Bodhimed

I was recently asked about the epidemic numbers of people suffering from food allergies, specifically dairy and soy products.  This population in the U.S. is so large that in fact the foods themselves have come to be considered generally "bad."  While certain natural substances are indeed toxic, these foods are not, in and of themselves, actually the problem.  The problem lies, as you will see, in the conditions in which these foods are produced, as well as the condition of most people's digestion in modern society.  Below are the many reasons why dairy and soy have become such serious food issues, some of which come from the traditional wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine, and some of which are explained by modern environmental and nutritional science.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, a simple shift in your diet can make a huge difference in your symptoms. According to Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, excess mucus production is treated by eating foods that are of the opposite qualities of phlegm, i.e. foods that are light, drying, and warming.

After a winter of eating heavy, rich foods, it's best in springtime to switch to lighter, fresh foods that help relieve sinus congestion and inflammation.  These include leafy green vegetables, most fruits, amaranth, quinoa, rye, barley, buckwheat, and spices.  Foods that increase mucus and allergy symptoms are cold, frozen, and greasy foods, dairy products, wheat, avocado, banana, dark meat, seafood, sugar, and salt.  Give this ancient prescription a try this allergy season and you'll be amazed how much lighter and clearer you feel. 

For great natural allergy remedies, click here.

It's not easy for me to admit that I wasn't able to cure my son of his chronic stomachaches.  After all, I've spent the last 20 years studying and practicing natural medicine.  Putting my ego aside, I recently sought help from yet another doctor in Santa Fe who focuses on food sensitivities and heavy metal toxicity.  Now that the results are in, I want to encourage all parents of children who suffer from any chronic health problem to consider these tests.  It's a sign of the times that our children likely carry a toxic burden that makes them hyper-sensitive to everyday whole foods.  If your child gets headaches, stomachaches, or any illness regularly, you'll want to investigate food sensitivities and heavy metal toxicity with these reliable tests.

Even the most die-hard natural health devotee can be tempted to buy pharmaceutical allergy medication when the symptoms get really bad.  Some just plow through the fatigue and congestion while constantly trying different herbal products to see if they'll help.  If you're suffering from allergies because you still haven't found an effective natural remedy, you're in luck.  Over the years I've put together an allergy treatment protocol that is easy to use and that really works.  I'm going to lay it out step by step so that you can start your allergy relief program right away.  Follow these steps and you'll be breathing and thinking clearly in no time.

Are you setting New Year's resolutions that are more dream than reality? We all have health goals we'd like to achieve, and it's important to be realistic about what we can change that's practical and easy!  There are simple Ayurvedic ways we can improve our health that don't require massive sacrifice. Ayurveda is full of natural health tips that are actually very easy to integrate and that will totally change your life.  Here's my top 5 Ayurvedic New Year's resolutions that will guarantee you a new level of natural health with very little effort.

1.  Start your day with the right breakfast.

What you eat first thing in the morning sets the tone of your entire day.  Your digestion can either be boosted or totally extinguished depending on what you eat or don't eat in the morning. A hot, whole grain porridge (congee) is the ideal breakfast to kindle your digestive fire, improve absorption, and balance your metabolism.  It's easy to cook in a crock pot overnight so that when you wake up, it's all ready to go! No need to wait on a pot of brown rice and oat groats when you're in a hurry to get out the door.  Congee is easy to prepare and is very inexpensive.  Ayurveda teaches that one of the root causes of all disease is improper digestion, so starting your day with congee will help to heal all types of health imbalances and weight issues.

My Ayurveda teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, once remarked that here in the US, we make sure our cars are well lubricated, but we don't do that for our own bodies. Especially here in New Mexico, it is so important to keep our internal functions well-oiled. With all the allergy suffering here, the best thing one can do is to apply oil to the sinuses.

People are getting hip to the neti pot, and that definitely is a good thing, but some type of medicated oil or ghee is the best for soothing inflammation and clearing mucus. I recommend Super Nasya oil, which is a combination of lotus, basil, eucalyptus, sesame, rose, olive and sandalwood oil. It makes everything smell great, and it works amazingly for allergies and congestion.