Jonathan Psenka ND - Dr. Psenkas Seasonal Allergy Solution : the All-Natural 4-Week Plan to Eliminate the Underlying Cause of Allergies and Live Symptom-Free

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek competent medical help.

Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher.

Internet addresses and telephone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it went to press.

2014 by Jonathan Psenka, ND

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

ISBN 9781623362737

eISBN 9781623362744

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Contents

Introduction

AS A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, I walk into my office each day armed with natural ways to help people help themselves and their loved ones lead happier, healthier lives. And I have to say, I love what I do.

In the midst of this labor of love, about 5 years ago, I started seeing more and more allergy patients in my Arizona practice. Many of them admitted to having moved to Arizona because they heard it was the place to live to ease allergies. But after a month or two of fewer sniffles and sneezes, just as these patients were getting used to their new desert environment, their allergies seemed to return and settle in full time. Many of them had tried various conventional allergy medications, but to no avail. Nothing their doctors prescribed worked.

What I noticed about these allergy pioneers was that, in addition to allergies, they frequently had other health concerns. They suffered from heart disease, were overweight, had diabetes, or struggled with other health problems that were well-established diseases of lifestyle. (Lifestyle diseases are conditions people develop when they eat unhealthy diets, dont exercise, or have too much stress.) I began to think that maybe there was more of a connection between allergies and general health than wed previously thought.

So, I did some experimenting. I tried to treat these peoples allergies using natural means. Modern medicine is all about using pills, sprays, drops, and even painful shots to treat allergy symptoms. But very few of these medications treat the causes of allergies, so symptoms continue to return. To try and break the cycle and pull folks out of these downward allergy spirals, so to speak, I treated them holistically.

My findings? Healthful eating and hydration practices, the right herbs and supplements, proper weight management, and avoidance of stress and anxiety all worked wonders. The people who took my advice got healthiernot just in terms of their allergy symptoms, but across the board.

Since then, equipped with what Ive learned about treating allergies naturally, I have created an easy-to-follow plan that you, too, can use to ease your seasonal allergieswithout having to make a single trip to your local drugstore. Using my three-pronged approachfoods, supplements, and exerciseyou can say goodbye to the pesky runny nose, scratchy throat, and allergy shots for good! As a bonus, if you follow my advice, youll be less likely to develop one of the chronic lifestyle diseases killing so many Americans todaycancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

As a result of my work, I have become known in the naturopathic community as an allergy guru. Everywhere I go, people ask me, How can you help me with my allergies? Using this book, I am spreading the word far and wide: With the right natural remedies, you can escape your allergy downward spiral, reverse your allergic tendencies, and ward off other lifestyle diseases at the same time.

THE PROBLEM OF RISING ALLERGIES

There are a ton of allergies out there, and its only getting worse. Globally, 30 to 40 percent of people now suffer from allergies such as rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis, and food and drug allergies, and cases are increasing fastest in children. Whats particularly scary is that were not just becoming more allergic to respiratory allergens like pollens and grasses, were also becoming more allergic to everyday things in our environment, from paint on the wall to new foods. Places like Arizona, once considered to be safe havens for people with allergies, now see sufferers in record numbers. And people who never before had seasonal allergies now find themselves filling prescriptions for allergy medications.

Why? There are multiple theories, from a too-sterile society to unhealthy diets to pollution. (This book will delve into these and other possible environmental causes in more detail). And then theres the role of whats going on inside your body. After all, its not only environment, but also lifestyle, that predisposes you to becoming allergic.

One of the key inside-the-body factors is inflammation. So many of the diseases that plague people todaydiabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer, just to name a feware inflammatory in nature. Allergies are also the result of an inflammatory cycle. In fact, the allergic response and inflammation share some of the same chemical messengers; therefore, too much inflammation coupled with too much of an allergic response can cause an exaggerated response. In short, if your body is already in a state of inflammation when you enter allergy season, youre likely to be more miserable than the noninflamed guy. And on the flip side, by virtue of having allergies, you may suffer worse symptoms of other health conditions when allergy season hits.

WHY TREAT ALLERGIES NATURALLY?

As a naturopathic physician, of course I gravitate toward holistic, natural remedies. I have nothing against conventional medicine; it saves lives, undoubtedly. But I think there are some instances as well as certain conditions that people shouldntor would rather nottreat with conventional medicines. Based on my experience, I believe some allergies should be treated holistically.

Because were becoming more allergic as a society, wed be foolish to think that were not going to see increases in the number of children and adults who are allergic to medications. When we throw medications at people who are highly allergic to other substances in their environments, there will likely be more allergic reactions and adverse drug reactions because these people are already allergy prone.

Also, I think its best to save medications for when you or someone you love is really sickwhen, God forbid, you really need them. This will maximize the effectiveness of those medications when the need for them is most dire. Using an approach to treat your chronic allergies that doesnt rely on medical dosages gives you a real advantage.