Sunscreen Allergies

In 2008 Natural Health News reported on sunscreen as unsafe and ineffective. Earlier than this, along with an expert on the subject, we tackled mis-information being promoted by Dr Oz's "Real Age".  Over the years we have continued to cover this story and the associated problems caused by lack of exposure to the sun, sans sunscreen.

Now a new issue seems to be having an impact on you as you use these products.

There are options, and those natural approaches are covered in related stories here at Natural Health News.

Are You Allergic to Sunscreen?

By Krisha McCoy, MS, Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD

As the weather heats up and you spend more time outdoors, it’s essential to slap on sunscreen – and it could even save your life. A recent study from Australia – which has some of the hightest rates of skin cancer in the world – found that applying sunscreen daily reduced the risk of melanoma, the most deadly kind of skin cancer, by an amazing 50 percent.

But for some people, applying certain types of sunscreen can actually cause a skin allergy. Sunscreen allergies are fairly uncommon, however, so how can you be sure that your skin irritation is due to sunscreen and not something else?

Detecting a Sunscreen Allergy

Sunscreens work because they contain chemicals that absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation, and keep them from penetrating your skin. Some of these chemicals, including oxybenzone, 4-isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane, PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), esters, avobenzone, and cinnamates, have been known to cause an allergic reaction in certain people.

According to Anna Feldweg, MD, a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in allergy and immunology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, there are two ways a sunscreen allergy generally appears: as a contact allergy or contact photoallergy.

With contact allergies, Dr. Feldweg explains, "you get a rash where the product is applied." But, in contact photoallergy, the reaction is due to an interaction between sunscreen chemicals and sunlight, "so you get the rash where the sunscreen was applied but only once the skin has been exposed to the sun," she notes. These two conditions may be hard to tell apart, although the difference is important in determining how to test for a sunscreen allergy.

A sunscreen allergy may appear when you first start using sunscreen, or it can develop after years of sunscreen use. You might experience an allergic reaction immediately, or up to several days after you apply the sunscreen. Some signs include:

• Red skin
• Swelling
• Itching
• Blisters that are filled with fluid

These symptoms will appear in the areas where you applied the sunscreen to your body, and, in the case of a photoallergy, where your skin was also exposed to sunlight.

Dealing With a Sunscreen Allergy

If you suspect a sunscreen allergy, you should see a dermatologist or an allergist, who can diagnose and treat your condition. Your doctor can perform a patch test to confirm whether you are allergic to specific chemicals that are present in sunscreen. For a contact allergy, the patch test probably will be done without ultraviolet light first; a photoallergy patch test will be performed in combination with exposure to ultraviolet light. Patch testing can help your doctor diagnose exactly which chemicals you are allergic to, so you can avoid those chemicals.

For people with a sunscreen allergy, there are alternatives to traditional sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. Sun protection is an important part of protecting the health of your skin, so if you are allergic to a chemical in sunscreen, your doctor can help you find a sunscreen that doesn't contain that chemical. Sunscreens known as physical sunscreens contain powdered versions of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which reflect light, keeping it from penetrating your skin. Physical sunscreens are not known to cause allergic reactions.

An allergy to sunscreens does not have to keep you from having fun in the sun. Talk with your doctor to find out which sunscreens can work for you.

Source, Last Updated: 05/04/2011

From Natural Health News - 

More Vitamins Please

Oct 13, 2008

Air pollution, sunscreen and clothing all limit the amount of vitamin D the body can synthesize from sunlight. The group suggests non-breast-fed infants and older children who are drinking less than one quart (liter) of vitamin ...

84% of Sunscreens Unsafe or Ineffective

Jul 05, 2008

Only 16% of sunscreens on the market are both safe and effective, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy and research organization. Of 783 products analyzed, only 125 blocked both UVA and UVB

A Fool is Born

Nov 16, 2010

Yet thanks to sunscreen and workaholic (or TV-aholic) habits, most people don't make enough. How much do you need? The Institute of Medicine is reassessing that right now; most experts expect a big boost from the current levels (200 to ...

Nutritional Status and Orthopedic Disturbances

Sep 12, 2010

It's affecting middle-class children because they're overprotecting with sunscreen and not going out as much. SPF is also increasingly in cosmetics used by young women. “The more dramatic cases tend to be in people who wear traditional ...

