by Claire
We are a family with allergies. There are food allergies (peanuts…my two kiddos) and then the dreaded seasonal allergies. Two of the kids have severe cedar allergies so fall and winter are brutal…then there’s the spring with the ragweed and oak pollen…summer brings mold (that’s my biggest challenge) and so–basically at every point of the year someone in this house is sneezing and scratching their watery eyes. I’ve heard our part of the country is exceptionally bad. I grew up here and didn’t have any allergies. Then I moved to Lubbock for my undergrad and when I moved back 4 years later…that was the first time I had allergy problems. Wow. I think back to the countless sinus infections I had in the late 90’s and my head starts hurting all over again!
I don’t even want to think about how much we’ve spent over the years dealing with this pesky problem. We’ve done traditional medicines and homeopathic options–the netipot is a family friend–and all of that costs money. My allergy symptoms were only helped by Claritin-D (or the generic store brand). Due to federal regulations you have to obtain this behind the counter at the pharmacy and it is not cheap! Steve and I both got a prescription for a nasal steroid and he is MUCH better about consistently using that than I am…and he has dramatically reduced his share of Claritin-D expense (and that comes out of our spending money so I no longer have him to split the cost with 50/50!)
Now that my real food obsession is gaining momentum, I am much more aware of the impact food is having on my body and mind. I suddenly remembered my dietician sister telling me years ago that local honey might have a positive impact on allergies. I’ve only been using local honey for 3 weeks now and dare I say…my allergy med use IS decreasing. This may be pure coincidence but it has been a very long time since I’ve been able to go more than a few days without one of those stupid pills! And I’ve only had to take one since Friday of last week. At about $1.35 per pill….I’ll take the savings where I can get it!
Here’s some additional info just for fun:
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
I swear by a mixture of local honey & Royal Jelly/Bee Pollen. I have horrible allergies, started taking these and they have gotten a lot better!!
I don’t have any experience with allergies however I do believe in nutrition for healing. My severely disabled son has a progressive neurological disease and his throat muscles deteriorated and he had frequent pneumonias, around 2-3 per year that were life threatening and costly (billed hospitalizations topped $500k in 2009). He had respiratory failure several times and had been on a ventilator. They told me he’d die of pneumonia. In 2010, I read about organic, virgin coconut oil and how it helped prevent colds, flu and pneumonia. I started giving it to my son to prevent and to treat respiratory illnesses. I melt 1 tbsp per day and give it through his feeding tube. He has now been hospital free from pneumonia for over 18 months now. Even the doctors are amazed. I’ve tried different brands (some work and some don’t) but the one I like best is Now Foods Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.
For myself, I suffered from arthritis for years. In 2009, I started green spinach smoothies (4 cups organic spinach, 1 organic banana, 1/2 cup organic berries and 1 cup water) and take them every other day. I’ve been pain free ever since (it helps if you eliminate processed foods too since they are inflammatory).
Good for you for finding something that works.
Regarding honey for allergies- I have had personal experience that it makes a big difference. I wanted to point out not only should it be local honey but it should also be organic. There was a story last year (national, can’t remember which publication) which tested about 100 brands of honey and a crazy percentage of them had been so processed that the pollen wasn’t even present in them- therefore they shouldn’t have even been labeled honey anymore. The exceptions were the organic honeys. FYI
We raise bees mostly to pollinate all of our fruit trees and garden, but you will reduce your allergies to local plants and shrubs by eating local honey. Bees gather the pollen and it is metabolized into the honey. Therefore it is like taking allergy shots to help make you less sensitive to certain allergens. This won’t work as fast as the allergy shots but will certainly help. I know local honey really helped all of us. We are a a family of allergy freaks and my husband works outside. This will get better every year with prolonged use. One teaspoon in a cup of hot water or tea. Everyday! Or use it to sweeten cereals and toast. Make honey butter for ww pancakes.
I’ve heard about local honey helping with allergies also. There’s a guy a few miles from my house who keeps bees and sells the honey in his little roadside “store” in his driveway. There’s always a ton of traffic stopping there. I’m going to pay him a visit today and give this a try!
I had zero idea that I had allergies until my doctor did a blood test one day. Well, actually she said “I think you have allergies and then when she did the blood test, she walked in, and told me, and so I was like “Yes, you told me last week?!?”
I’m pretty good about taking allergy pills. I don’t really notice my allergies, and am hoping that I never do!
I bought some Perrigo Loratadine at drugstore.com. I was skeptical that 100 tablets only cost $6, but I haven’t noticed a difference from the name brands.