Blog
21/06/2010
Natural treatments for Asthma, Eczema and Hay fever
In May I spent a fascinating day at “The Allergy Show” at Olympia on a stand promoting Bowen technique for asthma and hayfever. We met some people whose lives were very disrupted by all sorts of sensitivities to food; pollen, animal fur and sometimes they had no idea what was upsetting their health. We heard some fascinating stories such as a lady who’d taken singing lessons to help with her asthma and it had really made a difference! This spring and summer I have been particularly busy treating babies, children and grown ups for hayfever, asthma and eczema. For example, Ada, 9 months old had been suffering with colds, runny nose, chest infections, and was using an inhaler for asthma since December 2009. Her mum writes, I went to visit Rosemary in May 2010 and after 3 sessions I am delighted to say it is like having a different baby! The change is brilliant. She has not had coughs or colds since and her breathing is brillant, I have not used the inhaler once. The joys of Bowen technique and Reflexology! Many other complementary therapies have helped sufferers too including acupuncture and homeopathy.
So many of us in the western world suffer with these allergic conditions now. One in ten of us will have eczema and similar numbers develop asthma and hayfever. These are diseases of developed countries, much worse when a country becomes westernised, foods are more processed and we are exposed to more chemicals in the atmosphere, food, furnishings, everywhere really. Stress is also a big factor and sufferers report being worse at times such as when taking exams. These are notoriously difficult complaints to treat and rarely completely cured. I’ve been troubled myself since my mum weaned me and have gone through many different treatments with varying success. However, I have picked up a lot of information along the way, which inspired me to put this in an e-book, last year, which you’re very welcome to have a copy of if you would like to contact me.
Sometimes just a small change of behaviour can sort someone’s problem. My friend Paul was troubled by eczema on his hands, which easily became infected. After giving up milk he is now totally eczema free! He is fanatical though, even avoiding the slightest amount of milk and having his pizzas without cheese!
I am waiting to join a behaviour modification programme at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. People who have followed this programme rave about it as they were able to reverse a lifetime habit of scratching which causes deep damage, makes the irritation worse and allows the skin to become infected. Someone with eczema may scratch himself or herself over a thousand times a day and telling them not to scratch really won’t help!
There are many helpful treatments your doctor can offer you that may help but sometimes you may feel you need to look beyond when the condition keeps returning. Robert says of his eczema “I got to a point that I had to take control myself and I knew I had to seek alternative therapy as the GP continued to be little relief for the eczema. I focused on the issues I could manage and structured a 'new' life around this, I took myself away from the stressful situations that I could not control, and focused on what I could influence. Work was the first thing, I left at leaving time and took on a workload I knew I could handle. I invested in a dog, something I had missed terribly since leaving the family home, and after 8 years without a pooch, he is the best thing I could have done for myself. Its about the inner self, do whatever you want to the outside of your body, but you only reflect what's going on inside, stress shows, and sure enough, reducing the stress means I have reduced the eczema! It is never going to be a 100% success rate, but I am 100% happier!
I’ll write more about these subjects in later issues. In the meantime, if you or your child have allergies, have a look at an excellent site, www.kidswithfoodallergies.org and do get in touch if you would like to read my ebook, Eczema Natural Cures.
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