Integrative Health Blog

One of the first health concerns that brings new mothers into the office is eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. They typically try applying over-the-counter products including lotions, coconut oil, steroid cream, or some combination thereof, but often the scaly red skin induces panic that brings them in the door when all other efforts are exhausted. This can be a blessing in disguise because it often prompts the doctor to test for food allergies, environmental allergies, and infections that are common precipitating factors in eczema.

Why is the Skin Reacting? 

The clear tangible benefit to investigating these things further is that eliminating allergic triggers, clearing up infections, healing the gut, and desensitizing the body to the allergies produces a noticeable change in the outward appearance of the skin. A less obvious, but important, effect is that this provides the patient with added protection against more than multiple types of asthma and reduces the risk of allergic rhinitis and other allergy symptoms in the future.

Skin inflammation can set off an internal inflammatory cascade that can perpetuate further skin conditions and lead to several inflammation-based illnesses later in life.^{1, 2} 

Pathophysiology of Atopic Triad in Children 

Asthma, eczema, and allergies have very similar triggers and immune reactions.

1. Make Social Connections with Others 

Are you experiencing autoimmune inflammation? 

In an autoimmune based illness, the immune system mistakes part of your body, like your joints or skin, as foreign and releases proteins called auto antibodies that attack healthy cells. Autoimmune conditions can range from skin conditions such as psoriasis, to rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus, all the way to Chronic Lyme disease and CIRS. 

Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma, affecting half of asthmatic adults and about 80% of asthmatic children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my asthmatic patients have been concerned about the increased susceptibility they may have to the virus due to the increased mucus production and respiratory impairment associated with asthma. I think it is important to discern what the causal factors are for the asthma to really alleviate the concern because causes of allergic asthma  reduced ACE2 expression and non-atopic asthma does not.  

The Role of the ACE2 Receptor

Taking care of ourselves goes beyond eating healthily and working out regularly. While they are definitely part of maintaining good health, they aren’t the entirety. If you’re looking to improve how you feel from head to toe, here are some things you can consider.

Get Outside

When we spend all of our time cooped up inside, we may begin to experience some negative effects. If you have trouble focusing, remembering important things, or feel tired constantly, it may be due to a lack of nature. When we enter a green space, whether that’s taking a neihborhood walk, a short hike or sitting in your local park, we feel better. In fact, you may find stress diminishes, memory becomes clearer, inflammation reduces, and even symptoms of depression lessen. However, if you think walking through trees sounds boring, then add fun activities. It could be as simple as getting some friends to play tug-of-war, have a sack race, or go for a round of disc golf. There are endless ways to both socialize safely and explore nature at the same time.

Develop Your Hobbies

Fall is the season for mold allergies and seasonal mold allergies can be experienced from mid-August until mid-December. They may subside as the cold weather starts, or flare up when the weather is damp and rainy. And, a mold allergy can be year-round if you are continuously exposed to indoor mold. For people who are sensitive to  mold,  the Washington  D.C. region is  a problem  because the water level is high and this encourages mold growth. 

Sources of Mold

Only some types of mold spores actually cause mycotoxin illness- but a mold allergy can be tricky because mold is common and thrives in so many places.

Fall allergies start to appear in August as people start sneezing from ragweed and other weeds. A ragweed allergy is also known as hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is estimated that ragweed pollen allergy affects 23 million people.¹

The drier the weather, the worse the pollen count. But hot weather, high winds and heavy rains can also create a perfect growing environment for ragweed plants. Ragweed allergies usually peak in mid-September as one plant can produce one billion grains of pollen.

So, just when you want to enjoy an outdoor hike or plant some mums, ragweed allergy symptoms can make you miserable.

Symptoms of Ragweed Allergy

Throughout my years in practice, I have developed a method of eliciting a positive Lyme Disease diagnosis from a typically negative western blot in those I feel fit the picture of a Lyme sufferer.

These symptoms can include but are not limited to fatigue, joint pain, memory weakness, irritability, alopecia (hair loss), cognitive impairment, muscle weakness, anxiety, night sweats, neurological issues, sudden onset of allergies, depression, stomach pain, hormonal imbalance, tics and tremors, fevers, and the list goes on. These symptoms may be stand-alone issues but often overlap with many other disease states including co-infections of Lyme Disease.

I have countless patients who have come into the office with seemingly benign issues like alopecia or eczema and despite conventional interventions, they continue to struggle.

How do you plan to keep your children healthy this year?

School is starting back up, and our children are in close quarters, touching every surface, wiping their noses on their hands and sneezing everywhere. It seems regardless of how many times you show them how to properly sneeze into their elbow so as not to spread the storm of bacteria here-there-and-everywhere- they are children, and learning takes time! No matter how hard we try, we know that this daily contact with other children increases the chance that they will contract colds or flu and may lower their immunity to fight illness. 

How can we keep them healthy? A great home remedy that you can make for yourself and loved ones that may help keep illnesses at bay is Four Thieves’ Vinegar.

The symptoms of a mold allergy are the same as with any type of respiratory allergy: sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes/nose/throat, nasal congestion, cough or post nasal drainage, headache, rash, even asthma. Only some types of mold spores actually cause a reaction but a mold allergy can be challenging because mold is common and thrives in so many places. A mold allergy can be year-round or flare up when the weather is damp and rainy or you are in a damp space.

What grows mold is moisture- but here are some other places to consider where you might see your mold allergy flare up: