A recent report from Children’s Hospital Boston indicates that food allergies in children are becoming more common and more severe.  In fact, the number of food allergy cases at this hospital doubled in 2006. In addition, the number of kids with food allergies went up 18 percent from 1997 to 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 3 million children younger than 18 had a food or digestive allergy in 2007, the CDC said.  There are many theories as to why more and more children are becoming allergic.  This rise in allergies could be due to our Western diet, making us more susceptible to developing allergies and other illnesses. CNN further explores this possibility in their article “Why are food allergies on the rise?“:

The children in the African village live in a community that produces its own food. The study authors say this is closer to how humans ate 10,000 years ago. Their diet is mostly vegetarian. By contrast, the local diet of European children contains more sugar, animal fat and calorie-dense foods. The study authors posit that these factors result in less biodiversity in the organisms found inside the gut of European children.

The decrease in richness of gut bacteria in Westerners may have something to do with the rise in allergies in industrialized countries, said Dr. Paolo Lionetti of the department of pediatrics at Meyer Children Hospital at the University of Florence. Sanitation measures and vaccines in the West may have controlled infectious disease, but they decreased exposure to a variety of bacteria may have opened the door to these other ailments.

“In a place where you can die [from] infectious diseases, but you don’t get allergy, obesity, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease, the flora is different,” Lionetti said.

This study only looked at a small number of children, but the findings support the widespread notion of the “hygiene hypothesis” — the idea that cases of allergies are increasing in number and severity because children grow up in environments that are simply too clean.

“That our immune system is skewed away from fighting infections, and toward fight things that it’s not supposed to be fighting, like things in the environment or foods — that’s one thing that people think may be in play,” Rudders said.

Another reason presented for this rapid increase in food allergies and food sensitivities in children is the idea of delayed introduction of high allergen foods. A study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, “Age at First Introduction of Cow Milk Products and Other Food Products in Relation to Infant Atopic Manifestations in the First 2 Years of Life: The KOALA Birth Cohort Study” has found that delaying the introduction of certain common allergen foods, particularly cow’s milk, is not favorable and does not prevent the development of allergic response such as eczema, wheezing or atopic dermatitis. They studied data from 2558 infants in the Netherlands to come to this conclusion, through questionnaires administered at 34 weeks of gestation and 3, 7, 12, and 24 months postpartum. They then measured allergic sensitivity at age 2, through blood sampling. They determined that delaying introduction of common allergens may actually increase the risk of eczema at age 2 and beyond.

Another study involving Jewish children in the United Kingdom and Israel has found that the Israeli children who were exposed to peanuts frequently during infancy were 10 times LESS likely to develop a peanut allergy than their UK counterparts.

“The most obvious difference in the diet of infants in both populations occurs in the introduction of peanut. Israeli infants are introduced to peanut during early weaning and continue to eat peanut more frequently and in higher amounts than UK infants, who avoid peanut, as per Department of Health recommendations.  The observed differences in Peanut Allergies between the UK and Israel are unlikely to be explained by genetic differences. Our findings raise the question of whether early and frequent ingestion of high-dose peanut protein during infancy might prevent the development of Peanut Allergies through tolerance induction. Paradoxically, past recommendations in the United States and current recommendations in the UK and Australia might be promoting the development of Peanut Allergies and could explain the continued increase in the prevalence of Peanut Allergies observed in these countries.”

Whatever the reason for the increase, it’s time to look at alternative methods of addressing these allergies in children.  BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers offer a variety of holistic therapies that can help reduce or eliminate symptoms related to food allergies.  Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center to learn more!

-by Dr. Gary Douglas,  BioVeda Health and Wellness

What’s the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis?
Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or “atopic eczema”). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world’s population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood.

In general, atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances overacts, causing itching and scratching. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured by drugs. However, for most patients the condition may be managed well with laser treatment along with temporary avoidance of triggers.

What does eczema look and feel like?
Although it may look different from person to person, it is most often characterized by dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin. Eczema is sometimes referred to as “the itch that rashes,” since the itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash.
Eczema can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In some people, eczema may “bubble up” and ooze. In others, the condition may appear more scaly, dry, and red. Chronic scratching causes the skin to take on a leathery texture because the skin thickens (lichenification).

What makes patients with eczema itch?
Many substances have been identified as itch “triggers” in patients with eczema, and triggers are not the same for every person. Many times it is difficult to identify the exact trigger that causes a flare-up. For some, it seems that rough or coarse materials coming into contact with the skin causes itchiness. For others, feeling too hot and/or sweating will cause an outbreak. Other people find that certain soaps, detergents, disinfectants, contact with juices from fresh fruits and meats, dust mites, and animal saliva and dander’s may trigger itching. Upper respiratory infections (caused by viruses) may also be triggers. Stress can also sometimes aggravate an existing flare-up.

Who gets eczema?
Eczema occurs in both children and adults, but usually appears during infancy. Although there is no known cause for the disease, it often affects people with a family history of allergies.
Those who are genetically predisposed and then exposed to environmental triggers may develop eczema. Many people who have eczema also suffer from allergic rhinitis and asthma, or have family members who do.

How common is eczema?
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the United States have some form of eczema. About 10 percent to 20 percent of all infants have eczema; however, in nearly half of these children, the disease will improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15 years of age. Others will have some form of the disease throughout their lives.

How can eczema be prevented?
Outbreaks can usually be avoided with some simple precautions. The following suggestions may help to reduce the severity and frequency of flare-ups:
• Moisturize frequently
• Avoid sudden changes in temperature or humidity
• Avoid sweating or overheating
• Reduce stress
• Avoid scratchy materials (e.g., wool or other irritants)
• Avoid harsh soaps, detergents, and solvents
• Avoid environmental factors that trigger allergies (e.g., pollens, molds, mites, and animal dander)
• Be aware of any foods that may cause an outbreak and avoid those foods

What can be done for children with eczema?
Children are unique patients because it may be difficult for them to resist scratching their eczema, thereby making the condition worse. Avoid as many eczema triggers as possible. Keep your child’s skin moist. After bathing, apply moisturizer within three minutes to retain the moisture in the skin. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Keep your child’s bedroom and play areas free of dust mites (a common trigger). Use mild soaps – both on your child’s skin and on your child’s clothing. Dress your child in breathable, preferably cotton, clothing.

-by Dr. Brent Waterman, BioVeda Health and Wellness Center of San Ramon

Are you thinking about changing your doctor to an alternative medicine doctor?  Do you like the allopathic approach or are you fascinated with eastern medicine? If you are ready for a change in your health and healthcare professional, then you should know the differences between the two approaches. Both are worlds apart and choosing one has been the bone of contention for a long time.

Let’s discuss and educate you on which approach to trust your health with.  We feel that the choice of going with a complementary and alternative medicine doctor should be yours. Often referred to as allopathic medicine, the western approach aims to treat the illness only. When a person falls ill or is suffering from a disease, the condition is treated using drugs and surgeries. Allopathic practitioners are limited by what they can do because they only focus on the symptoms not the causes. Since last century, allopathic healthcare practices have spread to every nook and cranny of the planet. Most of the population is now accustomed to this type of allopathic treatment. As you can see most infants are injected with immunizations without hesitancy, and flu shots are administered without any questions. It seems as though there is a pill for every ill, and even better, a pill for all their side effects. We have somehow been convinced that when sick, it is due to a lack of medicine or surgery and this is the only way.

On the other hand, holistic healthcare complimentary alternative medicine is proactive and aims to find the causes of disease or dis-ease in your body’s system. It encompasses the entire anatomy of a person including the physical body, the mental state, and the spiritual connection. A Holistic practitioner has a focus that is much broader than solely getting rid of the symptoms of disease. They believe that a person is complete as a whole, not separating its parts whether they are ethereal or solid. The emphasis of treatment is more on the relationship between the various parts and the whole self. In chiropractic for example, Doctors check the body’s nervous system (main control center) for decreased activation. They remove this nervous system interference, balancing the brain and body chemistry allowing your body to function at its best. Do you think that if your body is functioning correctly that you will become sick?

In the present medical scenario, you cannot separate allopathic treatment out of the holistic approach. Holistic approach is derived from cultures and traditions and come from every corner of the planet. They may consist of traditional and pre-scientific understandings of healthcare and medicine. In some cases, they cannot be evaluated scientifically to prove their safety and effectiveness. However, allopathic practitioners may adopt a holistic treatment, if a particular alternative medical practice is scientifically investigated and the effectiveness is established.

During the era of WWII we saw a shift from chemistry based sciences (Big Pharma) to quantum based sciences (energetics) bringing light and research to holistic health care. Contrary to allopathic medicine, holistic medicine focuses primarily on prevention and its practitioners are sometimes called Chiropractors, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, or Herbalists. They usually do not prescribe pharmaceutical drugs and work at elevating one’s own immune system naturally. Though, some holistic clinics might have a dispensary, they prescribe vitamins, homeopathic remedies, supplements and tinctures. These natural prescriptions are much safer than prescription medications and are often void of their unwanted side effects. All this is not meant to demean the allopathic approach. For e.g. in case of a serious accident or a mishap, immediate relief is provided by allopathic medicine. It is more suitable to treat a broken bone through the allopathic model. But when it comes to problems such as allergies, depression, backache, neck pain, hormonal imbalances, eczema and other such grave issues, nothing compares to the holistic approach.

So, you may choose to incorporate both in your life. The main point here is to make sure you do not get pigeon holed into one approach. Educate yourself and make your own decisions, it is YOUR body. Chiropractic also comes under the umbrella of holistic medicine. It is gaining immense popularity because it combines sophisticated scientific methods with a holistic approach. Offering the best of both worlds, chiropractic can solve some problems unknown in the allopathic realm.

Article written by Jessica B. – on staff, BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Vacaville – Conner Chiropractic Care

Growing up in this modern society, we are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful women – models and actresses – slinging every health and beauty product from here to Timbuktu. The ubiquitousness of these advertisements is inescapable, but what are they really telling us?

Initially, we are captivated by the models thick lustrous hair, flawless skin and trim tanned bodies; we’re intrigued by the vague and pseudo-sciencey sounding jargon used to prove how well their particular product will effectively transform us into glowing, airbrushed goddesses; but it doesn’t end there. Now more than ever we are seeing a surge in the prevalence of products marketed as ‘natural’ and ‘organic’. We are all aware of the benefits of eating organically, the pesticide and herbicide industry has come under much scrutiny as more and more research has been able to prove the adverse health effects of long-term chemical exposure.

But what do these ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ labels really mean? As it turns out, the Food and Drug Administration regulates the labeling of cosmetics as ‘organic’, but not ‘natural’. And as just about every chemical can be reduced to a natural component, essentially making it impossible to regulate, this allows marketers to use the ambiguity of the word ‘natural’ to get their consumers interested in a ‘greener’ lifestyle.

Now, I don’t want to contribute to any paranoia or fear-mongering here – but I do think that, now more than ever, we owe it to ourselves to pay better attention to what we are putting in and on our bodies. I made a list of all the things I use on a daily to semi-daily basis, and while I don’t consider myself ‘high maintenance’ by any means, I was surprised to see the actual number. I tend to be fairly basic with my beauty routine, and I’m guessing the general list of items doesn’t vary too much from woman to woman, so here are some of the most common ingredients to avoid wherever possible –

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) – Shampoo, Body Wash, Bar Soap.
Harsh detergents and wetting agents used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and auto cleaning products. SLS is well-known in the scientific community as a common skin irritant. It is rapidly absorbed and retained in the eyes, brain, heart and liver, which may result in harmful long-term effects. SLS could retard healing, cause cataracts in adults, and prevent children’s eyes from developing properly.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)
SLES is the alcohol form (ethoxylate) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying. Both SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic formations of nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with other ingredients. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing.

Propylene Glycol – Shampoo, Facial Moisturizer, Deodorant
A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In skin and hair products, propylene glycol works as a humectant, which is a substance that retains the moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) warn users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

Mineral Oil
A derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. Mineral oil forms an oily film over the skin to lock in moisture, toxins and wastes, but hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out.

Petrolatum
A petroleum based grease that is used industrially as a grease component. Petrolatum exhibits many of the same potentially harmful properties as mineral oil.

Methyl, Propyl, butyl, and ethyl parabens
Are used to extend a product’s shelf life and inhibit microbial growth. Highly toxic. Can cause rashes and other allergic reactions.

Imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin
These formaldehyde-forming preservatives can cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, chronic fatigue, dizziness, insomnia and asthma. Can also weaken the immune system and can even cause cancer. Found in skin, body and hair products, antiperspirants and nail polish.

Animal Fat (Tallow)
A type of animal tissue made up of oily solids or semisolids that are water-insoluble esters of glycerol with fatty acids. Animal fats and lye are the chief ingredients in a bar of soap; a cleaning and emulsifying product that may act as a breeding ground for bacteria.

Alcohol
A colourless, volatile, flammable liquid produced by the fermentation of yeast and carbohydrates. Alcohol is used frequently as a solvent and is also found in beverages and medicine. As an ingredient in ingestible products, alcohol may cause body tissues to be more vulnerable to carcinogens. Mouthwashes with an alcohol content of 25% or more have been implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancers.

Aluminium
A metallic element used extensively in the manufacture of aircraft components, prosthetic devises and as an ingredient in antiperspirants, antacids and antiseptics. Aluminium has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Bentonite
A porous clay that expands to many times its dry volume as it absorbs water. Bentonite, commonly found in many cosmetic foundations, may clog pores and suffocate the skin.

Collagen
An insoluble fibrous protein that is too large to penetrate the skin. The collagen found in most skin care products is derived from animal skins and ground up chicken feet. This ingredient forms a layer of film that may suffocate the skin.

Heard the saying ‘You are what you eat’? Well, the same adage applies to what you put on your skin or in your hair. These chemicals are absorbed into the body’s tissues, and may be causing allergic reactions that you aren’t even aware of. Pregnant women should also note that the fetus absorbs everything you take in as well. While such treatments as Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy can reduce some of the symptoms of exposure to these substances, and thousands more, there are still long-term health effects.

In short – Just be aware! Read the ingredients! If you aren’t sure about one, make a note and research it when you get a chance, but don’t fall for the gimmicks and infomercials.

For more information on the specific beauty products you use or to find some new ones if you are concerned, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com is an excellent resource. You can browse by brand, or toxicity rating.

(Article written by Jessica B. – on staff, BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Vacaville – Conner Chiropractic Care)