Antioxidants Extend Longevity, Protect Your Health

Oct 01, 2010

Pomegranate Enhances sunscreen protection Lowers "bad" cholesterol Fights prostate cancer. Pumpkin Protects joints against polyarthritis Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk Reduces inflammation. Raspberries Inhibit growth of oral, . ...

Perspective on Vitamin D

Jan 31, 2009

While in the sun, it's important to cover the face but okay to expose the arms and legs for 10 minutes or so without sunscreen, he adds. "If you're going to be out in the sun for five, ten or 15 minutes, don't be paranoid." ...

Suncreen May be Hiding the Facts

May 19, 2008

Today the BIG NEWS is about Sunscreen. Numerous problems remain even after many years of known issues with the chemical ingredients in these products. Some products listed as safe in the EWG report contain titanium dioxide, ...

Yes, you do need more D

Aug 16, 2010

But cloud cover, sunscreen, skin pigmentation and even northern latitudes can reduce the penetration of ultraviolet-B rays. And with sedentary lifestyles and concerns about skin cancer, many people never get enough sun to provide ...

More Foods for Health

Apr 22, 2010

Pomegranate Enhances sunscreen protection Lowers "bad" cholesterol Fights prostate cancer. Pumpkin Protects joints against polyarthritis Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk Reduces inflammation. Raspberries Inhibit growth of oral, ...

Good Day Sunshine

Dec 17, 2010

The experts now say it is fine to go outside in strong sun in the middle of the day, as long as you cover up or apply sunscreen before your skin goes red. 'Too negative'. A good diet and sensible sun exposure will be adequate for most 

Natural Health News: Frequently Copied, Never Duplicated! 

GILSUM, N.H.–Just as many consumers are venturing outside for some summertime fun, Katie Schwerin, co-founder of the W.S. Badger Co., offered several tips to choosing a safe sunscreen in a recent statement.

“The best protection from the sun is to stay out of it or cover up with a good hat and long sleeve shirt," she said. “But for the sun lovers among us, using a mineral sunscreen with zinc, not chemicals, is the safest and most effective way to go because these minerals stay on the surface of the skin and are not absorbed, releasing free radicals into your body."

Schwerin continued, “Sunscreen users should be careful not to have a false sense of security and overdo, over expose or under protect themselves."

She also said it’s important to make sure it’s really natural by checking to see if it has the Natural Products Association's (NPA’s) Certified Natural seal or an NSF/ANSI 305 designation that certifies organic ingredient content.
Next, she suggested consumers make sure the sunscreen includes organic plant oils, butters and waxes, which provide a safe moisturizing base to help protect skin from water, wind, sand and sun while keeping it hydrated.

Other hidden dangers from conventional sunscreen are their impact on the environment and our natural surroundings, she said. If your sunscreen isn't biodegradable, its chemicals can wash off the body and leech into lakes, oceans and rivers causing potential damage and harm. “They can even damage delicate coral reefs and marine life," added Schwerin.

W.S. Badger makes a full line of safe, effective, natural, mineral-based, certified organic sunscreens. The Badger sunscreen line includes SPF30+ Lightly Scented, SPF30+ Unscented, SPF30+ Baby Sunscreen, SPF30+ Sunscreen and Anti-Bug Repellent, SPF30+ All-Season Face Stick, SPF15 Lightly Scented, and SPF15 Unscented Lip Balm Stick. The full line uses uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum protection in a base of certified organic ingredients. W.S. Badger sunscreens are recommended and score a number one for safety and effectiveness by the Environmental Working Group as sunburn protection.

Read more »

Posted in: a natural health news,allergy,sunscreen

Allergy Season: What Makes It Worse

May 2011 - Are the drugs you take for allergy making you gain weight?

Whether you are a Climate Change believer or not, allergies do seem to be coming on earlier in the year, and are causing more problems for more people.

I always advise to look at your environment and your diet as both these areas have a major impact on allergy.  I think it will be interesting to see how the increase in GMO crops and that pollen will start to affect people.

Remember too that cell phone and other wireless devices that are so popular contribute to this problem by creating electrolytically charged pollen and pollutant particles which makes it easier for these to stick to the mucous membrane lining inside your respiratory system.  This finding from a decade ago also shows correlation to increasing asthma rates.

There are several excellent approaches to natural allergy therapy, find out more here -

and if you'd like a personal program designed specifically for you contact us for this clinical service.

A new USDA-led study finds a warming planet makes for more pollen and a longer, more intense allergy season in many parts of the United States.

By Leah Zerbe

If you're planning a vacation during prime hay fever season—summer and fall—opt for a spot near water, where pollen counts tend to be lower.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Given the millions of allergy sufferers held hostage by the drippy noses, burning, watery eyes, and continuous sneezing sessions it induces, ragweed may be one of the most hated plants on the planet. And a new the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-led study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms what many allergy sufferers and allergists have already been noticing—hay fever season caused by ragweed seems to be getting more intense and lasting longer.

The study is the latest to make the connection between climate change and a more potent allergy season. (Allergy-related issues cost the United States about $21 billion a year, so a warming planet affects economics, too.) "The main takeaway is that we are already seeing a significant increase in the season length of ragweed; and that this increase in season length is associated with a greater warming at northern latitudes, consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections regarding climate change," explains lead study author Lewis Ziska, PhD, research plant physiologist with USDA's Crop Systems and Global Change Lab.

THE DETAILS: Researchers used ragweed pollen and temperature data recorded between the late 1990s and 2005 in 10 different locations in the U.S. and Canada and found that in all but two of the areas analyzed, the ragweed pollen season increased—in some cases by nearly a month. The lengthening of the allergy season coincides with an increase in warmer, frost-free days. Researchers noticed a general trend—the ragweed allergy season grew longest in the higher latitudes of the northern United States and Canada. Winnipeg, Ontario, allergy sufferers endured a 27-day-longer ragweed pollen season in 2005 compared to just 16 years earlier. In the U.S., Fargo, ND, and Minneapolis, MN, experienced a more than two-week increase in ragweed allergy season, with LaCrosse and Madison, WI, not far behind.

WHAT IT MEANS: Climate change threatens human health in a number of ways, but allergies may be the most immediate, easy-to-recognize ailment thus far. And our increasingly chaotic climate's allergy-accelerating properties are already afflicting millions of people. Ragweed is one of the most common weed allergens, affecting about 10 percent of the population. Among allergy sufferers, nearly a third endure hay fever misery brought on by ragweed pollen. Under normal circumstances, a single ragweed plant creates 1 million pollen grains; but a climate change–charged, more CO2-rich environment boosts that number to upwards of 3 to 4 million pollen grains per plant, according to Clifford Bassett, MD, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York and a member of the public-education committee at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. (Don't your eyes water just thinking of it?)

And scientists are also suspect of other potentially climate change–infused weed species. Ziska says there are concerns that other specific plant allergens are worsening due to climate change. His research group is working with Rutgers University in New Jersey and the Environmental Protection Agency to begin assessing pollen production and season length for other annual weeds like lambsquarters, mugwort, and plaintain, in addition to ragweed.

Consuming less, using less energy, eating organic, and demanding that clean energy subsidies replace incentives to fund dirty fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that make us sick are all important tactics to help stabilize global climate and protect our health. It's also important to realize that we've already set ourselves up for a lifetime of climate-related problems. Here's how to deal with the allergy aspect as we all work to keep things from getting worse.

Here are some solutions to think about now, before ragweed allergies strike later this year:

• Make sure you're actually allergic to ragweed. It may sound silly, but allergists recommend being tested to confirm you're allergic to what you actually think is making you sneeze. If ragweed is really making your life miserable (the longer you're exposed to the allergen, the worse the symptoms become), consider getting allergy shots. The ongoing climate shift could be a cue to reassess your antiallergy options. "It might make people who previously had mild ragweed seasons to consider interventions they hadn't though of before, like getting ragweed allergy shots," says study coauthor Jay Portnoy, MD, chief of allergy, asthma, and immunology at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, MO.

• Plan vacations accordingly. For many people, February still marks the cold season, months away from hay fever hell. But take your ragweed allergy into consideration as you plan this year's summer or fall getaway. Dr. Bassett notes that pollen counts are generally lower around water. So if you vacation during prime ragweed season—summer and fall, or year-round in places like Florida or Hawaii—plan some time on the beach or around rivers and lakes for some ragweed relief.

• Create better indoor air. Now's the perfect time to grow your own houseplants for free. They should be flourishing by ragweed season. While houseplants can't rid your air of pollens you're allergic to, certain houseplants can counteract indoor air pollution that further aggravates your allergy problem.

