4 Ways To Address Eczema & Allergies Naturally
"When asthma is controlled, look for: sign of a cold, coughing at night, symptoms interfere with exercise, exposure to triggers (sudden changes in temperature). Normal stage rescue treatments include 20-minute steam shower, tablespoon of local Maryland honey, Vicks vapor rub, Ibuprofen or Tylenol every six hours. Additionally, take asthma rescue medicine every 4-6 hours for 1-2 days (listed below)."
This is an example of just ONE of my children's asthma and allergy medicine routines, which I must provide to daycares, schools, sitters and immediate family members. I must ensure that they all can identify signs my children might be having an asthma attack. The example is also the normal stage rescue treatment (green zone), so you can only imagine how involved the next two escalated stages are.
Nowadays, it seems like everyone has eczema (or atopic dermatitis), allergies, and asthma, and with good reason. Global warming is causing pollen counts to increase year after year and prolonging pollen-producing seasons, intensifying seasonal allergies, Vox reports. I didn't have any of these as a child, yet now as an adult, I have my own allergy and asthma routine.
Kerry M. Pittman, ND is a Los Angeles celebrity naturopath, energy medicine practitioner, and author of The Tequila Diet. Kerry specializes in whole health makeovers at her private practice. She describes environmental allergies as a misguided reaction in your body by an overloaded or overstimulated immune system in response to substances that really shouldn't bother it.
The economic cost of asthma in the United States is nearly $82 billion a year and asthma results in 5.2 million lost school days a year. Eczema is a type of allergic disease, and last year a study published by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology suggested that Black people have greater treatment challenges with allergic diseases (eczema, increased atopy and asthma) and require higher doses of some medications to get relief.
My children have prescribed medications to handle their respiratory issues, but whenever I can, I do try to integrate natural remedies and solutions. For example, the use of raw, local honey to combat asthma and allergy issues is not an urban legend, the honey reduces throat irritation for my children after persistent coughs. It contains natural vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants, and other important nutrients and can strengthen the immune system.
Here are four other ways to address your child's allergies naturally:
1.Eliminate the worst offenders in your home.
If your child is constantly exposed to an allergen trigger, it can make improvement much more difficult. For dust mite allergies, do your best to eliminate dusty surfaces and encase your child's pillow and mattress with allergen protection covers. If pollen is an offender, keep windows shut, take shoes off at the door, and consider an air cleaner. In addition, if you think you might have mold in your home triggering symptoms, you can purchase a mold petri dish such as Pro-Lab Mold Test Kit to test your home for toxic and allergenic mold. Contact a mold remediation company if necessary.
2.Try homeopathy.
Homeopathy supports the body's innate healing capacity. It is based on the paradoxical theory that "like cures like." In other words, the same substance that causes a set of symptoms in a large dose can relieve those symptoms in an extremely diluted dose. Homeopathic mixtures targeting allergy symptoms are available in both liquid tinctures and quick dissolving pellets.
3.Add a probiotic.
Probiotics can help improve the health of the intestinal flora in the digestive tract, support the immune system and may be beneficial in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis (runny nose). Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri in particular are believed to be two of the best probiotics for allergies, along with L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. Try introducing sugar-free coconut Kefir or yogurt to your child or add a chewable probiotic such as Culturelle Kids Chewables Daily Probiotic.
4.Consider herbal remedies.
The practice of using herbal supplements dates back thousands of years. One of the best herbs for allergies is stinging nettle. This plant reduces inflammation and lowers histamine production which is the culprit behind that runny nose and itchy eyes. For children, you can make a tea of it or take as a tincture. Another age-old remedy is ginger, which is a powerful antioxidant and one of the most effective remedies to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract caused by allergies. Try making ginger root tea with a touch of honey or stevia to make it more palatable.
As always, any adjustments to medical routines should be first discussed with your child's pediatrician or your healthcare provider. And although herbs are considered safe, it's a good idea to consult with a naturopathic doctor or an herbalist first. But the important thing to keep in mind when healing allergies naturally is to have patience. Natural therapies may not be as quick acting as certain pharmaceuticals, but there also may be far fewer side effects and even the possibility of unexpected positive results for other body systems such as digestion, energy, and mood.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
Kerry Washington Has The Perfect Natural Remedy For Eczema
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Featured image by Shutterstock
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Christine Carter is a voice for millennial moms (and uniquely, young black female professionals and mothers). She has been featured in and guest contributed to several global digital publications, including Forbes, TIME, Health, Ebony, Black Bride, Inc., Women's Health and many others.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy