Molds, and Flowers, and Dust Mites, Oh MY!

Air Showers: Japaneese Solution to Pollen Allergies

One of the top hotels in Japan is offering air-showers to customers to blow cedar pollen off of their bodies and  clothes before checking into a hotel room.  Some industries also use air-showers to reduce contamination in clean rooms.  This technology is currently not available for home users, but if you want a quote, click on the top link.

An air shower is a high-velocity air circulation chamber that basically blows all contaminants off a surface and then sucks the contaminants away.

Links: http://www.cleanairproducts.com/products/entrysystem/index.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1568035.htm

Neti Pots for Nasal Irrigation

While nasal irrigation is a great treatment for sinus and allergy problems, and is often recommended by allergists, the practice is far older than western medicine.  The practice originated with the yogis of India several thousand years ago. I've washed my nose out with a bulb syringe when I had a sinus infection once and was surprised at the amount of mucous that it removed. Since then, I've occasionally used saline nasal spray to help thin secretions in my nose, but don't do so on a regular basis.

I am intrigued by the use of a Netti pot, it is the same idea as a saline wash with a bulb syringe, but on a bigger scale.  Most Netti pots hold 10-15 ounces of salt water for you to run through your sinuses (in on side, and out the other), instead of through your sinuses into the back of your throat.  One of the first websites I came across had a rather unfortunate banner with someone actively flushing their sinuses. If I had never heard of this, I would have been quite turned off by the photo.

Some further searching turned up summaries of medical studies endorsing the practice.  Almost all reviews I found of the products were positive and users raved about decreased problems with allergies and sinus infections. Don't take this as an excuse to  stop taking allergy medications or to go shooting any old water up your nose, but consider investigating this method of sinus cleaning if you are interested.

Links: http://www.bytheplanet.com/Products/Yoga/Neti/Catalog/netipotcatalog.htm

http://www.internatural-alternative-health.com/neti/abstracts-nasal-rinsing.cfm

Worst Cities for Asthma Sufferers

The 2006 list of worst cities for Asthma Sufferers was released last week by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (website).  Topping the list are Scranton, Penn, Richmond, VA; Philadelphia, Penn.  Looks like the West Coast is a fairly decent place for those with Asthma.  The first west coast city to appear on the list is Bakersfield, CA at number 33. Seattle comes in at #54, which is just above average. For the complete list, please see the PDF link below.

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/images/Health/asthma_capitals2006.pdf

Washing My Pillows

I recently saw an article that talked about the amount of dust and dust mites that inhabit our pillows.  It was estimated that the weight of a three-year old pillow would be almost 50% dust and dander.  With my allergies to dust mites leaving me prone to perpetual stuffiness, I decided to wash my pillows in the washing machine.  I have allergy-reducing covers on all of the pillows as well, but have not washed them in a year, which probably renders them useless.  Hopefully, this will help.