Safer For Your Home And Self

REDUCING ALLERGIES WHILE GARDENING
The morning was cool, the sun radiating moderate warmth, “Today is a great day for getting into the garden!” I quipped. I thought about how much I wanted to accomplish and began the process of surveying the grounds for places that required my attention, then I continued with weeding and plucking old leaves. By the end of the day, my sinuses were affected, sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes manifested. Clearly agitated, I began to think about ways to minimize the effects of allergies so I can continue doing what I love doing, gardening!

“Many plants ‘mate’ by releasing billions of pollen grains into the wind during the spring, summer and fall months, including many grasses, trees, and bushes. These are the types of plants you want to avoid in your garden. Instead, you should consider plants that rely on insects for cross-pollination, which are known to have pollen grains that are much heavier and don’t travel through the air quite as easily,” says the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. There are certain times of the day when there is less pollen in the air so that gardening more strategically provides less exposure to air-born pollens. Implementing a few minor changes in our habits is what will make the difference in our “allergy-less” gardening experience.

In addition to strategically selecting certain plants, other prevention tips include:

When working outdoors, wear a NIOSH-approved face mask, hat, glasses, gloves and a long-sleeve shirt to reduce skin and nose contact with pollen
Keep weeds in check by vigilant mowing, pulling and mulching, or by planting ground cover.
Since wood chips or mulch can retain moisture and encourage molds to grow, use gravel, oyster shell, or special plant groundcovers (vinca or pachysandra) instead.
Asking a family members who don’t have allergies to mow lawns and weed flower beds. Keep grass cut low - 2 inches high - to help keep stems of pollen from reaching to high into the wind.
Be cautious about using hedges since their branches easily collect dust, mold and pollen, and keep then pruned and thin. Or replace hedges with fences or walls.
Keep the windows in the house closed while mowing and for a few hours afterwards.
Limit your gardening days to cool or cloudy days, and in the later afternoon or evening when pollen concentration in the air is generally lower. Avoid gardening from 5-10 AM. Pollen levels are usually at their highest at this time, especially when the weather is hot and calm or very windy.
Avoid taking pollen-covered clothing into the house. Immediately shower and change your clothes when you go back indoors and make sure to wash your hair to remove allergens trapped there.
Install a water garden.
Check the local pollen count. The pollen count monitors pollen levels in the air and can help you when planning outdoor activities.
Written by Tish Holt - Contributing Editor - SmartLivingNews

http://aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=19&cont=470
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/envirohort/426-067/426-067.html

www.TriCountyMoms.com

ALLERGIES
Well, spring is officially upon us. As the weather warms, things are growing and blooming and many of us are finding excuses to spend more time outdoors. For one of my sisters, however, the onslaught of spring brings with it some unwelcome consequences: allergies. In fact, this last weekend we decided to drive up to my parent’s house in the country to enjoy the weather. We were not there long before my sister began exhibiting signs of nature’s affect on her – sneezing, watery eyes, itching, chapped lips, and headaches. Needless to say, her allergies certainly put a damper on her time there.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America characterizes an allergy as an “overreaction of the human immune system to a foreign protein substance (“allergen”) that is eaten, breathed into the lungs, injected or touched.” (http://aafa.org) They also write that many people who suffer from allergies react to more than one substance. Cat dander is the most common pet allergy; and the most common indoor/outdoor allergens include: pollen from trees, plants, and grass, mold spores, dust mites and cockroach allergens, as well as animal dander. Food allergies are usually brought on by milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, fish and shellfish and insect allergies are often caused by bee/wasp stings or ant bites.

Unfortunately, not all allergies can be “cured.” However, there are many things that we can do for allergy sufferers that will help remove the allergen or build up a healthy immune system to combat an attack. I have provided some healthy tips that may help bring some relief to common allergies. You may also wish to browse the articles in our Healthy Home category for more tips related to this topic such as disinfectants, dust mites and many others.

Symptoms of allergies include:

coughing
sneezing
itchy, red and/or watery eyes
runny nose
burning or scratching sensations in the throat
itching skin
headaches
fatigue
rashes
difficulty breathing
asthma attacks

Besides avoiding potential allergens, nutrition is essential for the building of the immune system to reduce allergic reactions.
Maintain a healthy diet with foods containing antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, citrus bioflavonoids, etc.
See your local health-care provider to find out more specifically what substances you react to.
For Animal/Pet Allergies:

Try to keep animals outdoors as much as possible.
Clean and vacuum the house regularly and thoroughly
If you want your pet indoors, keep him/her out of the bedroom (where you spend most of your time).
Use air-purifiers in the home
For more on pet allergies see SmartLivingNews article in Healthy Animals: Pets-Allergies; Allergies & Your Pets
For Indoor Allergies (including mites, mold spores, cockroach allergens, etc.):

Clean your home thoroughly and often.
Cover mattresses and pillows with zippered, dust-proof covers.
Wash bedding in hot water weekly.
Create/increase circulation of outdoor air in the home, especially to reduce humidity.
Wash upholstered furniture and carpeting on a regular basis.
Reduce clutter and do not leave food or garbage uncovered for an extended length of time.
Pay attention to and reduce moisture around the kitchen and bathroom especially.
Dehumidifiers and air purifiers are a great help for problems of “indoor pollution”.
Invest in a few house plants.
For Outdoor Allergies:

If you are allergic to insect stings/bites avoid wearing bright colors and strong perfumes which often attracts them.
For pollen allergies avoid outdoor activity early in the morning (after dawn) and on warm, dry breezy days – this is when much of the pollen is released.
Avoid contact with trees such as ash, beech, birch, cedar, cottonwood, elm, hickory, maple and oak which pollinate in the spring.
Avoid contact with grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, Bermuda, redtop, orchard, rye and sweet vernal which pollinate through the spring into the summer.
Pollen.com is a great resource for those who would like to know “pollen forcasts” in their areas.

http://aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=30
Barry, R.M. The Melaleuca Wellness Guide; 2005. RM Barry Publications

Visit www.TriCountyMoms.com to learn how you can rid your home and life of allergy related products