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Allergy season is in full swing and as the pollen count goes up so does the discomfort that goes along with it. Not everyone gets allergies. If you do it usually means your immune system isn’t really working up to par. Allergies are not a *normal* part of life, meaning you do *not* have to suffer with them year after year. 

Eating real food including probiotic rich foods, bone broths, etc. can help boost your immune system and gut health. You have got to stop eating processed foods, drinking soda and compromising your immune system if you want to beat allergies! There’s just no beating around the bush when it comes to health.

Here are some natural remedies that can really help strengthen your immune system and beat allergies. 

Local Honey has long been hailed as an allergy remedy. Raw, wildflower honey is best known for this task. The bees go around collecting pollen from the very plants that trigger your allergies. Then they make the honey, you eat the honey and it’s like your very own allergy shot! Don’t give honey to babies under age one. Local bee pollen can also be used in small amounts.

Acupuncture works well by eliminating the allergen and strengthening the body so the allergen is no longer a bother. Here is a good article by my friend, Dr. Randy Martin with more about how acupuncture works for allergies. 

Homeopathy  is  also effective in eliminating allergies. According to Dr. Martin, the following remedies are indicated when allergies are present:

1. Pulsatilla: when fats are the major problem, in a person who craves fats, and is emotionally rather soft, needy, or desiring a lot of support;
2. Nux vomica: for toxicity in the liver with a craving for spicy foods and stimulants; constipation; rather angry and irritable emotionally and tends to be a workaholic type;
3. Lycopodium: for a lot of flatulence, right sided pains, sciatica, shoulder pain, irritability, craving for sweets and an explosive temper, but only around those he or she is close to; can be emotionally very sweet at work and social situations;
4. Carbo veg: for flatulence and general indigestion with bloating and a slow metabolism;

You can also use homeopathic remedies which are made from the foods you are allergic to, in much the same way as allergy shots work.

Allergies to airborne and pollens are also treated very effectively with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and homeopathy. Specific homeopathic remedies for airborne allergies may include the following:
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1. Pollintinum: composed of a variety of the most common pollens;
2. Histaminum: to suppress the histamine reaction of watery and itchy eyes, asthma or runny nose;
3. Euphrasia: for red, burning or itching eyes;
4. Allium cepa: for a runny and burning nose with much coryza;
5. Sabadilla: for uncontrollable sneezing;
6. Baptisia: for a skin rash and hives with itching;
7. Cat or Dog Hair: to desensitize you to an allergy to cats and dogs.

Herbs are also wonderful for allergies. I have two formulas that I use for clients that suffer from seasonal discomfort. I use classic herbs that have been used to combat allergies with great results. 
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​Nettle, Red Clover, Eyebright, Rose Hips, Peppermint, and Yarrow Leaf and Flower are very effective in knocking out allergy symptoms and kicking them out for good!
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Contains all organic or sustainably harvested elderflowers, nettle leaf, ginkgo biloba leaf, astragalus root, licorice root, and anise seed which are all indicated for allergy relief. 
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Allergy Oxymel – An oxymel is an herbal vinegar and honey preparation that has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates even mentioned oxymels in his writings. Adding some of the anti-allergy herbs to it can really help. There are great oxymel tutorials over at Urban Midwifery  and The Nerdy Farmwife if you would like to make one! 

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The top three essential oils for allergy relief are Peppermint, Lavender and Lemon. (I buy my essential oils here.) Use them separately or together in a diffuser for aromatherapy or applied topically to the bottoms of the feet.
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A neti pot with a drop of Tea Tree (Melaleuca Oil) added will help kill bacteria in the sinuses and fight infection.

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Don’t sit there and suffer! Take care of yourself and try some of these remedies! Find what works for you!
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Good luck!

Varicose veins are quite popular with the ladies these days and not in a good way! They are more common as you age and during and after pregnancy because of gravity and weight gain.

Varicose veins (and their milder counterpart, spider veins) are a circulatory condition that occurs when a vein become twisted and enlarged with an abnormal collection of blood. Any vein can become varicose, but those that bother us the most (and are the most noticeable) are in our legs and feet. Poor circulation contributes to decreased blood flow to the veins making them more pronounced, especially near the surface of the skin. 

There are some natural things you can do both internally and externally to help reduce these cosmetic nuisances:

Internally, taking cod liver oil can help improve circulation therefore reducing the size of the veins. Horse chestnut capsules or extract are also known for their effectiveness in improving circulation specifically for varicose veins. (Horse chestnut can also be added to a salve for external use. For more information about herbal preparations and how to use them, go here.) 

Externally, calendula and yarrow are wonderful for reducing inflammation when made into a spray with witch hazel and essential oils. This spray is quite fragrant so as you are blending it make sure you like all the scents of the essential oils it calls for because they will be your perfume!

(Note from Faith: I love using this witch hazel for cosmetic needs as well as for clients who are experiencing menopausal hot flashes. Definitely a must-have for any natural medicine cabinet!)

​Alternatively or in conjunction with, a salve rubbed externally and directly onto especially large varicose veins can help with blood flow and reduce them. Results are usually seen after continuous use over a 6-week period.  

1. To make your salve you will need a large glass measuring bowl and a pot (or use a double boiler).
2. Fill pot halfway with water and place glass measuring bowl inside the pot.
3. Turn heat on medium low.
4. Add oil and dry herbs to glass bowl and simmer gently for 3 hours.
5. Strain oil through a cheesecloth into a clean bowl and return to pot.
6. Add the beeswax and let melt.
7. To test for the right consistency, place a pea-sized amount on wax paper and place in freezer or refrigerator for a few minutes. Add more beeswax if not firm enough or add more oil if too firm.
8. Remove from heat and add vitamin E and essential oils.
9. Mix well (I use a bamboo skewer).
10. Pour into tins or jars.
11. Let cool and lid.
12. Rub on to varicose veins daily

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In my home, natural remedies including herbs, homeopathy, and essential oils are what I’ve used for over a decade to take care of my family. It can be confusing at first to know what to do when your child isn’t feeling well, so Erin from Eat Real, Stay Sane has put together some info on remedies that can help.

When I was a new mom, I worried about every little sniffle and cough (most moms do right?) When Little Man was 9 months old, he had his first cold and developed a fever of 103. The fever had me worried, so I took him to his pediatrician.

The pediatrician told me he had a cold (DUH) and an ear infection. Poor kid! Of course the pediatrician prescribed me some antibiotics and thought I was crazy when I suggested we try to go a more natural route. The pediatrician also told me that there was nothing I could give him or really do to help him sleep or help with his congestion.

He was an utterly useless pediatrician and long story short, I never went back.

In fact, when my little man is sick now, I never take him to the pediatrician. I take him to our family chiropractor and master herbalist. I’ve received much better care and support with holistic doctors. We love holistic doctors at our house!

I’ve also turned into a wait and see kind of mom when Little Man gets the sniffles, instead of sprinting over to the pediatrician’s office demanding an appointment right away (okay I wasn’t that bad). Most of the time, the sniffles go away within a day or two, especially when I start pumping him full of immune boosting syrup.

I want to share with you how I help my little one feel better the all-natural way when he has a cold. You don’t have to just let them suffer or give them unnecessary drugs like my pediatrician seemed to think.
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Now, just to let you know, I do buy some stuff from the store that isn’t 100% perfect but they are very close.

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1. Give dose of immune boosting syrup every hour. I actually have a homemade version of this stuff that I made at one of my chiropractor’s classes! If I run out of it though, I will buy Kid-e-Mune.
   My little man likes this stuff so much he will actually hand me the bottle if he sees it so he can have a dose. It’s nice that I don’t have to remember to give it to him.
2. Use saline drops to keep the nasal passage moist, dilute mucous, and reduce inflammation. I will do this a couple of times a day. If your baby’s nose is completely clogged I highly recommend the Nose Frida before using the drops. The process is gross, but it works 10 million
   times better than the old school bulb sucker.
3. Use saline wipes, like Boogie Wipes, to wipe their nose instead of a tissue. My little man’s nose gets red and raw pretty quick with just using a tissue. I’ve used regular baby wipes too, but they make my little man break out on his face with the added stuff in them.
4. Give herbal cough syrup when needed. I only give cough syrup when Little Man is trying to sleep and his coughing is keeping him awake or the coughing seems to be doing more harm than good. I have used Dr. Christopher’s cough syrup in the past with great results. However, it does taste terrible by itself so try mixing it with a little raw honey. Sarah has her own herbal cough syrup too.
5. Use homemade vapor rub on chest and feet. Make sure to cover their feet with socks after so you don’t get stuff all over the house (speaking from experience). I have used this recipe from Mommypotamus that I love and she gives great recommendations for what essential oils to use.
6. Give lobelia (or some sort of lung formula that’s safe for babies/kids) for congestion. Lobelia helps open the air ways and break up mucous in the lungs. Lobelia is a very potent herb and can havebad side effects. Start out with 1 DROP per dose. If it doesn’t seem to be working, then
   increase dosage by 1 drop. I give my 2 year old little man 3-4 drops 2-3 times a day in some juice or raw milk.
7. Prop mattress up with a towel so their head is elevated helping the mucous to drain properly. Don’t prop up too high so they roll to the bottom of the crib while they sleep.
8. Give a warm bath and massage before bed to open up airways and help drainage. While in the bath, gently massage lymph nodes under the jaw and rub down the neck to promote drainage. I’ll put a couple of drops of lavender essential oil in the bath water as well.
9. Use cool mist humidifier during the night to help with their breathing. It keeps the airways moist and constricts the nasal passageways for easier breathing.
10. Before bed, give some Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Cold Syrup (or your own nighttime syrup)
    because it has herbal goodness for aches and pains, sleeplessness, runny nose, cough, congestion, and sneezing. It’s labeled for children over 6 months. It does have a couple of undesirables ingredients like sodium benzoate.

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