- by Dr. Michael Rosen, D.C.  BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of West Loop, IL

Sweeter Dreams Await!
It’s important to make an overall commitment to healthy, restorative sleep. Here are some tips from the Better Sleep Council for maintaining a healthy sleep cycle and ensuring the best night’s rest:

1. Make sleep a priority by keeping a consistent sleep (bedtime) and wake schedule, including weekends
2. Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing. Experts recommend reading a book, listening to soothing music or soaking in a hot bath.
3. Transform your bedroom into a haven of comfort. Create a room that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool for the best possible sleep.
4. Evaluate your mattress and pillow to ensure proper comfort and support. If your mattress is five to seven years old, it may be time for a new one. In general, pillows should be replaced every year.
5. Keep work materials, computers and televisions out of the bedroom; it should be used for sleep and sex only.
6. Exercise regularly, but complete workouts at least two hours before bedtime.
7. If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should allow each of you enough space to move easily. Couples who’ve been sleeping on a “double” (full size) may think they have enough room, until they learn that each person has only as much sleeping space as a baby’s crib!
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine and alcohol (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Finish eating at least two to three hours before bedtime.

Good-for-You Grains
Forget plain, boring white rice! These healthier options not only taste better, they pack a serious nutritional punch. Try something new and start “reaping” their wholesome benefits!

• Quinoa: This grain is rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps relax constricted blood vessels which can cause headaches and migraines. The mild, nutty flavor of quinoa tastes great in soups or salads. Be sure to rinse it well before cooking.
• Black Rice: Brown rice is SO last season! This “forbidden rice,” once only eaten by Chinese nobles, can help soothe inflammation associated with allergies and asthma. Try substituting black rice for white in rice pudding for a healthier, delicious dessert.
• Amaranth: Considered sacred by the Aztecs, this grain contains high amounts of lysine, an amino acid that Italian researchers have found can help women absorb calcium more efficiently. Amaranth is a great popcorn alternative – just prepare in a covered saucepan over medium heat. No oil necessary!
• Bulgur (A.K.A. Cracked Wheat): Easily the superstar of grains with 8 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat, bulgur is available in several grades from fine to extra-coarse. Use coarser grades in casseroles and soups. Prepare and add finer grades to yogurt for a quick breakfast, or use it as a satisfying side-dish at dinner.

We follow the health sections of mainstream media sources such as The New York Times, CNN and WebMD, and lately we’ve been seeing more and more stories related to Complementary Alternative Medicine.  It’s exciting to see this adoption of holistic remedies by conventional health practitioners and hope that it continues to become more commonplace as we enter 2011.  Here are a few of the latest articles:

Acupuncture Goes Mainstream

WebMD: Acupuncture, which has been practiced for millennia in China, is a small part of her own practice. But she makes frequent referrals to the clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine. There, acupuncture, which uses needles to stimulate specific parts of the body, is increasingly popular for problems like chronic pain, allergies, and asthma. Five thousand patients underwent acupuncture at the facility in 2009, up from 3,600 in 2007.

Light Therapy for Depression

The New York Times: Antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil are widely used to treat depression, but a much less costly alternative called bright light therapy, in which a patient sits under an artificial light for a set period of time each day, is not. Light therapy is typically recommended for seasonal affective disorder, the “winter blues” brought on by shorter days and limited sun. Some psychiatrists prescribe it for this condition, often as a last resort when patients fail to respond to drugs.

Green Tea May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

WebMD: Regular consumption of green tea may offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and may also slow growth of cancer cells, new research indicates. Green tea, an ancient Chinese remedy, has been shown to have protective properties in undigested, freshly brewed forms. But a research team at Newcastle University in the U.K. set out to determine whether the protective substances remained active after digestion. And in the study, they did.

Remedies: Garlic for Athlete’s Foot

The New York Times: “Garlic has long been considered a powerful natural antifungal,” said Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, chief of pediatric integrative medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and a pediatrician at the Whole Child Center in nearby Oradell. Dr. Rosen pointed out that studies have found garlic effective against a number of fungal infections, including those caused by Candida and other common pathogens.

- by Dr. Eric Herman, D.C. BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Bethlehem

What causes allergies and chemical sensitivities?
Over the last decade, important breakthroughs have occurred in the identification and treatment of allergies. Dr. Robert Gardner, Ph.D. professor of nutrition at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah), discovered that specific key chemical agents cause allergic reactions including hayfever. These naturally occurring chemical agents called “phenolic” (aromatic) compounds, are regularly found throughout our environment in thousands of items including most foods, pollen and chemicals.

What is the relationship between allergies and asthma?
Many forms of asthma are caused by allergic reactions from both airborne phenolic compounds and those found in foods. Asthmatic individuals can be helped in the same way as others suffering from allergies. Airborne phenolic compounds are often found in pollen, tobacco smoke, house dust, air pollution, kapok, wool, feathers, animal hair or dander, building materials, furniture stuffing, cottonseed, and chemical odors. Some examples of foods that are most likely to be factors associated with asthma are those eaten daily such as wheat, eggs, chocolate, corn, peanut butter, citrus fruits, potatoes and tomatoes. We have helped many people suffering from asthma by first testing for those phenolics and other agents that can cause or contribute to asthma. We then screen and treat allergies, if indicated, utilizing our clinics’ painless techniques. This treatment also helps strengthen the immune system.

Do I have to restrict my diet to avoid allergies?
Not usually. Since phenolics are found in so many foods and other materials, it would be virtually impossible through dietary restrictions to avoid the phenolics causing the reactions. For instance, one of the phenolics, gallic acid, occurs in about 70% of the foods we eat! Restricting a persons diet or giving injections of whole food extracts in an attempt to avoid this compound seems impractical in light of these discoveries.

However, there is a small, select group of people that are critically sensitive to some foods and should still avoid those items. These people require special therapeutic programs and instructions.

Why should I have allergies and feel tired even if I eat only “good foods”?
The fact that a person eats only “good foods” or even “health foods” may have little to do with whether or not they suffer from allergies. Phenolic compounds occur in “good” foods as well as those items commonly thought of as “junk” foods.
The solution is to strengthen the body’s immune system by neutralizing and desensitizing phenolic compounds within the foods, NOT by avoiding the foods themselves!

What are some of the symptoms of allergies?
Allergies affect people in differing degrees. In fact, many people suffer the effects of allergies but often don’t recognize that their problems are related to an allergy! In the course of treating allergies, the patient is often quickly benefitted by being relieved of symptoms (such as fatigue) that was not originally associated with the allergy. For example, Dr. Abram Ber, M.D. has found that sensitivity to gallic acid contributes to chronic lower back pain, nasal congestion and fatigue.
Furthermore, many other problems such as depression, bedwetting, hayfever, headaches, stomach and intestinal disorders and skin problems have been helped by phenolic neutralization.
Remember, the body is a very complex system. Relief from a stressful condition (such as an allergy) can very easily relieve stress in other parts of the body. In severe cases, it is like removing a crushing pressure from the body which has been held in a “vice-grip” for years!

Are there ways I can tell if I or someone in my family, especially my child. has an allergy?
Many of the symptoms of allergies in children are similar to allergies in adults. Doris J. Rapp, M.D. has reported that some children with allergies show black, blue or red circles under the eyes (called allergic shiners) which appear after a person gets near or eats something to which they are allergic. Another clue is bags under the eyes. Some children have puffiness directly below the eyes and others also have little bags below the outer edge of each eye. Deep creases or wrinkles under the eyes are typical of persons with an allergy. [9] Allergies to foods and chemicals are also linked to learning disabilities, hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children (and adults).

How can allergies be treated painlessly?
Physicians using the homeopathic phenolic neutralization and desensitization techniques utilize advances in technology to help hundreds of people overcome their allergy problems. The use of painless, non-injection methods of diagnosing and treating allergies is the most effective method we have personally witnessed.

These methods have been especially welcomed by parents with children who have suffered from a fear of needles and the discomfort of skin reactions, nausea and other unpleasant reactions caused by conventional provocative allergy testing.

Symptoms of Phenol Sensitivity
Some typical symptoms indicating your child may have a phenol problem are [not all of these need be present]: dark circles under the eyes, red face/ears, diarrhea, hyperactivity, aggression, headache, head banging or other self-injury, inappropriate laughter, difficulty falling asleep at night, and night waking for several hours. The typical adult symptom of phenol intolerance is chronic fatigue syndrome, which is the opposite symptom that most children have, altho some children do present as always tired/lethargic, instead of hyper with sleep and other issues.

List of High Phenol Foods
Here is a short list of high phenol foods from Karen Seroussi’s book. They are food dyes, tomatoes, apples, peanuts, bananas, oranges, cocoa, red grapes, colored fruits, and milk.

Here is the Feingold list of highly phenolic/high salicylate foods: toiletries, cleaning supplies, art supplies — that has any of the following ingredients: Synthetic/artificial colors and flavors [for example, FD&C colors, vanillin], BHA, BHT, TBHQ, [all the preceding are made from or related to petroleum], Natural Flavoring (may contain salicylate), Natural Coloring (may contain salicylate), Aspirin and products containing aspirin or salicylic acid, Salicylates, Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Berries (all), Cherries, Chili powder, Cider & cider vinegar (apples), Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers & pickles, Currants, Grapes & raisins, Nectarines, Oranges, Paprika, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chili), Plums, Prunes, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes, Wine & wine vinegar (grapes), Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate). Other items to consider are perfumes and fragrances, nitrites and nitrates, monosodium glutamate [MSG], Hydrolized Vegetable Protein [may contain MSG], sulfites/sulfiting agents, benzoates, and corn syrup [made from hydrogen sulfide + corn starch and many other added chemicals].

Advanced Treatment
Allergies are an error! The body is reacting inappropriately to a completely harmless substance, food or stimuli. STRESSORS are substances, foods or stimuli that place STRESS upon your nervous system.

Many of these STRESSORS can cause symptoms of allergies and sensitivities!

Your body can be retrained to accept these STRESSORS by no longer perceiving them as a threat. We do not treat and chase the symptoms, rather we get to the core of the problem…the nervous system’s inappropriate response to these STRESSORS. “We treat the person, not the condition”  Learn more:  Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center near you!

Several articles came to our attention this week as must reads when it comes to a natural approach to overall health and wellness.  Here’s the latest in health news across the web!

Food Allergies Make Kids a Target (CNN.com)

More children with food allergies may experience acts of bullying and other targeted negative behaviors than their peers, Sicherer said. A 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study found that about 17 percent of children in grades six to 10 reported being bullied. By comparison, 50 percent of kids in that age group in the food allergy study were reported to have experienced bullying, teasing or harassment. Read more.

Top Ten Toxins and How to Protect Your Family (USA Today)

What can you do to protect your family from everyday toxins? Plenty, writes USA TODAY health reporter Liz Szabo, in Fresh: Women’s Health Guide, a new USA TODAY publication that hits newsstands today. Here’s Szabo’s list of the toxic 10, in no particular order, with ideas for avoiding them. Read more.

What’s Wrong with Our Food “System”? (TedX Next Generation)

Why go organic?  11 year old, Birke Baehr speaks out about the risks of genetically modified foods, CAFOs, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and food irradiation.

Watch the video.

Hot Pepper for High Blood Pressure (Dr. Andrew Weil)

Capsaicin, the compound that adds the spicy zing to hot peppers, seems to have some benefit in blood pressure control. Chinese researchers have reported that long term consumption of capsaicin as part of the normal diet of rats bred to have high blood pressure helps relax blood vessels so that pressure falls. Read more.

- by Dr. Eric Herman, D.C.  BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Bethlehem, PA

If you’re allergic to ragweed pollen, fall is most likely not your favorite season. “Depending on where you live, fall is ragweed time,” says Julie McNairn, MD, an allergist/immunologist in Cincinnati, Ohio. During this time, dry leaves, grass, and hay mold harbor allergens such as mold spores and pollen.

“Seasonal allergies,” adds Dr. McNairn, “vary. You may experience symptoms one year and not the next. It’s very unpredictable,” she says. “It is also really hard to say from year to year how the allergy season will be.”

Diagnosing Fall Allergies

Like most seasonal allergies, the symptoms of typical fall allergies usually include sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes. These symptoms can interfere with your daily activities, impairing your ability to perform at work or school.

Ragweed pollen is one of the most common reasons for fall seasonal allergy symptoms. A hardy plant, ragweed grows everywhere, but is particularly common in the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions of the United States. Peak ragweed season starts in mid-August and lasts through October.

Ragweed pollen also is known to cause a condition known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS). In OAS, you may experience itching in your mouth and throat, along with mild swelling, after you consume fresh fruits and vegetables such as banana, cucumber, melon, and zucchini.

In addition to ragweed pollen, pollen from other plants, trees, and grass can trigger allergies in the fall. If you’re allergic, mold can also lead to a reaction during the autumn months. “Molds can be both indoor and outdoor,” says McNairn. “The only time you really get rid of the mold [outside] is if you have a lot of snow on the ground,” she says.

