As we move from warm summer days to the even warmer days of a Los Angeles Fall, allergies can arise with watery eyes, runny noses and scratchy throats. Some people have allergies and may not even know it---albeit, these allergies tend to more mild. Nonetheless, they still serve as a clue to an underlying imbalance in our immune system. One of the questions I ask during an initial comprehensive visit is "do you wake up congested?" A stuffy nose can be a valuable diagnostic tool. Waking up congested is very common, but that does not make it normal. Here are a few tips about what you can learn about your health from your nose. 

Generally speaking, we should not be allergic to our environment. Treating allergies should be directed at cleaning up our environment-both our body through a yearly cleansing, and the environment we live in - and balancing our immune system. What can you do to treat allergies? First, find the cause by working with your doctor to investigate possible triggers and/or exploring different allergy tests that may aid in understanding the cause. Once the cause is identified, an appropriate treatment can be developed.

Most allergy symptoms are caused by histamine released from white blood cells. The allergy trigger, whether food, dust or pollen, hits the white blood cells and triggers a reaction that leads to the release of histamine. Histamine causes the stuffy noses, itchy eyes, scratchy throat and post-nasal drip emblematic of allergies. Conventional medical treatment for allergies are, not surprisingly, anti-histamines- such as Claritin or Zyrtec. These anti-histamines can have adverse side effects such as drowsiness, headaches or a worsening of symptoms. These medications do not address the cause of allergies. A more holistic, naturopathic approach would be to strengthen the white blood cells so they do not readily release the allergy causing histamine chemical. These nutrients include:  

• Vitamin C: 500-1000mg 3x/day. If you experience loose stools or bloating, decrease your dose of Vitamin C.
• Bioflavanoids: The most effective bioflavanoid for allergy treatment is quercitin, found in onions. Take 500 mg 3x/day. During an acute allergy attack, you can take up to 500mg 6x/day, as needed. Other bioflavanoids include rutin, rosehips, hesperidin and vaccinium.
• Nettles: a very effective natural anti-histamine. You can take the nettles leaf as an herbal tincture, tea or capsule.
• Homeopathy: Several homeopathic remedies can treat allergies. Once the trigger is found, such as grass, molds or cat dander, a homeopathic antidote can be given to help your body clear its allergy.

Dr. Maggie Ney is a naturopathic doctor and co-directs the women's clinic at the Akasha Center. For more information about allergies, of if you wonder if allergies are affecting your life, contact her at Akasha at 310.451.8880.  

Have you ever heard someone say, "bad bacteria," as though bacteria could be anything but bad? We avoid touching certain objects, wash our hands, cover our mouths when we sneeze-healthy practices that have been learned by trial and error and handed down to protect generations from the dangers of germs. Judging from the number of personal hygiene and household disinfectants on the market, one might conclude that the world would be a better place if we could just get rid of bacteria altogether. But would it be? Is there such a thing as "good" bacteria?

For many, a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and breathing problems signal the arrival of spring. Allergies occur when usually harmless substances trigger a negative reaction in the body. From birth we exist in a state of constant interaction with the environment. Breastfed infants receive a certain prolonged immune protection through antibodies from the mother. As children develop externally, learning to walk and talk, a parallel development takes place in the immune system. The thymus gland, which recedes with age, helps the body differentiate "self" from anything foreign-an identification that is stored into memory for subsequent encounters. The immune system, as such, must learn to distinguish safe from dangerous environmental factors in order to act appropriately. It does this through the help of bacteria.

Contrary to popular misperception, few bacteria are actually harmful. Our bodies contain more bacteria than cells. Bacteria are not only "good" in many cases, but critical to training our immune systems to help prevent chronic illnesses, including allergies.

Immunological studies confirm that allergies are more prevalent in areas where a high standard of hygiene exists. This can be inferred to mean that, when the immune system is not "trained," allergies increase. Research that attempted to prove that allergies are more prevalent in polluted industrial areas, actually showed the opposite. Allergies are not only three times higher in non-industrial areas, but children who are able to go through common childhood illnesses are less likely to get allergies later in life. A recent study suggests that young children who have an indoor pet during the first year of life may be less likely to develop pet allergies.

Children learn throughout life how to integrate themselves into their surroundings in a healthy way. They learn by experience the difference between good and relative bad. In Anthroposophic medicine, the growth forces underlying the development of the immune system are considered the same as the forces used for learning. These are the life forces - the basis of all physical and mental wellness.

One of the most effective ways of strengthening the immune system is allowing the body to go through common illnesses. This is seldom put into practice as most common childhood illnesses have been eradicated due to vaccinations and often children are not even allowed to mount a fever due to fever-reducing medicines. This could be one of the reasons allergies and asthma have risen to all-time highs among our young population today.

Our immune system is a place where we confront the world: the good bacteria as well as the bad. It is a place of complex experience and, like our mind, grows not from avoiding all obstacles but from confronting challenges so that it may emerge stronger and more understanding. In this way, health can be seen as a balance between our inner development and the outer challenges on our path of life. Yes, the world may be full of harmful bacteria. But that is why it is so important to remember the good.

Dr. Melanie Gisler is an osteopathic doctor and co-directs the women's clinic at the Akasha Center. For more information contact her at Akasha at 310.451.8880.  

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