for as long as health is maintained by you, with healthy (food and lifestyle) choices.

17/07/2023

Vitamin D!

As we find ourselves a few months past summer, I wanted to remind everyone about the importance of Vitamin D and its association with immunity and mood.

Vitamin D plays a vital role in bolstering our immune function, making it an essential nutrient for combating infections and promoting overall wellbeing. During winter, when our exposure to sunlight diminishes, our bodies tend to experience a decline in Vitamin D levels. This decline can be more pronounced for individuals who spend less time outdoors, whose skin is naturally darker, and those starting the winter season with already compromised levels.

Studies have linked Vitamin D deficiency to feelings of fatigue, low mood, and even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). By ensuring adequate Vitamin D intake, we can potentially mitigate these mood-related challenges and enhance our mental well-being during the darker months.

Maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels has been found to have potential links to managing certain conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, asthma, allergies and even the common cold. Evidence suggests that Vitamin D may play a role in modulating immune responses and reducing the severity of these conditions.

So! Do you know where you’re at with your vitamin D levels? Have you ever had them tested? If you suspect low vitamin D could be a thing for you, it might be a really good idea to get tested. You can do this with a simple blood test.

Remember, by taking proactive steps to ensure adequate Vitamin D, you can support your immune system, support your mood, and potentially alleviate the symptoms of so many health challenges at all times of the year.

13/07/2023

Have the Winter Bugs Got You? -

Given we are well into winter I thought it would be a great idea to focus this newsletter on supporting your health during the colder months, with a few things that you may not have thought of.

13/07/2023

What is histamine anyway?

Histamine is a molecule released by your body in response to a 'perceived' threat (allergen). It plays a role in some pretty major bodily functions which we'll go into later, but for now lets discuss it's role in allergies.

Histamine is released by cells in the body called 'mast cells', and amongst other things, it dilates blood vessels causing them to go from small to big. This causes more blood to go to the area and we get – redness, flushing, itching, swelling, congestion, increased mucous etc which are our allergy symptoms. Anti-histamines block this reaction which is why you feel better for a short while. It's also proinflammatory which means it causes inflammation in the body.

This response from your body is happening because it's trying to protect you but it's actually an overreaction to something that isn't really dangerous at all. What we really want to do is correct this overreaction and bring your body and brain back into balance where it doesn't get the wrong message and react in this way.

13/07/2023

What is histamine anyway?

Histamine is a molecule released by your body in response to a 'perceived' threat (allergen). It plays a role in some pretty major bodily functions which we'll go into later, but for now lets discuss it's role in allergies.

Histamine is released by cells in the body called 'mast cells', and amongst other things, it dilates blood vessels causing them to go from small to big. This causes more blood to go to the area and we get – redness, flushing, itching, swelling, congestion, increased mucous etc which are our allergy symptoms. Anti-histamines block this reaction which is why you feel better temporarily. It's also proinflammatory which means it causes inflammation in the body.

This response from your body is happening because it's trying to protect you but it's actually an overreaction to something that isn't really dangerous at all. What we really want to do is correct this overreaction and bring your body and brain back into balance where it doesn't get the wrong message and react in this way.

11/07/2023

Let’s talk mould!

I’ve been seeing this a lot in my clinic lately: mould toxicity. It is a condition that can manifest with various symptoms and often leaves people puzzled (the foggy head doesn’t help!), unable to differentiate between a common cold, an allergy, or just general fatigue and worsening of current symptoms.

Many of my clients have reported experiencing headaches, runny noses, blocked sinuses, and persistent brain fog. Additionally, sore joints and aggravated digestive symptoms, particularly in cases with an underlying candida overgrowth, have become more pronounced. These symptoms can significantly impact your quality of life, and addressing the root cause is just so important.

One of the primary steps in managing mould toxicity is to identify and eliminate the source. Mould thrives in damp and poorly ventilated environments, so improving ventilation and using dehumidifiers can help minimize its growth. By reducing the moisture levels in your living or working space, you can create an inhospitable environment for the mould and it can no longer flourish.

In some cases, additional interventions may be necessary. This could include internal work such as addressing gut health, utilizing binders to aid in toxin removal, and providing immune and lung support. Improving these areas can help the body and facilitate recovery from the symptoms caused by mould toxicity.

If you or someone you know is struggling with persistent symptoms that could potentially be linked to mould toxicity, feel free to get in touch, remembering that early detection and intervention are crucial in managing mould toxicity effectively. If you suspect mould exposure or notice symptoms worsening in damp environments - it could be mould.

20/03/2023

An Allergy Or A Cold? Autumn & My Immunity -

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