Read more »

Posted in: allergy,climate,first natural health news,Rodale Press

TB for Allergies?

Just the other day Andy Weil mentioned that people with asthma usually are low in magnesium resources.  Many of us in natural health care have known this too and for a very long time.

People with asthma also have a number of other nutritional deficiencies and this can be combined with food allergy as well.

Another factor is low adrenal function and suppressed immunity associated with the 30 some vaccines children are pushed to accept from birth to teen years.  Allergy often pops up after vaccination and it also seems to increase with environmental exposure to pollutants of many kinds.

In my case I think the childhood asthma I suffered with came from the fact that both my parents were constant smokers.

If you read Natural Health News often you are aware that we do not favor vaccination.

Keeping that in mind, I have to wonder just how the idea came about to utilize TB bacteria as the base for an allergy/asthma vaccine.

I also wonder, since no longterm studies have been completed just how these developers know that if you were to take this jab, how high is your risk of contracting TB.

If you look at flu vaccine or others such as measles, meningitis, pertussis, etc., you do too frequently find outbreaks of the disease in those who have taken the jab.

Just some things to think about...

'One size fits all' allergy jab for hay fever, asthma and eczema on the way

A jab that could provide a "one size fits all" approach to tackling hay fever, asthma and eczema could be available within a few years, a conference heard. 

Swiss researchers claimed allergies that blight the lives of 10 million British sufferers could be largely eradicated with a single vaccine. 

An allergy conference in London heard the “one size fits all” injection that wards off asthma, eczema, hay fever and even peanut allergies could be on the shelves within four to five years. 
Experts say if the jab, known only as CYT003-Qbg10 which has been tested on humans, is properly developed it become the “hail grail” of vaccines due to it helping ward off multiple allergies.

It would be welcome news to the estimated one in five Britons, or 10 million people, who suffer from hay fever.
 
A trial, conducted by scientists from Cytos Biotechnology, a firm based in Zurich, concluded that a course of the vaccine was almost as good as steroids at keeping asthma under control.

At the jab’s heart are pieces of synthetic DNA similar to those found in the bug that causes tuberculosis or TB.

The DNA fools the body into thinking it is under attack from a dangerous bug, kick-starting a multi-pronged immune response.

A total of 63 asthmatic patients were given the course of the jab or a series of injections of a dummy drug over two or three months.

Researchers found it cut asthma attacks or symptoms by a third.

In another trial, an injection every week over a month and half, cut the amount of runny noses and weepy eyes by almost 39 per cent.

Quality of life was boosted by 42 per cent, they added.

Dr Wolfgang Renner, the chief executive of Cytos, told the Daily Mail the results were exciting.

“We think it is a one-size-fits all mechanism,” he said.

“We are very excited about it.”

Dr Renner suggested the first large-scale human trial could start next year and a vaccine within a few years.

A spokesman for Allergy UK said: “It does sound a very promising treatment, giving hope for those with severe asthma/allergy symptoms for whom the usual treatments aren’t enough, but there is still a long way to go before it will be available.”

Leanne Metcalf, director of Research at Asthma UK, added: “Over three quarters of people with asthma also have an allergy, which can often trigger their asthma symptoms.
“We are, therefore, excited about the potential of this vaccine to make a real difference to people with asthma and allergies, especially as it has been shown in clinical trials to have relatively few side effects.”

Tuesday is thought to be the worst day of the year for hay fever.

The NHS currently estimates around ten million people suffer symptoms of hay fever – such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes – in the spring and summer as grasses and trees release their pollen into the air.

But that number could reach 30 million within 20 years as city living, pollution and climate change exacerbate symptoms, experts warned earlier this year.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7845325/One-size-fits-all-allergy-jab-for-hay-fever-asthma-and-eczema-on-the-way.html

Read more »

Posted in: allergy,Andy Weil,asthma,magnesium,TB,TB for allergy vaccine

Pollen Problems

APRIL 26: More to consider when dealing with allergies -

Why Your Allergies Are Getting Worse
This Mother Jones article points a finger at "warming". I'm still out on the "warming" issue but a related concern that does include "warming" of a different color is the impact on your allergies, including your lungs and respiratory system, is that cause by EMF and sell phone or wi-fi use.
When you are in the circle of radiation, whether it is your cell phone or that of an inconsiderate person talking or texting, or using a wireless laptop within 6 feet of you (or some one else) your allergies will get worse.
For all those who believe EMF is not a risk, then why is it that the electrostatic (magnetic)field created by these gadgets causes particulate matter in your environment to adhere to the lining of your nose, and eventually your lungs?
This is sort of basic science I learned early-on from Mr. Wizard, years before middle school science.
Remember that trick about rubbing a balloon on your clothes and seeing it stick to something else? Well, here you have it!

Refer to this post FMI
ORIGINAL POST: 9 APRIL -
I was an allergic kid and still have problems with mold and grass. When I lived in Western Washington the Scotch Broom was a real irritant.

I understand how problematic allergy can be.

I also understand how it is not necessary to use Claritin, Nasonex, or Bendryl to address the problems, as the drugs create issues of their own.

To me short term relief is not worth the price of longterm undermining of natural protective mechanisms of your body. Eventually your health pays the price.

Claritin for children contains some artificial sweeteners that have serious health impact.

Nasonex is a steroidal spray that displaces the natural reaction of your body to block the irritant, which in this case is the pollen.

Benadryl makes you really sleepy and eventually it has no effect on the problem, and it contains - again - in the children's from, a toxic artificial sweetener and artificial flavor and color.

Please go to
http://www.leaflady.org/allergy.htm
http://www.leaflady.org/aaah-chooo_oh_my.htm
http://www.leaflady.org/notes_on_nettle.htm

and use the search function to locate the many articles we have on Natural Health News about vitamin C - the great natural anti-histamine that supports your adrenals - and also refer to Vitamin C Health Benefits, http://leaflady.org/blog2004.htm

Bee Pollen http://www.leaflady.org/bee_benefits.htm
Honey http://www.leaflady.org/honey.htm

I also like the OLBAS Inhaler as it can do wonders, even leading to reduced reaction to allergens, especially those irritating the upper respiratory system.

And, oh yes, perhaps it is too many vaccines that suppress immunity so you, and certainly small children, have a tough time because they've become hyper-reactive.

Achoo! Pollen at its worst in years in many areas
By TAMARA LUSH, Associated Press Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pollen: It's on your car, in the air and especially in your sinuses.

From Florida to Texas to Colorado, 2010 is shaping up to be a monster of an allergy season. The words "pollen" and "allergy" are among the top 10 trending topics on Twitter in several U.S. cities. Everywhere, it seems, is covered in a fine yellow dust that irritates our lives. Experts say it's the worst they've seen in years.

"It's wicked bad this year," said Dr. Mona Mangat, an allergy specialist in St. Petersburg, Fla., who can't recall a worse year in the six she's worked there. "We're just overwhelmed with patients right now. We're double- and triple-booked with new patients, trying to work people in because we know how much people are suffering."

And they are suffering a lot. Take 5-year-old Sam Wilson of St. Petersburg. His mom gives him Claritin in the morning, Nasonex and Benadryl at night, and he receives four allergy shots every week. The sidewalks of his hometown are covered in what look like piles of dried, brown worms — but they are mounds of oak tree pollen.

The boy's mother said that when the pollen is at its worst, his eyes water and itch, he can't breathe through his nose and his throat burns.

"His reaction yesterday was pretty bad," said his mother, 34-year-old Joanna Wilson on Thursday. "He couldn't breathe, he was completely congested, and crying."

Oak trees are the culprit in many places in the Southeast.

The trees produce 3,000 to 6,000 pollen particles per cubic meter; it only takes 10 particles to trigger an allergic reaction.

J.P. Levins, executive Web producer for the site pollen.com, said he's received a lot of e-mails from suffering Floridians — but he expects more complaints from other parts of the U.S. soon.

"The season is actually just picking up," he said, adding that most of the country is facing high pollen counts.

This year is especially bad in the Southeast, weather experts say, probably due to winter's unseasonably cold weather.

"That may have helped delay some of the plants from blooming as early as they may have wanted to," said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. "It's the fact that everything is coming out all at once."

High winds in some areas also spread the misery.

"We had a perfect storm this year," said Dr. William Storms, professor at University of Colorado and a clinician. "It's the worst I've seen in 10 years."

Tree pollen season should subside within a few weeks, but experts say some will continue to suffer because grass and weed allergies rise in the summer months.

Read more »

Posted in: allergy,nettle,pollen,vitamin C

The Benefits of Zinc

UPDATE: 6/4/10 - Zinc Reduces Oxidative Stress

An article published in the June, 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition describes a clinical trial involving older men and women which found reductions in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation among those who supplemented with zinc. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are risk factors for atherosclerosis, and zinc deficiency has been observed in a number of other diseases associated with these conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and cancers. "We previously observed that healthy elderly subjects had increased concentrations of plasma lipid peroxidation byproducts and endothelial cell adhesion molecules compared with concentrations in younger adults," the authors write in their introduction. "Zinc was proposed to have an atheroprotective function because of its antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and other properties."

In a double-blinded trial, 40 healthy men and women between the ages of 56 and 83 were randomized to receive 45 milligrams zinc from zinc gluconate or a placebo for 6 months. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 and other markers of inflammation were measured before and after treatment, as were malondialdehyde and hydroxyalkenals, which are markers of lipid peroxidation.

Zinc concentrations were higher in the zinc group by the end of the study, while remaining relatively unchanged among those who received the placebo. Plasma antioxidant powers were higher, and malondialdehyde and hydroxyalkenals were lower in the zinc supplemented subjects after 6 months, indicating a reduction in lipid peroxidation. Additionally, plasma C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and other inflammation-associated factors were reduced among those who received zinc. “To our knowledge, this is the first documentation to show the down-regulation of plasma CRP concentrations by zinc supplementation in human subjects,” the authors remark.

In another experiment involving cell cultures, zinc also reduced indicators of inflammation and lipid peroxidation as well as the activation of nuclear transcription factor kappa-beta, which is involved in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis.

"This study showed that zinc increased antioxidant power and decreased CRP, inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, and oxidative stress markers in elderly subjects after 6 months of supplementation," the authors write. “These findings suggest that zinc may have a protective effect in atherosclerosis because of its antiinflammatory and antioxidant functions,” they conclude.

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 06/09
Zinc is an important mineral for immune health. It is however one that is hard to absorb. Because of this issue we always suggest to use a low dose, food-based compound, taking several daily.

On the other hand, too much zinc can suppress your immune system so we do suggest not taking more than 50-60 mg a day.

Zinc is helpful for people with diabetes and any hormonal imbalance (think endocrine system and glands). It is good for teens with acne and is the generally considered to be the key nutrient for prostate health. Additionally, loss of taste is related to zinc deficiency.

While some people may have developed some sort of a problem with Zicam, a 2X dilution of a substance in a homeopathic remedy is not a very high dose.

What concerns me more is the total avoidance by the FDA of the issue of common steroid and fluoride-containing nose sprays and the over-prescribing of antibiotics and antihistamine drugs that lead to more serious problems, including loss of function of the natural body protective mechanism that causes the mucous membrane lining of the nose (and respiratory system) to secrete more mucus in order to keep invading irritants and allergens out of the body. These drugs also have been known to interfere with the function of nasal hairs as part of this process.

So, FDA, how about blocking all these Rx drugs while you're blocking Zicam? Your Big Pharma bias is just too prevalent.

And if you'd like to know more about natural ways to take care of your cold or allergy, you can find more information at our main domain. Add a little vitamin C and vitamin A to the mix and you'll always come out ahead.

If you need clinical information please refer to our ASK program.

FDA: Zicam nasal spray can cause loss of smell
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell, federal health regulators said Tuesday.

The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The other products affected by the Food and Drug Administration's announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives' Zicam products since 1999. Shares of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plunged to a 52-week low after the FDA announcement, losing more than half their value.

"Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening and may be permanent," said Dr. Charles Lee, of FDA's compliance division. "People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect dangerous life situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house."

Matrixx defended the safety of its products, but said late Tuesday it will withdraw Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel from the market.

The FDA said Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies that are not required to undergo federal review before launching. Known as homeopathic products, the formulations often contain herbs, minerals and flowers.

A warning letter issued to Matrixx on Tuesday asked the company to stop marketing its zinc-based products, but the agency did not issue a formal recall. Instead, regulators said Matrixx would have to submit safety and effectiveness data on the drug.

"The next step, if they wish to continue marketing Zicam intranasal zinc products, is for them to come in and seek FDA approval," said Deborah Autor, director of FDA's drug compliance division.

The agency is requiring formal approval now because of the product's safety issues, she added.

"It won't bring my smell back, but at least I feel like there's some justice that's starting to take place," said David Richardson, of Greensboro, N.C., who lost his sense of smell after taking Zicam for a cold in 2005. He said he hopes the product will be formally banned.

Medical records appear to support Richardson's claim that his lost sense of smell was linked to using Zicam.

The global market for homeopathic drugs is about $200 million per year, according to the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. The group's members include companies like Nutraceutical International Corp. and Natural Health Supply.

Matrixx has settled hundreds of lawsuits connected with Zicam in recent years, but says on its website: "No plaintiff has ever won a court case, because there is no known causal link between the use of Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and impairment of smell."

The company said in a statement Tuesday that the safety of Zicam Cold Remedy is "supported by the cumulative science and has been confirmed by a multidisciplinary panel of scientists." Matrixx said it will comply with the FDA's requirements, but will seek a meeting with the agency to "vigorously defend its scientific data."

But government scientists say they are unaware of any data supporting Zicam's labeling, which claims the drug reduces cold symptoms, including "sore throat, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing and congestion."

The products accounted for about 40% of Matrixx's $111.6 million in sales last year.

Health officials said they have asked Matrixx executives to turn over more than 800 consumer complaints concerning lost smell that the company has on file. A 2007 law began requiring manufacturers to report such problems, but FDA regulators declined to say Tuesday whether the company broke the law.

The 130 reports received by the FDA came entirely from physicians and patients, not the manufacturer.

Regulators said the relatively small number of complaints accounted for the agency's lengthy investigation.

"FDA doesn't take action against drug products without evaluating all of the circumstances surrounding the issues with the product," Lee said.

Shares of Matrixx Initiatives Inc. plummeted $13.46, or 70%, to $5.78 Tuesday. The company said based on the FDA's recommendation, consumers should discard any unused product or contact Zicam at 1-877-942-2626 or www.zicam.com to request a refund.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-06-16-fda-cold-medicine_N.htm?POE=click-refer

Read more »

Posted in: allergy,colds,FDA,FDA bias toward drugs,natural health news,Zicam

Food Allergy on the Rise

The increase in food allergy is good to make note of because of several factors.

One of course is the ever increasing level of environmental toxicity in air, water and food.

Food coloring, additives and flavorings also are known to contribute to this health concern. Over processed foods (including cereals and dairy) and the increased use of highly allergenic or GMO soy in formula, pesticide use and other GMO foods must be considered.

One issue that for the most part that is overlooked is the effect of the myriad of vaccines forced on children from birth to the teen years, on GI problems and allergy.

Over and over again I am amazed at just how the gut issues in infants and small children become more prevalent, how troubling acid antagonist drugs are thrown at them (leading to many more serious problems over time), and how the use of simple remedies like real food, enzymes and probiotics are ignored.

Even children's prescription drugs include many colorings, flavorings and artificial sweeteners - all known to impact developing gastrointestinal and immune systems.

I wonder when common sense will return to health care and mainstream medicine.

Food allergies increasing in US kids, study says By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

ATLANTA – Food allergies in American children seem to be on the rise, now affecting about 3 million kids, according to the first federal study of the problem.

But experts said that might be because parents are more aware and quicker to have their kids checked out by a doctor.

About 1 in 26 children had food allergies last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. That's up from 1 in 29 kids in 1997.

The 18 percent increase is significant enough to be considered more than a statistical blip, said Amy Branum of the CDC, the study's lead author.

Nobody knows for sure what's driving the increase. A doubling in peanut allergies — noted in earlier studies — is one factor, some experts said. Also, children seems to be taking longer to outgrow milk and egg allergies than they did in decades past.

But also figuring into the equation are parents and doctors who are more likely to consider food as the trigger for symptoms like vomiting, skin rashes and breathing problems.

"A couple of decades ago, it was not uncommon to have kids sick all the time and we just said 'They have a weak stomach' or 'They're sickly,'" said Anne Munoz-Furlong, chief executive of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a Virginia-based advocacy organization.

Parents today are quicker to take their kids to specialists to check out the possibility of food allergies, said Munoz-Furlong, who founded the nonprofit in 1991.

The CDC results came from an in-person, door-to-door survey in 2007 of the households of 9,500 U.S. children under age 18.

When asked if a child in the house had any kind of food allergy in the previous 12 months, about 4 percent said yes. The parents were not asked if a doctor had made the diagnosis, and no medical records were checked. Some parents may not know the difference between immune system-based food allergies and digestive disorders like lactose intolerance, so it's possible the study's findings are a bit off, Branum said.

However, the study's results mirror older national estimates that were extrapolated from smaller, more intensive studies, said Dr. Hugh Sampson, a food allergy researcher at the Mount Sinai School of medicine.

"This tells us those earlier extrapolations were fairly close," Sampson said.

The CDC study did not give a breakdown of which foods were to blame for the allergies. Other research suggests that about 1 in 40 Americans will have a milk allergy at some point in their lives, and 1 in 50 percent will be allergic to eggs. Most people outgrow these allergies in childhood.

About 1 in 50 are allergic to shellfish and nearly 1 in 100 react to peanuts, allergies that generally persist for a lifetime, according to Sampson.

Some people have more than one food allergy, he said, explaining why the overall food allergy prevalence is about 4 percent.

Children with food allergies also were more likely to have asthma, eczema and respiratory problems than kids without food allergies, the CDC study found, confirming previous research.

The study also found that the number of children hospitalized for food allergies was up. The number of hospital discharges jumped from about 2,600 a year in the late 1990s to more than 9,500 annually in recent years, the CDC results showed.

Also, Hispanic children had lower rates of food allergies than white or black children — the first such racial/ethnic breakdown in a national study.

The reason for that last finding may not be genetics, said Munoz-Furlong. She is Hispanic and said people in her own family have been unwilling to consider food allergies as the reason for children's illnesses. "It's a question of awareness," she said.

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Posted in: allergy,children,enzymes,food,food allergy,health,health news,natural,natural health news,natural news,News,probiotics,real food,vaccines

Rash Report, not just CFL bulbs or Splenda: It is your cell phone

The issue of rash being caused by sell phone use is not a new report. This type of reaction has been known for many years but this new study shows - once again - that what you don't know about using a cell phone can and will hurt you.

I first reported on this in 2002 and added the report in the ElectroSmog section on mey web site.

"Can mobile phones give you bad skin?"
Radiation from mobile phones could trigger skin allergies, according to new findings. Scientists have found evidence that microwaves from handsets can worsen allergic reactions to dust mites & pollen, by "exciting" antigens - substances which cause allergies - in the bloodstreams of susceptible people.
Dr. Hajime Kimata from Unitika Hospital, Kyoto, carried out research on 52 people with a history of eczema & dermatitis. Researchers in Sweden claimed earlier this year that mobile phones could damage key brain cells & trigger early onset Alzheimer's. 2002

Perhaps if you read, hear and see this kind of information often enough you will allow the facts to get into your sense of reality. Consider the choice offered here.

Doctors warn of rash from mobile phone use
LONDON (Reuters) - Doctors baffled by an unexplained rash on people's ears or cheeks should be on alert for a skin allergy caused by too much mobile phone use, the British Association of Dermatologists said on Thursday.

Citing published studies, the group said a red or itchy rash, known as "mobile phone dermatitis," affects people who develop an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobile phones after spending long periods of time on the devices.

"It is worth doctors bearing this condition in mind if they see a patient with a rash on the cheek or ear that cannot otherwise be explained," it said.

The British group said many doctors were unaware mobile phones could cause the condition.

Safety concerns over mobile phones has grown as more people rely on them for everyday communication, although the evidence to date has given the technology a clean bill of health when it comes to serious conditions like brain cancer.

"In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear, depending on where the metal part of the phone comes into contact with the skin," the group said in a statement.

"In theory it could even occur on the fingers if you spend a lot of time texting on metal menu buttons."

Nickel is a metal found in products, ranging from mobile phones to jewelry to belt buckles and is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, according to the Mayo Clinic in the United States.

Earlier this year Lionel Bercovitch of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and colleagues tested 22 popular handsets from eight different manufacturers and found nickel in 10 of the devices.

(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Opheera McDoom, October 2008)

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Posted in: allergy,cell phones,ElectroSmog,EMF,health,mobile phones,natural,natural health news,natural news,News,rash