Just when you thought you were seeing the light at the end of the cedar fever tunnel, oak allergy season is just around the corner. It’s time to prep your body for another onslaught of sneezing, sniffling, and watery, itchy eyes. You may also experience congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip, scratchy throat, cough, and dark circles under your eyes. Oak trees release their pollen around late February through early June. If you are feeling crummy from spending time outdoors in the beautiful Austin spring weather, come in and grab one of the following natural allergy options.

If you suffer from cedar fever, chances are you know BioStar Botanicals’ Cedar Serum well. The good news is, we also carry their Oak Serum, and you use it just the same! It is suggested to take 1 drop in a glass of water, increasing by 1 drop each day until you reach 15 drops. Once you reach 15 drops, continue that dose every day throughout the remaining oak allergy season. What makes this remedy so effective is that it’s specifically formulated for local allergies because it contains extracts from local oak, ash, and elm and is preserved in an organic local honey base. Without a doubt, this is a top seller because its potency can’t be beaten!

If homeopathy is your typical go-to, we have you covered! Allergena Zone 5 and Texas Knows Allergy Relief are both homeopathic tinctures preserved in a base of purified water and alcohol. Both remedies work well for all symptoms of local allergies, so if other trees and grasses are also getting to you, add this to your regimen. It is suggested to take 10-15 drops under the tongue, 3 times a day throughout the allergy season. With homeopathic remedies like these, they work best if you take them away from all food and drink for at least 15 minutes before and after.

Tinctures can be hard to remember to take for some, and capsules might be easier. Look no further than NuMedica’s Seasonal Shield for serious relief. This product will give you a fighting chance with its unique formula that helps support the body battling high histamine levels. Take 4 capsules once a day or as directed by your health practitioner. This formula is not oak allergy specific so keep it in your wellness arsenal for sneezes and runny nose all year long.

If you are still looking for alleviation from oak allergies and can’t decide which product might be the right fit for you, chat with our team of wellness experts in stores. We have dozens of other options to support you and the most knowledgeable practitioners in all of Austin. We pride ourselves on not only being able to help you feel better, but also teaching you how to minimize allergy symptoms for brutal allergy seasons to come.

 
Lauren Sanchez, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ. Her natural approach to medicine facilitates healing by respecting the mind, body and spirit connection. She also specializes in helping individuals reach optimal wellness through a plant-based regimen.

 
*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.
 
If you have comments and/or questions about this blog, email us at blog@peoplesrx.com.

It’s that time of year again, folks! If you’re new to the “joys” of cedar fever in central Texas or got caught off guard this year when the pollen started falling, there are still natural ways you can find relief with effective, locally-made remedies, free of side effects and safe for all ages!

Cedar season typically starts in mid to late November and lasts until March. (See this great Austin allergy chart by UT Health Austin – a good one to print for the fridge!) It’s ideal to prepare your body’s natural defenses early, but it’s not too late to start now since symptoms typically last all season. Allergic reactions can include headaches, congestion, mild facial pain, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, sore throat, sensation of plugged ears, fatigue, and sneezing. For those with severe reactions, a combination of products are often needed to manage the symptoms and provide relief.

One of our top recommendations to battle cedar fever is Cedar Serum from Biostar Botanicals–there is no other aid quite like it! This tincture provides specific relief for allergies against local cedar trees and is made here in Austin. Our customers and employees swear by this remedy as the biggest game changer for them when trying to combat cedar fever.

It is recommended to take one drop in 8 ounces of water the first day, then increase by one drop each day until 15 drops are tolerated. Once 15 drops are reached, continue that dosage each day until cedar season is over. We also provide an acute dosing schedule if you are starting a bit late taking the remedy and need to dose quicker. Our knowledgeable wellness employees can provide those instructions.

Cedar Allergy Mix from Professional Health Products is another heavy hitter for cedar allergy sufferers. It is a homeopathic spray that includes two different homeopathic preparations of cedar, as well as remedies to address symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. Homeopathic remedies like these work quickly to provide relief and can be safely used throughout the season.

