NaturalMedications

Taking care of moisture and dampness problems in your home could make breathing easier. Moisture problems in buildings have been associated with respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, or irritated throat. Damp environments are conducive to the growth of mold, a common allergen. Discourage mold growth by taking care of moisture and plumbing problems promptly.

Stinging nettles (a medicinal plant) in capsules are very effective against runny nose and sneezing from allergies, and may help with colds.

Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese healing art, can be used successfully for treating and preventing allergies. People with seasonally related allergies begin acupuncture treatments 2 to 4 weeks before hay fever season begins.

Americans spend an estimated $500 million each year on allergy treatments.

The Japanese have a passion for washabi, a form of radish eaten with sushi (raw fish). In its most potent form, it can make your eyes water and clear your sinuses. The belief is that a spoonful every day prevents allergies, especially hay fever. If your grocery store doesn't carry washabi, substitute regular horseradish. A daily dosage is necessary only until the symptoms of your allergy subside. Thereafter, you need only a few teaspoons of horseradish each month to

prevent another allergy attack. Warning: You may want to forgo the sushi, since raw fish can be a source of one kind of parasite, the fish tape worm.

Fenugreek, also full of calcium and other minerals, has a soothing effect on the respiratory system. Drinking 1 c. of fenugreek seed tea a day may help hay fever sufferers. This remedy dates back to the ancient Egyptians who drank a cup before each meal to clear and stimulate their senses of smell and taste.

Ginkgo Biloba is the oldest family of trees in

existence, dating back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. An especially robust tree, some living ginkgos have been around for 1,000 years. For centuries, The Chinese have been using the ginkgo to treat allergies. Both its bark and its leaves provide effective remedies. Ginkgo treatment is also popular with other Asian groups, the Germans, and the French.

The rich Greek dessert baklava, generously laced with honey might add a few pounds to your middle, but it also might prevent you from sneezing your way through springtime. Honey has long been used by Greeks, Asians, Italians, and Hungarians to prevent hay fever.The small amounts of pollen from the flowers that are found in the honey will often desensitize the honey eater to the allergic effects of local flowers. For this reason, it is best to eat honey gathered in the area where you live.

Pollen, the fine yellow dust produced by trees and flowers during their "mating season," is blamed for more than half of all forms of allergy in the United States. Strangely enough, in many other parts of the world, pollen is used to prevent allergies. People in parts of South America, the Middle East, and Sweden collect pollen from honeycombs and allow it to harden into small, edible cakes. Research has shown that these people have a very low incidence of hay fever because they have built up a desensitization to the effects of the pollen, akin to what an allergist does in administering small doses of allergen over time. Warning: Asthmatics should not use this treatment.

ALFALFA: Aids in healing allergies, arthritis, morning sickness, peptic ulcers, stomach ailments & bad breath; cleanses the kidneys & removes poisons from the body; neutralizes acids; is an excellent blood purifier & blood thinner; improves the appetite and aids in the assimilation of protein, calcium & other nutrients.

DON QUAI: Well known woman's herb for relieving painful menstruation. Inhibits the antibody igE, a key part of the pollen allergies. Chinese herb for women. Female glandular tonic Regulates monthly periods. Blood builder and tonic after childbirth. Corrects skin problems, kidney disorders and balances blood pressure (high). KEY NUTRIENTS: NIACIN, COBALT, IRON, MAGNESIUM.