Allergies - Carson Natural

Episode 56: How Can You Prepare For Springtime Allergies?

March 15, 2017 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

On this feel good day, Dr. Phil shares his personal experience with springtime allergies in the deep south and how he has learned how to take natural preventative measures to prepare for allergy season and minimize allergy symptoms.

Key Takeaways from This Podcast:

[2:38] Dr. Phil’s new book, How to Live Until You Die is now live on Amazon and you can still order an autographed copy at carsonnatural.com.

[3:00] Are you ready for springtime?

[3:39] How to support the thymus gland and immune system with natural supplements.

[4:18] What is the link between allergies and your immune system?

[6:26] How can ThymuPlex, Thymex, ImmuPlex help boost your immune system and when should you use which one? When should you use CongaPlex?

[11:12] Dr. Phil describes springtime pollen in the deep south.

[12:05] This episode’s Feeling Good Superhero is Dr. James Brawley MD who is one of the doctors who taught courses Dr. Phil took years ago in natural medicine. Dr. Brawley is an allergist and has written several books on allergies. His methods have helped Dr. Phil combat his allergy symptoms.

[13:52] The greatest joys in life come not from you being lifted by others, but rather by the lifting of others by you.

[14:10] Have health questions? Visit carsonnatural.com & click on the ‘Ask Dr. Phil’ microphone to record your questions or email them to [email protected].

Mentioned in This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

Carson Natural

Carson Natural Health & Wellness Consulting – Facebook page

Life Transformation Medical Center

Dr. Laura Washington

Email your questions to: [email protected]

Ask Dr. Phil Microphone

7 Keys for Healthy Living Guide

Feeling Good Fridays on Facebook Live

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this podcast is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

Episode 55: How Can You Find Natural Relief for Springtime Allergies?

March 15, 2017 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

On this feel good day, Dr. Phil shares his excitement for springtime and also a reminder that many suffer during this season from severe allergies. Rather than take the typical antihistamine, Dr. Phil has discovered many natural options to relieve allergies and shares some of the best ways to lessen the severity of allergy symptoms.

Key Takeaways from This Podcast:

[2:42] Dr. Phil’s new book is now live on Amazon, but Dr. Phil is still offering special pre-launch packages, with an autographed copy, plus some awesome bonuses. Go to HowToLiveUntilYouDie.com to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

[3:29] Are you ready for spring time weather? What about allergy season?

[4:30] How do people typically find relief from springtime allergies?

[5:27 There are natural alternatives to the drugs people usually take to relieve allergies.

[6:02] What is one of the best ways to lessen the severity of allergy symptoms?

[6:45] Dr. Phil shares some “common sense” ideas to lessen the amount of pollen that you are exposed to.

[7:24] How would finding a beekeeper in your area help you relieve springtime allergies?

[8:59] What is the key to protect you from the symptoms associated with allergies.

[9:39] How can certain supplements help your immune system and as a result, your allergies?

[11:03] This episode’s Feeling Good Superhero is Cody Carson, Dr. Phil’s son. Cody has a history of having major allergy symptoms. Growing up Cody often had swollen and itchy eyes and reacted strongly to allergens, but he learned to use natural solutions to prevent and help with seasonal allergies.

[12:58] The greatest joys in life come not from you being lifted by others, but rather by the lifting of others by you.

[13:14] Have health questions? Visit carsonnatural.com & click on the ‘Ask Dr. Phil’ microphone to record your questions or email them to [email protected]

Mentioned in This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

Carson Natural

Carson Natural Health & Wellness Consulting – Facebook page

Life Transformation Medical Center

Dr. Laura Washington

Email your questions to: [email protected]

Ask Dr. Phil Microphone

7 Keys for Healthy Living Guide

Feeling Good Fridays on Facebook Live

Are you ready to live? Really live that feeling good life you desire to live? Thank you for joining me on this episode of the Feeling Good Podcast, it’s great to be alive. I want to thank you for helping me spread the message of natural health and wellness by sharing the Feeling Good Podcast with your friends and family, and encouraging them to subscribe also. I want to encourage you to go to iTunes and give us a review there. For a limited time, if you will go and do that review, I will send you a free book, my new book, How to Live Until You Die: The 7 Keys to Living Happy Healthy and Whole. I will also mention you on the podcast as well.

I also want to ask you to check out Carson Natural Health on Facebook, and join me every Friday, during the noonday hour, Central Time, for my weekly Facebook Live broadcast we call Feeling Good Fridays—broadcast from a different location every week.

Disclaimer:

Can Taking an Afternoon Nap Help Get Rid of Your Allergy Nightmare?

April 1, 2016 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Could something as simple as a nap help you reduce your seasonal allergy issues? Maybe it could!

This idea came to my mind recently when a listener of The Feeling Good Podcast emailed me a question about how to optimize their afternoon nap. While researching that question I learned some interesting things about naps that I’ll touch on a little later in this blog, but first I want to explore the…

Sleep and Allergy Connection

One of the most important contributing factors when it comes to fighting allergies is the strength of your immune system. If you have a strong immune system then you are less likely to be sneezing, coughing, sniffling, and crying. One of the best ways to keep your immune system strong is by getting adequate rest. If you’re anything like me, then sometimes you might occasionally have some very late nights followed by very early mornings. Several years ago it was a regular practice for me to go to bed after midnight and wake up before 7 AM, getting anywhere from four to six hours of rest. As you probably know, that’s at least a couple hours short of the recommended eight hours. Recently I have been much more diligent in going to bed earlier to allow my body to rest and replenish, but if you are living like I previously did, then an occasional 20-30 minute afternoon nap would do nothing but help you! Now lets talk more about…

Napping 101

Are you one of those people that HAVE to take a nap in the middle of the day to get through each day? Or maybe you take a nap because you believe it is good for you. Perhaps you hate naps and somehow they always leave you feeling even more tired than before. Whatever the case I want to help you understand naps a little better, so here is the question that I received from a podcast listener named JC, that I mentioned above…

“Do you have any insight into how coffee in the morning impacts naps? I use the “Nap Wheel” to try to get to the closest ideal time when I can, but I also drink two cups of coffee in the morning. For example I wake up at 4:00 AM and have two cups of coffee around 8:30 AM. I’m not sure how this impacts my napping cycle, can you help?”

Now I have to admit, I am not a napper. On the other hand my wife loves to take naps, and when she suggests that I take one, my response is usually, “No, I don’t have time for a nap!” I have always had an aversion to naps, but JC’s question prompted me to look a little closer into the possible health benefits and to learn more about the “Nap Wheel” he uses to schedule them. I found out that the “Nap Wheel” was invented by Dr. Sara Mednick, who also wrote the book Take a Nap, Change Your Life. On her website she states:

“Imagine a product that increases alertness, boosts creativity, reduces stress, improves perception, stamina, motor skills, and accuracy, enhances your sex life, helps you make better decisions, keeps you looking younger, aides in weight loss, reduces the risk of heart attack, elevates your mood, and strengthens your memory. Now imagine that this product is also non-toxic, has no side effects, and best of all it is absolutely free. This miracle drug is nothing more than the right nap at the right time.”

Now being a natural pharmacist, this bold statement by Dr. Mednick had me hooked! I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t want to experience these health benefits that she describes. I have since ordered her book and am rethinking my long time aversion to nap time. Reading this about naps brought back a memory of something I had read in a book several years ago. It reminded me that the science and health recommendations of taking a nap aren’t anything new. This book that I had read was published almost 70 years ago, and the doctor who wrote the book stated that a rest period immediately after meals will add years to your life as well as comfort to those years. This doctor did not use the term nap, but rather rest period. He went on to say with modern living as it is, that rest is very hard to arrange for those in business, but where there is a will there is a way. Now that is a philosophy I’ve tried to live by all my life! He said that we can accomplish far more in the day by resting immediately after meals. Now that seems a little odd to me, but he says that it can be done, it has been done, and it is being done even under the most difficult of circumstances and always with a great reward. Now this doctor recommended that when you rest to lie down on your right side, because if your stomach is slow to empty, lying in this position will help. He also said digestive juice perform better during rest than rush and hurry, and this is why we always feel better when we rest after we eat. He finished his thoughts on rest with this thought provoking statement: Our domestic animals follow this nature’s law of rest. Just watch your dog or cat.

I thought to myself that I should have paid closer attention to this doctor’s ideas on rest and perhaps even taken my wife’s advice when she suggest that I take a nap. It could have potentially saved me from a lot of digestive distress and discomfort.

If you decide to try a “rest period” after you eat then I would love to hear your experience. Also if you have a health question that you want answered then email [email protected]. Be sure to click our logo to subscribe so you can get the latest episode every Thursday!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Help! I Can’t Stop Sneezing, My Eyes are Watering & Itching Like Crazy! w/ Dr. Phil Carson

March 28, 2016 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Are you ready to live? Really live that feeling good life you desire to live? Thank you for joining me today on the Feeling Good Podcast. Spring time is almost here, and while we love all things spring, the one thing that is not so loveable about spring time is allergy season! For a brief period of time during spring, because of all of the pollen produced by the beautiful flowers and trees, spring time means misery to a lot of people. Itchy eyes, runny nose, itchy skin, headaches, ear aches, sneezing, and coughing, are just some of the reasons it can definitely be a miserable time of the year for some. On today’s show, I will talk on how you can get some relief from these symptoms by taking preventative measures and using natural alternatives. I also have some great listener questions and another awesome Feeling Good Superhero Story to share with you today.

Key Takeaways from This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

[2:13] Are you looking for relief from itchy eyes, runny nose, itchy skin, headaches, ear aches, sneezing, and/or coughing?

[3:01] Listener question #1 concerns using local, raw honey instead of OTC medicines for allergies.

[3:43] One of the best natural alternatives for allergy symptoms is to take preventative measures ahead of allergy season.

[4:14] What are some things you can do to lessen the amount of pollen you’re exposed to?

[4:50] Dr. Phil’s answer on using local, raw honey for alleviating allergy symptoms.

[6:05] But what if you just cannot tolerate local honey?

[6:30] Listener question #2 & Dr. Phil’s answer on what natural alternatives you can give a 1-year-old who suffers from chronic allergy issues.

[9:45] Processed cow’s milk is the #1 cause of allergy issues in children.

[10:51] What risks are associated with giving local honey to children under the age of one?

[11:32] This week’s Feeling Good Superhero story is about Ben & his mom Shelly regarding lactose sensitivity.

[15:12] If you have any questions you want answered, please email them to Dr. Phil: [email protected].

Mentioned in This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

Carson Natural

Carson Natural Health & Wellness Consulting on Facebook

Life Transformation Medical Center

Dr. Laura Washington

[email protected]

Disclaimer:

It’s Nap Time, But I Don’t Have Time for a Nap w/ Dr. Phil Carson

March 24, 2016 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Are you ready to live? Really live that feeling good life you desire to live? Thank you for joining me today on the Feeling Good Podcast. I have some great listener questions for today’s episode, and I also have another awesome Feeling Good Superhero Story to share with you. Before answering our listener questions though, I want to ask all of you some questions: Are you a napper? Are you one of those people that have to take a nap every day, during the middle of the day, to get through the day? Are you someone who takes a nap every day because you think it’s the healthy thing to do? Or do you do it for some other reasons?

Key Takeaways In This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

[1:42] JC’s question: do you have any insight into how coffee in the morning impacts naps?

[2:34] JC’s question prompted Dr. Phil to learn more about the health benefits of naps & on the nap wheel created by Dr. Sara Mednick.

[4:13] The science or health benefits of taking a nap has been known as far back as 70 years ago.

[6:34] Dr. Phil’s answer to JC’s question on the effects of coffee on his nap time.

[8:04] Mark Ross’s question: Do you have any recommendations for reducing thigh muscle pain when I walk a long distance?

[10:20] Dr. Phil’s recommendation for muscle pain: muscle rubs containing a natural plant extract called arnica.

[11:27] This week’s Feeling Good Superhero Story is about Jim!

[13:30] Are you a proponent of napping? What a difference do you think it has made in your health? Dr. Phil would love to hear from you!

[13:59] If you have any questions you want answered, please email them to Dr. Phil: [email protected]om.

Mentioned in This Episode of The Feeling Good Podcast:

Carson Natural

Carson Natural Health & Wellness Consulting – Facebook page

Life Transformation Medical Center

Dr. Laura Washington

[email protected]

Take a Nap Wheel by Dr. Sara Mednick

Take a Nap!: Change Your Life, book by Dr. Sara Mednick

Arnica Montana – a natural plant extract

Disclaimer:

Don’t Let Your Allergies Keep You Inside This Spring!

March 19, 2016 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Spring Is here! In North Mississippi, where I live, the flowers are already blooming, the trees are turning green, and the pollen is already in the air. Everything is beginning to be covered with that awful yellow dust already. According to the reports I am seeing, the pollen counts are going to be much higher this year than last year. I hope that you have already started to follow my preventive recommendations I talked about in last week’s blog. Even though this Spring looks to be shaping up to be a pretty bad one for allergy sufferers, I believe that you can lessen the severity by following my recommendations.

If you haven’t started taking something to combat the allergy symptoms, then start today! If you cannot or do not desire to take one of the antihistamine medications on the market, then please consider one of these natural products or therapies that I use myself and recommend to patients regularly.

One of the best things that you can use to prevent and treat the annoying allergy symptoms is a Neti pot or saline nasal wash. You should use these at least twice a day to wash the pollen from your nostrils. There are lots of different types of Neti pots and saline washes in your local grocery stores. I use them both and find them to be very helpful in decreasing the severity of my symptoms. It is also a good idea once you have come in from the outdoors for the evening, to take a shower and wash away any pollen from your hair and skin.

One of my favorite supplements that I take and recommend, is a product called Pcynogenol, also known as OPC’s. OPC stands for ogliomeric proanthocyanins, a natural phytochemical compound found in french pine bark extract and grape seed extract. This unique compound has been extensively tested in hundreds of medical studies world wide and was found to have many health promoting benefits. Two such benefits are its anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effects. It is the histamine reaction in our bodies that causes all of the allergy symptoms. OPC works by blocking the release of histamine. One of my favorite things about OPC’s is they do not have the side effects that the antihistamine medications do. Because of its anti-inflammatory effect, OPC’s have been found in medical studies to be very helpful with asthma attacks as well, which are often a result of the allergy symptoms. If you choose to try an OPC supplement for your allergy symptoms, I urge you to be wise in your choice. As with all supplements the quality can vary greatly. So choose a high quality well respected brand. The general recommended dose is 50 mg twice daily.

Other products that I recommend often for combating allergy symptoms are homeopathic medications. These are over-the-counter medications that are designed to prevent and counteract the allergy symptoms. Homeopathic products have been around for centuries and are used by practitioners all over the world everyday to treat all kinds of health issues. There are homeopathic products on the market that are specific for pollen allergies. There also products that are specific to other types of allergies such as grass allergies and weed allergies. I have personally used some of these products and have gotten great results.

As with any natural health product I advise you to always consult with a qualified health care professional before taking, especially if you are taking any other types of medications or supplements, as there may be potential interactions between them.

If you are an allergy sufferer seriously consider these recommendations and don’t let this allergy season keep you from enjoying the true beauty and pleasure of spring time. You don’t have to be the person that is constantly sneezing, coughing, gagging, and spitting! If you know someone else that is an allergy sufferer please be a good friend and share this information with them.

If you have any questions about seasonal allergies or any other health topic for that matter, please send them to [email protected]. Your question may be featured on The Feeling Good Podcast, but you’ll have to listen to find out! You can click the logo to subscribe through iTunes!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Do You Need Natural Allergy Relief This Spring??

March 11, 2016 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Springtime is almost here! Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love to see everything turning green again, all the colorful flowers and trees budding and blooming, warm days and cool nights, longer days and later sunsets, I love it all! Well except one thing that is…allergy season!

That is the one thing though that is not so lovable about springtime to me and to many others. For a brief period of time during spring, because of all the pollen produced by all the beautiful flowers and trees, springtime means misery. Itchy eyes, runny nose, itchy skin, headaches, earaches, sneezing and coughing are some of the reasons it can definitely be a miserable time for some. Everybody suffering from these symptoms is looking for relief. Most people find that relief with prescription and non-prescription medications such as anti-histamines, steroids, nasal sprays, or injections. Because of the side effects associated with these medications, more and more people have been seeking out and inquiring about natural alternatives. Over the past several years, I have discovered quite a few good natural alternatives for allergy symptoms that I will share with you over the next several blog posts. One of the best things you can do to lessen the severity of allergy symptoms is to take preventative measures now. I and many others have found the following preventative recommendations to be very helpful, and I have no doubt that you will as well if you take the time to implement them now.

First there are several common sense things you can do to lessen the amount of pollen you are exposed to. If at all possible try to stay indoors on the days when the pollen is at its worst and make sure you have new filters in your heating and cooling systems that are designed to trap more of the pollen that can enter into the house. If you do have to be outside there are pollen masks that you can purchase at your local pharmacy.

The second recommendation is to find a bee keeper in your area and buy some honey from him or her. Even though there are no scientific studies to prove it, raw unprocessed local honey can be very helpful in preventing the allergy symptoms. I have tried this and know many others who have as well, and they will tell you that it does make a big difference. My suggestion would be to take at least a teaspoon of local honey two to three times a day starting now before allergy season is in full bloom and to continue throughout the season. Honey has been around since the beginning of time and is spoken about in the Bible on several occasions and has been used throughout history for various medicinal purposes.

