Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Alternative Health

       Alternative Health Tips by experts


Why Do So Many People Seem To Have Allergies?


Allergies and asthma arise from loss of the body's natural resistance to allergens, often beginning with early exposure to secondary smoke, industrial chemicals and asbestos, and the incredibly intensive chemical farming and industrial treatment, of the foods we eat, and fabrics we wear and sleep on.

Our ancestors did not suffer these maladies as pervasively as we do, because modern industry since WWII has chemically saturated everything: our homes, fabrics, foods, and air. For centuries, even as late as the 19th and early 20th centuries, organic cotton and natural woolens were taken for granted. What we now must label organic bedding, organic cotton and organic wool, were then simply called "blankets, sheets, cottons and woolens."

Chemicals:

Petrochemical based foams often contain VOC's (volatile organic compounds), which emit, or "off gas" over time into the air. Formaldehyde, a probable carcinogenic VOC, identified by the US EPA as a dangerous indoor pollutant, is found in most furniture (foam, fabric), pressed-wood products (plywood, chipboard), carpet glues and fabrics, including conventional, non organic bedding.

Thus, your conventional mattress and sheets may be part of the problem. Replace them with a set of untreated organic cotton sheets (also called Green Cotton, or Brown Cotton). Now your body will at least rest on something bit a cleaner. Eventually, you should consider virgin wool-fill pillows, comforters and a mattress systems that use no petrochemicals. Replace foams and synthetics with organic wool, organic cotton or hemp. These natural fibers breathe better, and so do their owners.

Dust Mite Wars:

Doctors and organizations such as the United States EPA, and the American Lung Association, have identified dust mite allergens as the cause of asthma, coughing, congestion and other health problems, especially among children.

"...environmental control may be the single most important step to prevent the onset of acute asthma attacks.", writes Michael LeNoir, MD an Oakland California Adult Allergy Specialist.

Many synthetic materials, and chemically processed down, feathers, polyfills and foams, provide marvelous nesting opportunities for dust mites. Wool fill organic bedding, on the other hand, actually repels dust mites, but may not be as cheap to produce.

The stuffing in pillows and comforters can harbor dust mites, especially feathers and other supposed natural fillers. These materials tend to adsorb the moisture from your breath as you sleep, providing the perfect dust-mite habitat. Did you know you exhale around one pint of warm water vapor each night as you sleep? The perfect environment for dust mites!

Dust-mites are actually tiny spiders that live in bedrooms, mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding. Invisible to the human eye, they often live on shed skin, which comprises approx. 80% of common house dust. Dust mites need shed skin, moisture and warmth to survive. Dust mites leave microscopic droppings, which when airborne and inhaled, cause allergic reactions in many people.

Until you can sensibly replace bedding with virgin wool-fill organic bedding and organic cotton fabrics, begin by washing your bedding in warm or hot water once or twice a week. (And watch out for phosphates in detergents!) You can also get serious, and place "barrier cloth" covers over your mattress and pillows, which do not allow mites into these items. Try to stay away from synthetics.

What's up with wool? Is it an allergen? Everybody thinks they are allergic to wool. Some are allergic to Lanolin, but most are not, and are reacting instead to the harsh chemicals usually applied to wool clothing and bedding.

The natural lanolin in wool repels dust-mites. Virgin wool is also a naturally resistant to water and odor. Most people find organic wool totally non-allergenic and softer than conventional wool, making it an ideal filler for bedding and pillows. Wool in organic bedding and pillows also breathes extremely well, keeping you cool in summer, warm in winter but never too hot!

Remember too, happy organically raised sheep are a sustainable natural resource, as long as we care for them.

Susan Fullen-Yurek is a freelance author and earth-friendly products entrepreneur with an e-commerce site, http://www.kushtush.com, featuring organic bedding with organically raised wool-fills, and organic cotton products. Information for portions of this article generously shared by David Sparrow, http://www.ahappyplanet.com. The link between health and environmental awareness marks a return to natural common sense, and a more healthful future.


MORE RESOURCES:

See the complete list of Articles on Alternative Health here

Have a look at Best Selling Books on Alternative Health

 

Google

See also : Other articles on

Depression, Grief Loss, Happiness, Humor, Inspirational, Motivation,
Positive Attitude
, Meditation, Spirituality Goal Setting, Wealth Building, Ethics, Stress Management
Yoga, Alternative Health, Build Muscle, Exercise,   Aerobics Cardio, Fitness Equipment Pregnancy  Dating, Elder Care, RelationshipAcneBeauty, Hair Loss
Cooking Tips, Recipes,Top Tips for everything Crafts Hobbies, Creativity, Fishing Photography, Pets,

Latest info on : Alternative Health


Los Angeles Times

Alternative fuel station set for profit after two years
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 6 hours ago
SAN DIEGO – With gasoline and diesel prices hovering near record prices, an alternative fuel station on El Cajon Boulevard may turn a profit for the first ...
San Diego station is in the fast lane with alternative fuels Los Angeles Times
all 2 news articles


RTT News

Pickens, Democrats agree in calling for alternative fuels
Dallas Morning News, TX - 16 hours ago
By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON – T. Boone Pickens says he's ready to give up partisan politics if it means weaning the country off ...
Video: Energy Blowin' In The Wind CBS
Pickens' Plan istockAnalyst.com
Winds of change are coming Gadsden Times (subscription)
WJZ
all 58 news articles


Rahall pushing to produce alternative liquid fuels
Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - 19 hours ago
... enter into contracts and give technical assistance for energy initiatives that use biomass (plant materials) to produce alternative liquid fuels, ...


Ha'aretz

Official: Hamas accepts no alternative to Egypt as mediator
Xinhua, China - 10 hours ago
"There is no alternative to Egypt as a mediator in the upcoming swap of Gilad Shalit," Said Siam, the interior minister of the deposed Hamas-led government ...
Hamas threatens to capture Israelis Arab News
all 103 news articles


Alternative shop offers healing options
Indianapolis Star, United States - 17 hours ago
Be-ing Enough, an alternative holistic wellness center, started four months ago and will host its grand opening Saturday. The center focuses on the idea ...


Find alternative fuels, don't drill more
Arizona Republic, AZ - 18 hours ago
Regardless of whether oil is out there or not, we need to develop alternative forms of energy, heating, and transportation. Playing political games with ...


Carling is not a good enough rail-route alternative
Ottawa Citizen,  Canada - 16 hours ago
In terms of practicality, it fails to be a viable alternative. I disagree with Councillor Christine Leadman that Carling is "underutilized. ...


Times Online

Staycation, an alternative to a five-star break
Times Online, UK - 15 hours ago
Slightly annoying things which I noticed on my recent holiday to Spain: British people now use the word “vacation”. Everyone but me owns a BlackBerry. ...


Research and Markets: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. - Energy ...
FOXBusiness - Jul 17, 2008
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. - Energy - Alternative Energy SWOT Report is a comprehensive report of the company including both quantitative and ...


Space Ref (press release)

NASA Solicitation: Alternative Radioisotope Power Source for Lunar ...
Space Ref (press release) - 4 minutes ago
NASA/GRC has a requirement for an Alternative Radioisotope Power Source for Lunar Surface. The objective of the power system analysis is to arrive at a ...

Alternative - Google News

Why not be an expert yourself  ?

 If you can write on any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your
 articles in our database :

 Submit your article here   Our Article Area

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Alternative Health


| Alternative Health Home | All articles on Alternative Health- complete list 

Main Home  | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert zone |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved