SheSue Experience

Allergies, simply put, are your bodies way of telling you something foreign has entered your body. This foreign substance can be from the environment such as pollen, from food or from chemicals. Your body, in turn, will react in a variety of ways including runny nose, headache, sneezing, rapid heart beat, skin reactions, intestinal issues or more.

Rather than reaching for drugs, many are seeking natural remedies. But listen to Dr. Bassett when he says, “natural” does not necessarily mean safe or effective, and people may have unintended side effects. Check with your doctor before trying any natural remedy, especially if you are pregnant or nursing”.

Some suggestion from Gayle Povis Alleman, M.S., R.D., who holds degrees in both alternative and conventional nutrition include:

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A German study found that people who ate foods high in Omega-3 fatty acid had the least allergies. You can get this important supplement by eating fish like salmon or tuna or in nuts like walnuts or you can get the supplement at any health food store.

2. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine. This helps to reduce nasal secretions and inflammation.

3. Flavonoids also have antihistamine properties and work well with vitamin C. Flavonoids and vitamin C can be found in berries, plums, citrus fruits, peppers, spinach, and broccoli.

4. CoQ10 is an immune booster and counters histamine.

5. Magnesium (Citrate) is known as the anti-stress mineral. Stress contributes to allergy symptoms.

6. Calcium (Citrate) helps to reduce histamine production.

On the radio this morning the weather man said it was hot as biscuits. The radio announcer thought that that was terribly funny. They thought it was funny at work too. So I gathered other people’s ideas of how hot it is. Here’s what I came up with.

It’s so hot…

The robins are laying their eggs sunny side up.

All the water buffalo at the zoo have evaporated.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

It’s so hot, I saw squirrels fanning their nuts.

The birds had to pick up the worms with potholders.

I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walkin’

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

Baby it’s so hot that the HABANERO peppers in my garden are hunting for shade

It’s so hot I saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog…

It’s so hot the temperature is to be continued…

It’s as hot as biscuits

It’s so hot I want to take off my skin and hang around in my bones

It’s so hot, when people ask me how I’m doing, I say “medium well.”

It’s so hot, 106.9 isn’t a radio station, it’s a forecast.

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Since then, Project Linus has grown with chapters in nearly every state in the United States with over 3 million blankets given out. Blankets can be quilted, knit, crocheted, sewn or tied. They can be any size, made for children going through trauma from ages 0-18. The website offers free patterns for blankets if you need a place to start. Don’t know how to quilt or knit, you can also donate supplies.

1. Simple Yoga – in a study led by neuroscientist Sat Bir Khalsa, PhD., it was found that doing this simple exercise created deeper and longer sleep. Before bed, sit on the floor with your legs crossed, pressing your palms together against the middle of the chest. Inhale deeply through your abdomen so that you feel your belly expand, then exhale and allow it to relax. Breath as slowly as you can focusing on your breath. The longer you go, the more relaxed and ready for sleep you will be.

2. Walking – Ahh, my favorite. In a study at University of Arizona, those who walked at least 6 brisk blocks daily slept longer and did not wake up during the night. The best time to walk is after work or early evening. Your body temperature rises during exercise, then falls about 1 1/2 hours later, helping you feel relaxed and drowsy.

3. Carbohydrates – Eating a snack that is rich in carbohydrates, but low in fat and protein helps make insulin levels rise. This decreases the levels of amino acids that prevent the brain from making serotonin, a chemical that helps you feel drowsy and relaxed. Eat foods such as a whole grain cracker at least 1/2 hour before bed. Any closer to bed time and your digestive system will react and keep you awake.

4. Stay away from caffeine – That means avoid coffee, tea and soda. Also watch out for chocolate, cold medicines and diet pills. Caffeine causes insomnia and restlessness.

5. Progressive muscle relaxation – A big cause of sleeplessness is the stress you bring to bed. Muscle relaxation will allow your body to relax and bring sleep. As you lie in bed, lie on your back in a comfortable position. Begin by tensing the muscles in your face for about 8 seconds, then relax. Feel the relaxation. Move to your neck and shoulders; tense the muscles, then relax. Continue to move down your body with each muscle group. Your arms, your chest, your back, your stomach, etc., right down to your toes. You may find that you all asleep before you get all the way through.

6. Visualization – Think of a scenario where you know you would be relaxed and stress free. Perhaps on a tropical beach or out in the woods. Imagine how your scene looks, imagine the sounds, and the smells. Hear the waves or the gurgle of a creek. Hear the birds, smell the flowers. The more vivid your imagination, the better to help you relax.

7. Reduce stimulation – If you love watching TV before bed, choose programming that does not have a lot of action. If you don’t, the action will become a part of your dreams keeping you awake. If you’ve been out to a party, you will be full of energy. Before going to bed, find something relaxing to do to unwind. Any of the techniques here would work.

8. Lavender – The essential oil distilled from lavender has been used widely for a natural sleep aid. Dab a drop on your pillow or put a sachet under your pillow. You can even apply some directly to tight muscles to help them relax, but watch for out allergic reactions.

Imagine if you will a park 24″ by 24″. This tiny park exists in downtown Portland, Oregon. It’s quite famous to Portlander’s, but if you don’t pay attention, you’ll easily miss it. Located at Naito Parkway and Taylor street, this tiny park is right next door to Tom McCall Waterfront Park that lines the Willamette River.

The park was dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day in 1948 by Dick Fagan, an Irishman and a journalist. When he returned from the war, Fagan return to his journalistic career with the Oregon Journal. His office as was located on Front Street (now Naito Parkway). He overlooked the busy traffic and the waterfront. A hole was dug in the street for a light pole, but the pole never went in. Fagan grew tired of seeing weeds grow in the hole and decided to plant some flowers.

Fagan kept up his park and wrote a column about it, often referring to the leprechauns that lived there. He continued to write about the activities in the park until he died in 1969. In 1976, the tiny park became an official city park, named Mills End Park after the column Fagan wrote. Over time, people have donated various things to the park including statues, a tiny swimming pool and a miniature ferris wheel.