Tips for Managing Fall Allergies

To reduce your exposure to fall allergens such as mold and pollen, McNairn suggests the following:

• Use a dehumidifier, an electric appliance that can decrease humidity in your house, to keep the relative humidity in your home at less than 50 percent.
• Ask someone who is not allergic to clean visible mold with a diluted bleach solution.
• Regularly clean room humidifiers, because they are prone to developing mold.
• Have someone who is not allergic do yard work (raking leaves, mowing the lawn), or wear a facemask and goggles if you must do it yourself.
• Keep the windows shut and the air conditioner running when ragweed pollen levels are high.
• Shower after being outdoors and avoid taking your dirty clothes and shoes into the bedroom, to keep the room as pollen-free as possible.

Alternative Treatments

Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy or NSRT provides a novel and unique approach to wellness that is based on proven, accepted science, allowing patients who generally have very few if any treatment options to experience symptomatic relief. Our technology and science are based on these four facts:

1. Stress causes or exacerbates most health related conditions. “According to The American Medical Association (AMA), stress is the cause of 80 to 85 percent of all human illness and disease. Every week, 95 million Americans suffer some kind of stress-related symptom for which they take medication. “
2. A general reduction of stress levels can significantly decrease symptoms of many conditions.
3. The brain creates associations between stressful events and substances which are often times inappropriate and subsequently lead to a host of chronic and acute conditions. As an example, “Allergies are abnormal or inappropriate reactions of the nervous system that occur in response to otherwise harmless substances.” – Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia
4. If these associations can be broken, by introducing a positive stimulus in conjunction with the specific stress inducing substance… symptoms can be reduced or eliminated.

Stress is the key word. Our technology measures stress levels in the Autonomic Nervous System, Identifies substances that cause stress levels to rise, and couples these environmental stressors with a positive stimulus which in this case is the release of endorphins and enkephalins triggered by nerve bundle stimulation during light therapy. Endorphins and enkephalins are the body’s natural sedative and pain killer which upon release calm the nervous system breaking the previous negative association and replacing it with a neutral association. The net result is the positive conditioning or successful neurological relaxation training of the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) to no longer respond in a stressful manner during real world substance exposure.

Why is that so important? Well, the stress response is the first step in the cascade of events that end up with sneezing, sniffling, sinus pressure, gas, bloating, diarrhea, itching, welting and burning skin irritations, wheezing and difficulty breathing. These are all symptomatic expressions the body uses to expel toxins or substances it believes are harmful to the body through the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, integumentary (The skin) and musculo-skeletal systems.

All of these conditions can be described as being kicked off with an Autonomic Nervous System Mediated Response. NSRT (Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy) is very effective at alleviating or eliminating the triggers that lead to these symptoms.

Our devices are not meant to diagnose or treat any specific condition. The benefits of reducing stress on the nervous system however, and reducing or eliminating autonomic nervous system mediated responses can have wide reaching positive effects on a number of symptoms and conditions that previously had limited therapeutic options.

The benefits of NSRT are further magnified due to the fact that our procedure is fast, highly accurate in substance specific assessment, non-invasive, painless and effective. NSRT requires no drugs, no needles and no dietary restrictions making NSRT a safe and holistic alternative for patient care.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is highly effective in the treatment of allergies and fully capable of stimulating the organism to heal to the point of complete relief from all allergy symptoms.

Many of us have suffered from allergies at one time in our life, and usually the best treatment offered was symptomatic relief through avoidance of the allergen or through medication. Homeopathy, on the other hand, addresses the cause of the sensitivity to allergens at the deepest possible level; avoiding the allergen (the substance responsible for the allergic response) or resorting to suppression of symptoms through ongoing symptomatic treatment becomes unnecessary once this sensitivity has been eliminated.

An Allergist is the medical specialist that commonly uses small doses of an allergen in order to desensitize a person to that allergen. This concept of using small doses of what might cause a problem in order to help prevent or heal the person is an ancient observation of healers/physicians all over the world, and it is the basis for a type of natural medicine called homeopathy.

It is therefore not surprising that one of the three physicians who founded the American Academy of Allergy was a San Francisco homeopathic physician, Dr. Grant L. Selfridge. [2] Another small and forgotten footnote in medical history involves a homeopathic physician from Scotland, C.H. Blackley, who in 1871 was the first physician to identify pollen as the cause of hay fever. [3]

The truth is that allergies can be permanently overcome. The body is incredibly made and has all the mechanisms built within that allow us to attain and maintain great health. Our innate healing abilities are so powerful that we naturally overcome the majority of problems we encounter in life.

“Think about this for a minute – what if headaches didn’t come and go, they just came and stayed? Or, imagine if you still had every cut, scrape and injury you had ever gotten – you would be a mess. Obviously, you naturally recover from many conditions because your body has internal healing capabilities”.

Symptoms are often mistaken as the cause of the problem, when really they are caused by the problem. Treating a symptom instead of a root cause is like turning off a fire alarm instead of putting out the fire. Take headaches for example. Say you choose to use aspirin or ibuprofen to control the symptoms. Time and time again, you must take these pills (why do you think you get so many aspirin in a bottle?). In most cases, the underlying cause of the headache is not changing and therefore the headaches keep coming back! Wouldn’t you rather target the underlying cause and stop the headaches from returning at all?

Do you think that taking various over-the-counter drug products for symptoms is the best way to deal with allergies? Why use temporary solutions over and over again? Your immune system needs to be normalized and strengthened so you do not have to live with allergy symptoms.

Do you know about the possible side effects of antihistamines and decongestants, the primary ingredients in many over-the-counter allergy medications? Many allergy products can cause nervousness, insomnia, dry mouth, negative reactions to other substances, stomach upset and over-sensitivity to sunlight. Additionally, many of these products will cause a rebound effect, a worsening of symptoms when the drug is discontinued. Homeopathy helps your body naturally overcome allergy symptoms with no side effects, while you stay fresh and alert.

Homeopathy is the purest form of natural medicine I have found. With over 200 years of clinical use, there are no negative side effects, no known reactions with other drugs, no contraindications for use and no addictive or habit forming properties. These outstanding results are unprecedented in the history of medicine.

Homeopathic medicines have become the first of all the natural remedies to be registered by the FDA as a drug product. Homeopathy offers a safe, natural solution backed by science, clinical experience, FDA registration and, most importantly, the tests of time.

Homeopathy is designed to work very quickly. Most people will notice initial results as early as 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Others may see results in a few minutes to a few days. Others experience a sense of lightness, accompanied by an emotional release. The corresponding sense of well being or an increase in overall energy, alertness and awareness indicates the healing response is taking place within you. Another positive sign of the healing response being activated is that you will require less and less of this natural medicine as time goes on, not more and more.

Homeopathic natural medicines are powerful. Homeopathy can be safely and effectively combined with nutritional and herbal products, as well as conventional drugs and procedures. The end results of using an all-natural approach are well worth it! Natural relief is a far healthier and often permanent solution.

Homeopathy is a very individualized healing art. A single remedy for one person with allergies may not be the same as that needed for another. Treating 10 people with allergy symptoms may require just as many different homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy offers formulas designed to strengthen you from the inside by activating your body’s natural response system to stimulate its ability to heal itself. This approach offers relief of allergy symptoms, while formulas which work specifically on the immune system may even prevent future allergic reactions. A second approach in homeopathy acclimates you for the outside by providing homeopathic preparations of the specific weeds, grasses, trees, molds and pollens found in your geographic region. Over time, your body becomes less sensitive to the exposure of these allergens, reducing the severity and frequency allergic reactions. Using both of these approaches together provide the most complete approach to allergy correction.

This contemporary homeopathic approach is the only treatment method besides immunotherapy or allergy tests and shots that offer a chance for lasting relief or potential cure from allergies. Obviously, homeopathy offers the simplest, safest, and less costly and time-invested approach. Homeopathic allergy relief is applicable to anyone with allergies and should be the practical first choice for allergy care and correction.

[1] Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America

[2] Cohen SG. The American Academy of Allergy: a historical review. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1979;64: 332-333.

[3] Reilly D, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T. Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopath ic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet October 18, 1986; ii: 881-886.

- by Dr. Gary Douglas

I have always felt that many of our health problems are caused by a Physical, Chemical or Emotional trauma to our autonomic nervous system. I discovered this phenomenon in 1979 while working with Migraine Headache patients. They had a very common statement “ever since” which was followed by an account of a physical, emotional or chemical event. In 1980 I started on a journey around the world. I returned home in 1982 and went back into practice without finding a scientific answer.

In 1979 Dr. Ryke Hamer also made a very similar discovery. He has spent his life trying to prove this phenomenon to the scientific community. I hope that by reading the following article you will have a better understanding of why I rely so heavily on the patient history.

Dr. med. Mag. theol. Ryke Geerd Hamer, born in 1935 in Frisia (Germany), studied medicine and theology at the University of Tübingen. At the age of 22, he completed his master’s degree in theology and then, four years later, received his professional license as a doctor of medicine. The following years he practiced at different university clinics in Germany.

In 1972 Dr. Hamer completed his specialization in internal medicine and began to work at the University clinic in Tübingen as an internist in charge of cancer patients. At the same time, he ran a private practice with his wife Dr. Sigrid Hamer, whom he had met during their studies in Tübingen. He also showed an extraordinary talent for inventing medical devices.

Among others, he owns the patent for a non-traumatic scalpel (Hamer-Scalpel) which cuts twenty times sharper than a razor blade, a special bone saw for plastic surgery, and a massage table that automatically adjusts to the body’s contours.

His inventions provided Dr. Hamer and his family with the financial means to move to Italy, where he realized his plan to treat the sick in the slums of Rome free of charge. On August 18th, 1978, while in Rome, the Hamers received the shocking news that their son Dirk had been accidentally shot by the Italian Prince Victor Emanuel of Savoy. On December 7th, 1978, Dirk succumbed to the injuries and died in his father’s arms.

Shortly after Dirk’s death, Dr. Hamer was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Since he had never been seriously ill, he postulated that the development of his cancer could be directly related to the unexpected loss of his son. In fact, he would eventually, in honor of Dirk, call this unexpected shock a DHS or “Dirk Hamer Syndrome”.

Dirk’s death and his own experience with cancer set Dr. Hamer on an extraordinary scientific journey.

At the time head internist of a cancer clinic at the University of Munich, he began to investigate his cancer patients’ histories and soon learned that, like him, they all had experienced an unexpected shock of one sort or another. But he took his research even further. Pursuing the hypothesis that all bodily events are controlled from the brain, he analyzed his patients’ brain scans and compared them with the corresponding medical and psychological records. To his amazement, he found a clear correlation between certain “conflict shocks”, how these shocks manifest on the organ and how all these processes are connected to the brain. Until then, no studies had examined the origin of disease in the brain and the role of the brain as the mediator between the psyche and a diseased organ.

Dr. Hamer discovered that every disease originates from a shock or trauma that catches us completely by surprise. The moment the unexpected conflict occurs, the shock strikes a specific area in the brain causing a lesion (later called Hamer Focus (HH-Hamerscher Herd)), visible on a brain scan as a set of sharp concentric rings. Before Dr. Hamer identified these ringed lesions in the brain, radiologists considered them as artifacts created by a glitch in the machine. But Siemens, a manufacturer of computer tomography equipment, certified that these target lesions cannot be artifacts because even when the tomography is repeated and taken from different angles, the same ring formation always appears in the same location.

The brain cells that receive the conflict impact send a biochemical signal to the corresponding body cells causing the growth of a tumor, a meltdown of tissue or functional loss, depending on which brain layer receives the shock. The reason specific conflicts are irrefutably tied to specific areas in the brain is that, during our historical evolution, each brain area was programmed to respond instantly to conflicts that could threaten our survival. While the brain stem (the oldest part of the brain) is programmed with basic survival issues like breathing, reproduction and food, the cerebrum (the youngest part of the brain) is more concerned with social and territorial themes. Dr. Hamer also discovered that every disease progresses through two phases: first, a conflict active phase, characterized by emotional stress, cold extremities, a lack of appetite, and sleeplessness, and then, provided we manage to resolve the conflict, a healing phase. This is the period in which the psyche, the brain and the corresponding organ undergo the phase of recovery, an often difficult process marked by fatigue, fever, inflammation, infection, and pain.

Dr. Hamer called his findings “The Five Biological Laws of the New Medicine”, since his research is in full accordance with the natural laws of embryology and with evolutionary logic. Over the years, Dr. Hamer has been able to confirm his discoveries with over 40,000 case studies. The result of his scientific work is the creation of a “Psyche-Brain-Organ” chart that outlines the disease, the content of the biological conflict that cause it, where the corresponding lesion can be seen on a brain scan, how the disease manifests itself in the conflict active phase, and what can be expected in the healing phase.

Dr. Hamer’s research radically upsets the many existing theories of conventional medicine. His explanation of disease as a meaningful interplay between the psyche, the brain and the corresponding organ refutes the view that disease occurs by chance or as a result of a mistake of nature. Based on sound scientific criteria, German New Medicine shatters the myths of malignant cancer cells or of destructive microbes and identifies “infectious diseases” as well as cancerous tumors as natural biological emergency measures, in practice for millions of years, designed to save the organism and not, as we have been taught, to destroy it. Diseases such as cancer lose their frightening image and are recognized as meaningful special biological survival programs every human being is born with.

In October 1981, Dr. Hamer presented his research to the University of Tübingen as a post-doctoral thesis. The objective was to have his findings tested on equivalent cases so that German New Medicine could be taught to all medical students and patients could benefit from the discoveries as soon as possible. But to his great surprise, the University committee rejected his work and refused to evaluate his thesis, an unprecedented case in the history of universities. There was yet another surprise. Shortly after he had handed in his thesis, Dr. Hamer was given the ultimatum to either deny his findings or his contract would not be renewed. It was extremely difficult for him to understand why he was being expelled from the clinic for presenting well-substantiated scientific findings. After his dismissal, he retreated to his private practice where he continued his research. Several attempts to open a private clinic failed because of concerted efforts opposing it. Letters of Dr. Hamer’s patients to health officials remained unanswered or were returned with the comment: “Not applicable!”. The firm position of the authorities has not changed.

In 1985, after 29 years of marriage and the raising of four children, Sigrid Hamer died. She had never really recovered from the grief over the death of her son and the relentless intimidation by the Savoy family.

The harassment of Dr. Hamer culminated in 1986, when a court sentence stopped him from practicing medicine. Despite the fact that his scientific work had never been disproved, he lost his medical license , at the age of 51 on the grounds that he refused to renounce his findings on the origin of cancer and to conform to the principles of official medicine. Deprived of a medical license, Dr. Hamer now relied on other doctors to obtain brain scans and patients’ records. But he was determined to continue his work. By 1987 Dr. Hamer had already analyzed over 10,000 cases and was able to expand his discovery of the Five Biological Laws of German New Medicine to practically all diseases known in medicine. Meanwhile, the press and the medical establishment stopped at nothing to attack him and his work. Tabloid journalists and medical “experts” portray Dr. Hamer as a charlatan, a self acclaimed miracle healer, a cult leader, an irrational outsider, or an insane criminal who denied cancer patients the ‘life-saving’ conventional treatments.

In 1997 Dr. Hamer was arrested and sentenced to 19 months in prison for having given three people free medical information without a medical license. By contrast, in 1991, thirteen years after he had killed Dirk Hamer, Victor Emanuel of Savoy had been sentenced to a mere 6 months probation for the illegal possession of a weapon. When Dr. Hamer was arrested, the police searched his patient files. Subsequently, one public prosecutor was forced to admit during the trial that, after MORE THAN five years, of 6,500 patients with mostly ‘terminal’ cancer, 6,000 were still alive. And so, ironically, it was his opponents that provided the actual statistics attesting to German New Medicine’s remarkable success rate. Yet, to this day the University of Tübingen refuses, despite court orders in 1986 and 1994, to test Dr. Hamer’s scientific work. Similarly, official medicine refuses to approve German New Medicine despite its numerous verifications by both physicians and professorial associations.

On September 9th, 2004, Dr. Hamer was arrested at his home in Spain. Following a European extradition order, Dr. Hamer was extradited to France, where he was held in the French prison Fleury-Mérogis. Dr. Hamer was sentenced to three years in prison without probation. The charges: “fraud and the complicity in the illegal practice of medicine” He has been charged and found responsible for the deaths of French citizens due to the availability of his publications in French. It should be mentioned that Dr. Hamer had never spoken to any of the individuals in person.

Dr. Hamer was released in February 2006. In March 2007, he was forced to leave his Spanish exile. He is now living in Sandefjord, Norway.

Remember: We don’t treat cancer and you are advised not to use laser treatment on a cancer patient. It is against the law to kill cancer cells and obviously not against the law to kill cancer patients. You will not get in trouble for what you do. You can get in trouble for what you say.

From the “Summary of new medicine” Ryke Geerd Hamer

The ‘tracks’ in the DHS are analogous to the environment, the circumstances that create an association in the second of the DHS. A professor interested in allergies once described this very well with the following formula: “If you suffer a DHS with a biological conflict and a cow happens to be passing, you will develop an allergy to cows, but if you happen to be biting into an orange, you will develop an allergy to oranges.” In the instant of the DHS, humans and animals are unconsciously ‘aware’ of their environment. These circumstances later result in so-called allergies.
A second case: During a flight that a couple took from Senegal to Brussels, the husband suffered a heart infarction. They were incapable of doing anything and the wife suffered a death fright conflict from her concern for her husband who could have died at any moment. After landing in Brussels, the husband was rushed to hospital where it was determined that the infarction had not been that severe and he quickly recovered. His wife, however, fell ill several times with a solitary lung-nodule, after which she would perspire heavily for days or weeks when the tumor would be gone, caseated by the tubercular bacteria.

A solitary cancerous nodule was discovered one day when the patient had again started sweating at night. Her physicians in Brussels were at a loss and requested my assistance. I asked the patient the same questions they had asked her since they were familiar with the German New Medicine: whether her husband was sick again and whether she feared for his life. She said her husband had felt quite well since the heart infarct on the plane. I then asked whether her husband had flown again. She said neither of them had flown since that occasion. She then said she thought her problem was related to planes because ever since that terrible event on the flight from Senegal, she would panic any time her children or grandchildren had to fly; she would feel a death fright for weeks until they were safely back in Brussels. That was exactly what had happened until the solitary lung-nodule was discovered through an aspiration and diagnosed as an adeno carcinoma.

As we can clearly see, the patient suffered a second ‘track’ during her husband’s heart infarct crisis on the plane. This second track is associated with the DHS as a fear of helplessness during the event on the plane. The patient had what every psychologist can understand – a death fright for her husband that re-activated the track by itself as she ‘associated’ the event anew every time a family member took a plane. It was not really a logical response since her family was young and unlikely to suffer a heart infarct. However, that was not the issue. The point was that the ‘plane’ became a separate ‘track’ connected to the ‘death fright track’ and created a second conflict, a conflict-complex situation, so that every time a member of her family travelled by plane, the patient suffered a recurrence of a solitary lung nodule – the sign of having gone through a death fright for another person. The best way to solve the conflict was for her family to only mention travel by train, even though they really travelled by plane.

The patient, a mother and grandmother, would thereafter only hear about their train travel or was only told about a trip after their return.

These examples demonstrate the importance of getting back to the DHS in order to recall the exact situation at the moment of its origin. In philology, this would be called a context: an important passage from a text cannot be omitted, as the text must be understood in its entire context.

You can find more info and a summary of his work by entering the following into your search engine.

Excerpts from Summary Of The New Medicine - By Dr. R. G. Hamer

You can read a transcript of his lecture online. Unfortunately the book is out of print on Amazon.

What causes headaches?

- by Dr. Jean Gibson, BioVeda of Fayetteville, AR

Headaches can be caused by several different things.  Some of these causes are sinus problems, eye problems, vascular irregularities, allergies, chemical sensitivities or hypoglycemia. The most common cause of headaches is cervico-genic in origin – meaning it originates in the cervical spine (your neck). Spinal subluxation can irritate spinal nerves causing your headaches.

Muscular tension in your neck caused by stress, chronic postural strain (such as sleeping on too many pillows or spending too much time looking down at your cell phone), or traumatic injury to your neck as in a whiplash can also cause headaches.

There are several things that can be done to help your headaches without drugs. First, you need a thorough examination and x-rays from a Doctor of Chiropractic. The doctor will then develop a specific treatment plan based on the findings from your examination and x-rays

The  adjustment for the spinal regions that are subluxated can be completed either using a hands on technique or a precision instrument. The adjustment restores normal motion to your cervical spine, decreases muscle spasms and decrease inflammation in your joints and muscles.

We can assess your nervous system for negative reactions to foods, airborne particulates, chemicals, or other substances and then use Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy (NSRT).

Acupuncture can also be used to relieve your headache by helping your body produce endorphins – natural pain relievers – and by balancing energy flow.

Three Things that Could be Making Your Allergies Worse

- by Dr. Andrew Moore, BioVeda of Alamo Heights, TX

Hormones: When European researchers studied 571 women between the ages of 28 and 58, they found that more than one in every 10 tested positive on a standard measure of breathing difficulty before or during the first days of their periods. For many women, allergies and asthma get more severe right before their periods, other research has shown. Taking the Pill may help, or you may want to tweak your allergy/asthma medication around your menstrual cycle to get good control.

Stress: It can make everything worse – even allergies: an Ohio State University College of Medicine study found that in people with seasonal allergies, even moderate stress caused a more sever reaction to an allergy skin test; in the study, subjects who were asked to make a short speech had red raised bumps that were 75 percent larger than they’d been during the “low stress” portion of the study. Stress appears to increase levels of cytokines, chemicals that play a role in the body’s allergic response

Alcohol: In a 2008 study of over 5,800 Danish women, those who had more than two drinks  a day were almost twice as likely as nondrinkers to report having nasal symptoms. No one’s quite sure why, but alcohol is a vasodilator, and it may be that if you have allergies, the swelling of your blood vessels makes your nose run even more. If you notice symptoms cranking up after the cocktail hour, skip the aperitif and go right to the appetizer.

Dr. Augustine on The Power of Biological Light in Healing – Mercola

- by Dr. James Augustine, BioVeda of Cerritos, CA

A Russian scientist, Pjotr Garjajev, has managed to intercept communication from a DNA molecule in the form of ultraviolet photons — in other words, light. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with the biophoton work of Fritz-Albert Popp.

It is well known that if you use UV light to destroy 99 percent of a cell, including its DNA, you can almost entirely repair the damage in a single day just by illuminating the cell with the same wavelength at a much weaker intensity.

This phenomenon is known as photorepair.

Following the work of Popp, scientists around the globe have begun to consider that your body’s communication system might be a complex network of resonance and frequency.

Read more…

The following is the first of a three part series that comprises a white paper report on Nutritional Protection Against Excitotoxins.  In this series we explore the importance of nutrition in protecting the body and brain from harmful toxins and free radicals.  To read the complete report on Nutritional Protection, click to download. This is for reference only, all rights are reserved.

Besides reducing the concentration of excitotoxins themselves, there are three major areas in which nutritional supplements may help in preventing damage by excitotoxins:

1. Reducing the production of bad eicosanoids
2. Reducing free radical damage
3. Improving energy production

What Are Eicosanoids?

• Eicosanoids are “super hormones” because they affect the synthesis of virtually every other hormone in one’s body. Eicosanoids are the body’s cellular check and balance system.
• Eicosanoids are controlled by dietary fat and insulin. In other words, eicosanoids can be controlled if one is consuming the correct amount of Omega-6 and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (“PUFAs”) and controlling a good hormonal balance between insulin and glucagon. Eicosanoids come from the Greek word “eicosa” which means twenty. They are twenty carbon compounds which are powerful substances that influence 60 trillion cells in our body.
• Eicosanoids are either “good” or “bad” and have opposing actions. A BALANCE of these opposing actions spells good health whereas an imbalance spells disease.
• Decreases in insulin, loss of excess body fat and a state of wellness are all indicators relating to a good balance of eicosanoids and are all benefits of the ideal lifestyle.
• An imbalance of eicosanoids can be responsible for many reactions in our body including: allergies, asthma, arthritis, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, chronic infection and Alzheimer’s disease.

What Stimulates the Production of “bad” Eicosanoids?

There is a large nutritional myth that we have to consume high amounts of carbohydrates to remain healthy. In fact, research now suggest just the opposite. Not only is most of our obesity related to carbohydrate excess, but many of the diseases that plague or society, such as arthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are related to this unhealthy practice.

Not only should we reduce our carbohydrate intake but we should also carefully select the type of carbohydrates we do eat. We often times hear the question, “Are all carbohydrates equal in terms of absorption from the gut?” To answer this simply, no!

Carbohydrates are absorbed at highly variable rates. Some are absorbed very rapidly, and others slowly. So why does this matter? The rate of absorption of carbohydrates determines the amount of insulin secreted in response from the pancreas. Carbohydrates rapidly absorbed by the gut flood the bloodstream with glucose (all carbohydrates are converted to glucose). To handle this immediate load of sugar the pancreas has to secrete a large amount of insulin. In over sixty million Americans there is a significant overshoot of insulin that, in turn, drives the blood sugar to levels that impair brain function. We experience this through intense hunger, anxiety, and tremulousness.

But, research now also shows us that excess insulin also stimulates the production of “bad” eicosanoids, which severely damage cells, including brain cells. We further know that hypoglycemia causes the brain to internally secrete excess amounts of glutamate, especially aspartate. 1 We have also seen these excitotoxins stimulate the production of “bad” eicosanoids. At least two major studies have shown that the majority of Alzheimer’s patients have hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia. The question that remains unanswered is, “Will changing our diet early in life prevent such neurodegenerative diseases?” Asking this makes it important to note that food should be viewed as an extremely powerful drug.

Another approach to decreasing the amounts of “bad” eicosanoids is by limiting its precursor substance, arachidonic acid, in the diet. This can be done by avoiding egg yolks, organ meats (Mostly deli meats) and red meats. It is also important that you maintain a low fat diet, especially saturated fats, since these fan produce a state of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the cell will not respond to insulin even in high concentrations. This is thought to be the cause of adult onset diabetes (type II diabetes).

Stay tuned for the next part of the series, where we discuss the importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in combating the effects of free radicals on aging the brain.  In the meantime, place your order for high quality BioVeda  supplements that may help mitigate the potential damage that bad eicanosoids may be causing on your brain and body.

Krill Oil : Top Notch Antioxidant Protection — krill oil contains the unique antioxidant which may protect you from damaging free radicals. Past evidence has shown us that phospholipids are the safest and most effective carriers of DHA and EPA. Sadly though, standard fish oils and some low quality krill oil brands lack the phospholipid complex. Instead they contain omega-3 in the free-triglyceride form. This is less beneficial form. Phospholipids are the building blocks of your cell membranes; they regulate cellular transport and act like the “gate keepers of the cell.” This means that they protect the cell membrane from free radical attacks. If that’s not enough important facts, the most dominant phospholipid in krill oil is phosphatidyl choline, which is slightly composed of choline. Choline has been shown to be crucial in brain development, learning and memory. We also know that choline is important for fetal and infant brain development. Choline is the much needed neurotransmitter acetylcholne (this sends nerve signals to the brain) and trimethylglycine, a highly acclaimed liver protecter.

Fish Oil: EPA/ DHA is an essential fatty acid which stands for docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. This essential fatty acid is an Omega 3 fat, which is usually found in cold water fish. EPA/ DHA are highly unsaturated fat because they contain 6 and 5 double bond’s on their long structural chain. These polyunsaturated fats play a very important role with the function of our bodies. EPA and DHA are vital nutrients and may be taken to maintain healthy function of the following: Brain and Retina- DHA is a building block of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye. It helps with forming neural transmitters, such as phosphatidylserine, which is important for brain function. DHA is found in the retina of the eye and taking DHA may be necessary for maintaining healthy levels of DHA for normal eye function. Mega EPA/DHA is something everyone can benefit from!

Cell Manna: Complete Cellular Whole Food Support – Cell Manna is unlike any other product on the market due to its anti-aging benefits. With over 80 different ayurvedic and Korean herbs, this product’s key benefits are anti-aging, hormonal balance, and overall harmony. Cell Manna was created to provide the nutrients to the cells within the body. We call this micro nutrition which is used to feed specific cells you are targeting (ex. Liver, kidney, etc.). Taken by itself it is an overall rejuvenator for every cell within the body.

CoQ Support: CoQ10 has been available for decades, but now there is an amazing new form of Co Q10 called ubiquinol. Why is this so beneficial? CoQ10 is one of the key elements in the aging process and free radical production. These free radicals are oxygen atoms deficient in electrons that become highly reactive. This in turn causes potential damage to your tissues and DNA. If there was something you could do to limit the free radical production, then you could change the aging process. One nutrient that can help you do just that is Co Q10. The problem is your body requires the reduced form of Co Q10 (ubiquinol) to help you limit free radical production. If you’re younger than 25 years old, this isn’t an issue because your body is capable of converting Co Q10 from the oxidized to the reduced form. but, if you’re older, your body becomes more and more challenged to convert the oxidized Co Q10 to ubiquinol. Another very important reason for using a Co Q10 supplement is to help boost your body’s cellular energy production. Co Q10 helps facilitate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy “currency for all your cells. But if you’re over 25, you need the reduced form of Co Q10, ubiquinol, to efficiently do this. So even if you do your best to eat a healthy diet, your body’s ability to produce Co Q10 and convert it to ubiquinol declines over time.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Dr. James Augustine, D.C. – BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Cerritos, CA

To begin this discussion, most people go to the doctor when symptoms arise. Symptoms are the last thing to show up but the first thing to leave. We all have been taught that we go to the doctor when we feel bad, and when the symptoms are gone, we are healthy. Lack of symptoms does not mean that a person is healthy. All the “silent killers” like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, typically have no associated symptoms. The American Heart Association states that 50% of the time, the first symptom of a heart attack is no symptom but a massive, deadly heart attack; lights out. By the time symptoms arise, there has been permanent tissue damage happening in the associated areas of the body.

Therefore, I say, measure your health by how you function not by how you feel.  We utilize several methods in my practice to assess the body’s ability to function.  Contact BioVeda to learn more!

Dr. Jean Gibson, D.C. – BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Fayetteville, AR

Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

You get up in the morning feeling stiff, but ignore it, because you didn’t sleep well the night before. You then sit down on the sofa to read the paper and enjoy your coffee. When you try to get up, BAM – a sudden and sharp pain in the back.

You get up in the morning and go straight to your computer. You end up sitting too long, and when you try to stand up – you can’t completely straighten up.

You get up in the morning, drink your coffee – which wakes up your gut – so you head to the bathroom. You are a bit constipated, and have to strain to empty your bowels. When you try to get up from the toilet, your back spasms.

Why, you wonder, do these things happen – and usually in the morning in the morning? Overnight sleeping leaves your back swollen- even on the best of beds – and extra fluid in your joints. The best thing to do is first thing – before starting your coffee, getting your paper, or checking your computer – you need to stretch to “wring” the excess fluids out of your joints. Gentle stretching when you wake up helps the fluid get to moving, warms up your muscles, and helps protect your back from spasms.

During your day, try to not bend over immediately after sitting. Instead, stand up and do some gentle backward bends to reset your spine. When you sit, don’t slump, as this reinforces the risks to something happening to your back. And try to get up every hour, walk around and do some gentle stretches. You will be amazed how much better you feel at the end of the day!

Lorri L. Beauchamp, L.Ac. – BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Lincoln Park, IL

Seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on your life. For some, the symptoms are so severe, they keep sufferers home in bed. What can you do to minimize your allergy symptoms? Here are some simple tips:

1. Nasal irrigation is a perfect way to eliminate allergens from your nasal passages. It is safe and inexpensive and can be done several times per day. In the morning, it can help clear you of dust mites and molds found in your bedding. In the evening, it can clear pollen before you go to sleep.
2. Showering before bed is another good practice. You will rinse any excess pollen from your body and minimize the transfer of allergens into your bed. BUT – make sure you dry your hair thoroughly before you lay down. Wet hair on a pillow or mattress is a perfect environment for mold. So though you may have elminated the pollen, you may be creating a more pervasive issue with the mold.
3. If you exercise outdoors, avoid the hours between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m as that is the period during which pollen is emitted. As an alternative, excercise inside.
4. Swimming is an ideal activity for those suffering with allergies and asthma. The humid air near water keeps the airways moisturized.
5. If you have gas forced air, use high quality air filters in your system. Change the filters frequently. Consider a HEPA filter in your bedroom as well as mattress and pillowcase protectors for dustmites.
6. Take a multivitamins with minerals to provide additional support to your immune system.

Finally, when your system is depleted by seasonal allergies or any allergies, it is especially important to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of rest.

Contact BioVeda to learn more!

Did you know that up to 80% of the ingredients in perfumes and makeup came from an oil well? Even essential oils are from class of hydrocarbon compounds known as terpenes but can also be aldehydes, esters, ketones, alcohols and phenol-based compounds.  As a result it’s important to be discerning in your choice of cosmetics especially if you’ve had an allergic response to a product in the past. The following is a guide to safe use of cosmetics.

Environmental Working Group has released a great video that provides an overview of cosmetics safety in about 8 minutes.

Some cosmetics that are labeled hypo-allergenic really aren’t. It is important to read the label. Don’t use any product that contains lanolin and perfume, the most common causes of skin reactions. Mineral oil can dry out your skin after just two applications. The eyelid and surrounding areas are especially vulnerable because the skin is extremely thin and loose, allowing chemicals to penetrate more easily. This may cause the skin to swell more readily than on other parts of the face.

There are two allergic reactions that might occur following exposure to cosmetics: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a condition marked by areas of inflammation (redness, itching, and swelling) that form after a substance comes into contact with your skin.

1. Irritant contact dermatitis: This is more common than allergic contact dermatitis and can occur in anyone. It develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis usually begins as patches of itchy, scaly skin or a red rash, but can develop into blisters that ooze, especially if the skin is further irritated from scratching. It generally occurs at the site of contact with the irritating substance. Areas where the outermost layer of skin is thin, such as the eyelids, or where the skin is dry and cracked are more susceptible to irritant contact dermatitis.
2. Allergic contact dermatitis: This occurs in people who are allergic to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and hive-like breakouts. In some cases, the skin becomes red and raw. The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies, although reactions may appear anywhere on the body.

The time it takes for symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis to appear varies. For stronger irritants, such as perfumes, a reaction may occur within minutes or hours of exposure. However, it may take days or weeks of continued exposure to a weaker irritant, such as soap, before symptoms appear. In some cases, a person can develop an allergic sensitivity to a product after years of use. With irritant contact dermatitis, the skin breaks down when it comes into contact with harsh substances, most often chemicals that directly injure the outer layer of the skin, resulting in symptoms of a cosmetic allergy.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs because the body’s immune system is having an inappropriate reaction to a specific substance that it wrongly considers harmful. This type of allergy can be reprogrammed.

Hypoallergenic Products:

There are no Federal rules that control the use of the term, so there is no assurance to consumers that the product is really what it says it is. When a product is labeled as hypoallergenic, it is done only under the discretion of the manufacturers, and not of a higher regulating body. Some companies conduct tests before placing the hypoallergenic claim on the label, but there are others who do not. Some claim to be hypoallergenic just because they did not include perfumes and other problem-causing ingredients. Also, manufacturers are not required to submit a substantiation of their claims. The term, hypoallergenic, is just used as a marketing tool.

Other labels can also be deceiving. “Dermatologist-tested” only means that a skin doctor tested the product to see if it will cause allergies, and it does not mean that it was tested on several individuals. Even labels such as, “safe for sensitive skin”, “allergy tested”, “sensitivity-tested”, and “non-irritating”, offer no guarantee. The basic ingredients in both hypoallergenic cosmetics and regular cosmetics are the same. There are no scientific studies that prove that hypoallergenic makeup indeed causes fewer allergic reactions. So in reality, there is no such thing as hypoallergenic makeup.

Common culprits include cosmetic ingredients in perfumes, lipsticks, eyeliner, hair dyes, nail polishes, and sunscreen agents. Allergenic ingredients include substances in perfumes, as well as perfumes in makeup and skin creams; waxes and fats, particularly cocoa butter, in lipsticks; metallic compounds in eyeliner or eye shadow; tetrabromofluorescein in hair dyes; tosylamide, formaldehyde resin, and nail acrylates in nail polish; PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), hydroquinone or digalloy trioleate in sunscreen preparations; either mercury or hydroquinone in bleaching creams; and methyldibromo glutaronitrile and other preservatives in cosmetics that contain water. The offending substance may just be the makeup remover. You may be suffering from irritant contact dermatitis. It develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin.

Like food, makeup also has an expiration date, and over time cosmetics can harbor harmful bacteria that can lead to infections. Cosmetics aren’t required by law to have expiration dates, so you can’t just look at the label to know when a product has expired.

Check out this guide to expiration dates — beginning from the time you first open these products:

• Powders and shadows: 2 years
• Cream shadows: 12 to 18 months
• Foundation: 1 year
• Lipstick &: lip liner: 1 year
• Mascara &: eyeliners: 3 months
• Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent
• Makeup sponges: Cosmetic makeup sponges are disposable tools. Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled Wash after every use.
• You should never keep mascara for any longer than 3 months (air pushes bacteria back into the tube). Never “pump” your mascara.
• Lip gloss: 1 year
• Eye and lip pencils: 1 year or more, but you should sharpen pencils at least once a week to prevent bacteria from being transferred to your eye area. You’ll know the product has gone bad if it dries or crumbles.
• Skincare
• Facial Cleansers & Moisturizers, 6 months
• Concealer, 6-8 months
• Facial Toners, 1 year
• Natural Cosmetics, 6 months (“all-natural body washes”, etc.)
• Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are “all natural” products that contain plant-derived ingredients (which are conducive to bacterial growth), or products with no preservatives.
• Brushes And Tools
• Oils and bacteria get trapped in the bristles of the brushes. Wash natural-bristled brushes once a month, and synthetic brushes three to four times a month. Lay the brushes flat to dry so that the bristles don’t break, and to maintain the shape of the brushes. There are brush cleansers out there, but you can also use mild soap. You may also use baby shampoo to wash your brushes.

Tips for keeping your skin clean and your makeup fresh

• Smell your cosmetics; if they have an unusual odor, they may contain bacteria and should be discarded.
• Always make sure that products are closed tight and stored out of sunlight, as this can destroy the preservatives.
• Don’t use any eye products if you currently have an eye infection.
• Never add any liquids to products unless directed by the manufacturer.
• If there are any changes in color and texture, dispose of the product immediately.
• Avoid sampling makeup at department stores when possible. If you do test, never apply directly from the makeup. Instead, use a clean, disposable applicator (i.e., cotton swab, sponge) to apply cosmetics.
• Foundation in a bottle should last 3-6 months, but wide mouthed jars can expose the product to more air and should be tossed sooner. You’ll know it’s time to purchase a new bottle, when the ingredients begin to settle or separate, the texture thickens or thins, or the smell changes.

Visit the Cosmetics Safety Database to determine if the everyday products you are using are actually safe.