It is recommended for adults to take 2-3 sprays orally, 3 times daily. Homeopathics like this are best taken away from food and beverage and not to be taken close to the times you brush your teeth. Children can take this remedy, but be advised that there is some alcohol in the spray for preservation.

A personal favorite of many Peoples employees is D-Hist from Orthomolecular. This capsulated herbal and nutritional formula is great for all types of allergies and helps address congestion and nasal drainage better than most other products on the market. D-Hist Jr is a tasty chewable, great for kiddos who are also experiencing the worst of cedar season and need support as well.

Here at Peoples, we are more than familiar with cedar fever and are equipped to help you find the right products to address your unique symptoms. If you are suffering from a combination of allergies, we can help with that too! We have products that provide quick relief whether you are starting now or are already experiencing full blown cedar fever wrath. We are happy to educate you on all your options and how to reduce your risk of suffering from cedar season each year. From homeopathic remedies to over-the-counter medicine, we have dozens of allergy relief options so you can function normally again.

Lauren Sanchez, ND* received her Naturopathic Doctorate at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ. Her natural approach to medicine facilitates healing by respecting the mind, body and spirit connection. She also specializes in helping individuals reach optimal wellness through a plant-based regimen.

*Naturopathic doctors are not currently licensed in the state of Texas.

If you have comments and/or questions about this blog, email us at blog@peoplesrx.com.

Since this is the time of year ticks become more active again, May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. It’s vital to be educated and prepared before heading outdoors, because Lyme disease can be devastating. And if you don’t think Lyme is in Texas–think again. It is here and it is an epidemic.

I know all too well, because I was bitten by ticks in San Antonio as a child and went undiagnosed for over 30 years. Fast forward many years, the pathogens in me went dormant and I became asymptomatic, then unknowingly gave Lyme and co-infections to my son during birth.

He suffered the greatest and longest with pages of unrelated physical and mental symptoms. I took him to over 30 doctors in Texas including infectious disease specialists, and they all missed it. Just like they missed it in me all those years.

Lyme and its co-infections are multi-symptom diseases caused by highly-evolved pathogens which are difficult to test, diagnose, and treat. Check out these statistics, tips, and tools to protect you and your family during tick season.
 

Statistics on Lyme disease

Lyme is a vector-borne disease and can be transmitted from ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, lice, or any biting bug. It can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy and through breast milk, even if the mother is asymptomatic. This is called Congenital or Gestational Lyme.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are over 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease reported each year. Many experts believe this is sorely underreported, and the actual number could be as high as 1-2 million per year in the U.S. alone.

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete (spiral shaped) bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that can drill deep into the tissues, nervous system, and organs. The young nymph is about the size of a poppy seed and causes most human cases, but because the bite is painless, many people don’t realize they’ve been bitten.

Ticks can carry many different types of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Some can be life-threatening, further complicating diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Most Lyme patients have at least one co-infection, which can include Babesia, Mycoplasma, Bartonella, and Anaplasma, just to name a few.

Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite or any rash. Although the bullseye red rash is considered a classic sign, some people get different types of rashes or none at all.

Transmission of Lyme and other infections can take place in a matter of minutes, particularly if the tick is not removed properly.

Lyme is widely referred to as “The Great Imitator” because it can mimic ailments like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia, Autism (ASD), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Bipolar, Anxiety, and other health labels.

Lyme disease symptoms can be non-specific, vague, changeable, and migrate where adults may not even realize children are ill.

Lyme blood tests can be very inaccurate and many patients visit multiple doctors before being correctly diagnosed. The standard laboratory testing recommended by the CDC misses approximately half of the cases.
 

Protect yourself, your family, and your pets

I am proud to have consulted with Peoples Rx in putting together a convenient Tick Kit to help you be prepared this summer. Stop into your favorite Peoples location to build your own and be prepared to act fast if bitten by a tick, since time is of the essence. The items below are a good place to start protecting your family members–both humans and pets!

Repellent for clothes and shoes: Picaridin is very effective but is only for the clothes (not skin), and will last several washings.

Repellent for skin and pets: Wondercide is for your skin and pets, and is shown to be just as effective as DEET.

Stay out of tall grass and wood piles, where ticks are most common, and tuck your pant legs into your socks. Always take a shower and check for ticks after being in the great outdoors.
 

If you’ve been bitten

There is a right and a wrong way to remove a tick. Never squeeze the tick’s body, burn the body with a match, or smother it in nail polish remover. Ticks can regurgitate all the pathogens they contain into your bloodstream if you do any of these things. Instead, use needle nose tweezers to grab the tick gently between the body and the head and pull straight up, never twisting. Tweezers with a built in magnifying glass would be even easier.

Send the tick off for testing to either www.ticknology.org or www.tickreport.com, which is more accurate than testing humans for Lyme.

Apply alcohol and then andrographis tincture and bentonite clay, to help pull out toxins. Top Lyme expert Dr. Steven Buhner also recommends homeopathic Ledum immediately and in the first several days after a bite.

Finally, go to an International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILAIDS) trained doctor, called LLMDs and LLNDs (Lyme Literate Medical/Naturopathic Doctors) to get on antibiotics for the appropriate length of time (6 weeks) while you wait for the tick results.
 
Check out my full resource list here for more information, and listen to my family’s full story, including how we recovered with a cutting-edge therapy, on my episode of Peoples Rx’s podcast, The Cultivate Wellness Podcast. And be sure to visit Peoples Rx (all locations) to build your own Tick Kit so that you can protect your family this year.

If you or someone you know is already dealing with Lyme disease and/or its co-infections, check out the Lyme Disease Support Group that meets monthly at Peoples Rx South Lamar. Their next meeting is May 18.
 
Kelley Siliven was bitten by ticks in Texas infected with Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia. Because of her battle with the disease, she is a Lyme patient advocate to help other families navigate the complexities of the disease and its co-infections.

Statistics pulled from:
www.lymedisease.org
www.Lymediseasechallenge.org
https://qz.com/441583/lyme-disease-is-spreading-faster-than-ever-and-humans-are-partly-to-blame/
 
If you have comments and/or questions about this blog, email us at blog@peoplesrx.com.

Gemmotherapy is the youngest botanical medicine from Europe, developed in the 1970s.  A medicine fully endorsed by the European Union, it is the first of its kind to have the ability to simultaneously clean and restore organ tissue. That’s important to note, because when you use Gemmotherapy extracts at home for acute care you are not only helping your current symptoms, you are strengthening the organs for the future. Read more →

Summertime, and the living is . . . itchy, sneezy, bruised and sleepless? Master Homeopath Dawn Welch has solutions for summer’s little irritations. Easy and lightweight to pack, simple to use, safe and effective for every member of the family (including the dog), homeopathic remedies are a must in every backpack or suitcase to make the most of your fun in the sun! Here are seven key remedies to keep with you in case summer strikes:

1. Apis mellifica 30C – This is the classic remedy for insect bites. You know the horrible sting of a wasp or a fire ant or even a jellyfish – if it feels like a wasp, this remedy will help take out the ouch. Take 3 pellets sublingually every 15 minutes until the sting is gone.

Read more →

According to the mainstream media, there is no other way to protect your child besides conventional vaccination. Furthermore, you are accused of committing a selfish act by not “protecting the community” unless you vaccinate, regardless of any risks involved.

Parents are not selfish. They are simply seeking a safe, non-toxic choice. Read more →

As a naturopathic doctor*, a registered nurse and the mother of a teenage daughter, I know a thing or two about proper skin care. However, when my daughter began experiencing severe and bizarre symptoms that transcended the traditional acne most teens experience, I was at a loss. My name is FayeLynn Wright and this is our story of how going natural and finding the perfect product, like Orthomolecular’s SophytoPRO®, saved my daughter’s skin and her self-esteem! Read more →

Peoples is excited to welcome back Kaya Dupuis, CH from maternity leave! Kaya is one of our senior clinical homeopaths and wellness specialists. For the past ten years, she has been consulting and lecturing in the areas of natural medicine for infants and toddlers, brain chemistry/hormone-balancing and women’s health in regards to pre-and post-partum health and fertility. Read more →