Proverbs 24:13 – My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste

There are many references to the Promised Land, the land Moses was leading the Israelites to after leaving Egypt, being a land flowing with milk and honey.

In 1 Samuel 14, Johnathan, after winning a great battle against the Philistine army, is walking through a forest that was oozing with honey, the Bible says. You can imagine how exhausted Johnathan would have been having just fought a battle, and in verse 27 it says, “so he reached out the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.” Now that is the kind of honey that I want, honey that replenishes your energy!

If you have a local farmer’s market in your area, that is a great place to look for a local beekeeper selling their raw unprocessed honey and a great way to support local business as well!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

P.S. The latest episode of the Feeling Good Podcast is live now! Check it out today

Why Do We Make Our Children Drink Something That Can Make Them Sick?

September 8, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Taking on the Sacred Cow of Breakfast Beverages! If you’ve been following my blog recently then you’ll remember when I urged everyone to no longer feed their kids processed cereals and pop-tarts for breakfast. Well now I’m taking it one step further. America’s long held belief that milk is an essential building block for children’s health is a falsehood.

I recently had a participant in my “Fine in 49” class ask my opinion on the benefits of drinking or not drinking milk. He indicated that he and his family were big milk drinkers. I told him that if their milk came from the grocery store I would not drink it, and that the only milk I would possibly drink would have to come fresh from the cow! I also had a client call me last week for recommendations to treat her daughters allergy problems, which included respiratory and skin issues. So I asked her if her daughter was drinking milk on a regular basis. She replied not much at home, but she drinks it at school every day. I told her to discontinue the milk for a time and see if the allergies get better. Sadly she called me the next day and told me the school informed her that if she wanted her daughter to not drink milk anymore at school that she would need a written note from her doctor stating she was allergic to milk. Maybe this child is allergic to milk and maybe not, but how are we going to find out if we cannot discontinue milk. It’s sad that we live in a world today where we have allowed our government run schools to dictate what we can feed our children! I won’t get on my soapbox about the government though, I’ll stick to the subject here of health effects of drinking or not drinking milk. In my opinion really no one should drink the processed dairy that is being sold in our grocery stores and served to our children at school every day. There are healthier alternatives, of course, pure water being the best alternative. When I tell people that however, their response is usually, “Well how will my child get the calcium that they need?” In reality there are many alternatives to cow’s milk today that provide just as much or more calcium, including almond milk and coconut milk. Other great natural sources of calcium for breakfast would be many of the natural fruit juices that are fortified with calcium!

I encourage everyone to choose healthier alternatives to processed dairy, and I know that stirs up a lot emotions with some people, so I want you to understand why I hold strongly to this belief. I am not alone in my opinion about cow’s milk. There are a multitude of other health care professionals that feel the same way. One of the natural health certification courses that I took in allergies and immunology was taught by Dr. James Braley. He states in one of his books on allergies that cow’s milk is for baby cows, not baby humans. He also pointed out that the number one cause of food allergies in children is cows milk. The number one trigger for asthma attacks in children is allergies, as stated by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The AAFA also states that asthma is the leading chronic disease in children and the leading cause of missed school days across the country. Over the past 15 years, since shifting my pharmacy practice more toward natural pharmacy, I have encountered numerous parents with children suffering from allergies and asthma. I have always recommended to these parents that they discontinue processed dairy and to put their children on a daily probiotic supplement and a daily thymus support supplement. The majority of parents who implement these changes happily report back to me that their children’s allergy symptoms have greatly improved or disappeared altogether. I know that I will probably anger a lot of dairy farmers and processed milk distributors, but if you have been convinced by the multi-million dollar “Got Milk” Ad campaign to drink more milk then I strongly suggest that you reconsider your decision, and instead of “Got Milk” begin to think “Not Milk!” If you’re interested in starting your own fitness plan or having a health coach help you achieve a new level of wellness, then please fill out the contact form. Also just below here is an email signup box to sign up for our monthly newsletter if you haven’t already! All you have to do is enter your email address and press enter. In our newsletter is a recap of selected blogs, a funny story, patient testimonials, product reviews and a money saving coupon code for products in our online store!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

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Natural Relief for your Allergy Miseries

May 5, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

There are some great natural alternatives to the prescription and over the counter allergy medications that you need to know about!

Allergies can make your life miserable, but so can the side effects of some of these medications. Fortunately there are natural alternatives that don’t have the bothersome side effects. I’d like to share with you some of my favorites that I use personally and recommend to my patients on a regular basis. Standard Process makes two products that I like to use. One is Allerplex, a synergistic formula of natural ingredients that help your body fight off the allergy symptoms.

With vitamin A and C, supports the body’s ability to handle seasonal, environmental, and dietary challenges.

Supports the body’s natural ability to manage mucus movement
Supports healthy liver function
Supports healthy lung and respiratory function

Standard Process also makes a natural antihistamine product called Antronex. Antronex contains yakriton, a liver fat extract discovered by Japanese researchers that is used to support the body’s normal detoxification mechanisms by supporting the liver and the body’s natural immune system function. I’ve used both of these products personally for some time whenever my allergies flare up.

Allergy- Pollen 1oz - Natural Creations - Click Image to Close I also use and recommend two homeopathic products for allergies as well. Natural Creations makes two that are excellent for allergy symptoms this time of year. They are simply and practically named, Allergy Pollen and Allergy Grass. These remedies are administered by dropping several drops under your tongue at the onset of symptoms. Both of these products are great at arresting your symptoms and providing some non-drowsy relief. A low dose of these products can be taken prior to allergy season to help prevent the oncoming allergy symptoms. If you’re anything like me, then you will be needing some allergy relief sooner or later this summer. If you have any questions about why your body has the reactions it does to pollen and other allergens check out the previous post, and as always feel free to comment or contact me by filling out the contact form or clicking on the Ask Dr. Phil Microphone on CarsonNatural.com.

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

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Allergy Season is in Full Bloom

April 29, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

It’s about this time every year where a scene like this one transforms from a beautiful landscape into a minefield of coughing, sneezing, and itching and watering eyes. This year is no different than any other. The pollen is blowing in the air, fresh grass is being cut, and people are spending millions on antihistamines and other allergy medicines.

You yourself, or someone you know, may be half asleep or bouncing off the walls from the side effects of these medicines. Many of you may be thinking, “yes, I hate the way this medicine makes me feel, but what else can I do?” Well I’ve always maintained that the best defense against allergies is a healthy immune system. Today I want to talk a little about some immune system building products that I take myself and recommend to my patients on a regular basis. The first is Enzymatic Therapy’s Thymuplex, and the others are Standard Process’ Thymex and Immuplex. What is the link between allergies and your immune system? Well I’m glad you asked. Your body is constantly fighting off invasions from viruses and bacteria (known as antigens), such as the flu virus or common cold virus. Your immune system releases antibodies to fight these antigens constantly and each antibody is specific to the type of antigen it is designed to neutralize. Your body sees pollen, mold, pet dander, and other allergens as invaders and releases antibodies to fight them off. When you continually come in contact with these elements your body begins to release powerful chemicals called “histamines” which cause runny noses, watery eyes, and most seasonal allergy symptoms. If for some reason our immune system becomes weakened, it makes it more difficult to fight off the histamine producing invaders. The master gland of your immune system is the Thymus gland, and these products help support the Thymus gland by helping it produce bacteria and viral fighting cells to protect our body against invaders. I have been using at least one of these products for the past several years and I have less problems with seasonal allergies than I’ve ever had in my life.

Here is a quick rundown of all three products

ThymuPlex™ contains vitamins, minerals, glandular and herbs (including Echinacea) essential for your immune system, white blood cell functions, and thymus gland activity. It provides thymus gland extract “predigested” that is already broken down for use by the body. It also includes these glandular ingredients: spleen extract and lymphatic extract and enzymes: trypsin, papain and bromelain for protein digestion.

Thymex supports the thymus gland with bovine thymus Cytosol™ extract. It supports a healthy thymus gland, the master gland of the immune system, and can be used in combination with other immune support products. Thymex is also a good source of antioxidant vitamin C.

Immuplex contains phytochemicals, minerals, as well as Protomorphogen™ and Cytosol™ extracts to support the immune system. Taken daily, it supports a healthy immune response function, and helps maintain normal white blood cell activity already within a normal range. Immuplex also supports the body’s normal response to inflammation as it relates to periodic challenges like consumption of a high-fat meal or strenuous activity. It provides photochemicals with antioxidant activity and broad mineral support for everyday immune function.

For some further alternatives to antihistamines, check back with us later this week for our blog on natural antihistamines and homeopathic products for seasonal allergies. If you have any questions about the products discussed today please contact me using the contact form, clicking the Ask Dr. Phil microphone, or by leaving a comment below.

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil