Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Lyme Disease part 3 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I hope you have been enjoying this conversation on Lyme disease. I want to start today’s blog by talking about something that in my opinion doesn’t get enough attention, chronic Lyme disease. I am also going to …
Skin Irritants of Summer part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog we went over the most common invaders of your yard and garden that can trigger a rash and inflamed skin. (1-5) In this blog we will be getting into the details …
Skin Irritants of Summer part 1
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
As the warm weather of summer approaches everyone is running outside to plant their garden. However, your garden can have hidden irritants that can leave you feeling itchy later. These can include plants you may expect, for example poison ivy/oak/sumac. What you may not know is that certain ornamental bulbs can also cause skin irritations! There is much to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start with the most common plant associated with rash. This is Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy release an oil called urushiol oil. This is what creates the reaction associated with Poison Ivy. Typically Poison Ivy triggers blistering, itchy patches on the skin. (1) This rash is typically red, blistered and very itchy. It normally takes anywhere from 12 hours to several days after being exposed to urushiol oil for the rash to appear. The more often you are exposed to urushiol oil the faster the rash will appear. I want to point out that contrary to gossip the rash from Poison Ivy is not contagious from person to person. However, if someone has urushiol on their clothing, skin, or pet fur (if they are a furry friend lol) and that gets on you then you will develop a rash. This also means that if you have urushiol on one part of your body or clothes and get it on your skin then that spot will also develop a rash. If you go to PoisonIvy.org you can see pictures of Poison Ivy at various stages of growth. Poison Ivy isn’t the only plant to produce urushiol. Poison Oak and Poison Sumac also produce this compound. They create a rash that looks like Poison Ivy since it is triggered by the same compound. (2)
Stinging Nettle is another common trigger for a skin rash. This plant has tiny little hair on both its leaves and stem. These little hairs are what irritates the skin and causes a rash. Typically, the little hairs on Stinging Nettles trigger hives, these present as raised red, itchy bumps. There is also usually a rash that is also red and itchy. Unlike Poison Ivy/Oak/ Sumac where there is a delay before the rash appears with stinging Nettles the rash appears rapidly after contact with the little hairs. (3)
Giant Hogweed has funny name! But no, it is not the name of a fluffy little pet. It is the name of a tall plant that produces sap that can lead to severe skin irritation. If the exposure to the sap is followed by sunlight it can lead to painful skin blisters. For some people, these blisters can scar. Other plants that can trigger a rash include Baby’s Breath, Leadwort and even Ragweed! (3)
This is all interesting, but all of these are well known to trigger a rash. Where it gets interesting is when we investigate your garden. Some of the very plants you are putting in your garden can trigger a rash. For example, tulip bulbs, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs can all trigger a rash. Rose hips can make for tasty tea but the plants that they are grown on can trigger a rash. Borage plants and comfrey can also trigger a rash. Some plants may produce tasty fruits and veggies BUT if you are sensitive these plants may trigger a rash. Common plants that people can be sensitive can include strawberries, tomatoes, hot peppers and even garlic! (4) Ornamental plants and common garden plants that can trigger a rash include chrysanthemums, marigolds, dahlias, poinsettias, buttercups, asparagus ferns, squash leaves, cucumber, citrus plants, and figs. (5)
But what do these rashes all look like? If you are at all squeamish, I would look away now. But if you are brave, you can take a look to see what these types of rashes typically look like.
Let us start with the most common, Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac. (6)
Next is Stinging Nettles. (7)
Giant Hogweed is next. (8)
I won’t include all the common plants that can trigger a rash, but I will highlight Hyacinth and tulips. (9-10)
Hyacinth
Tulip
I wanted to include mosquito bites to help you be able to differentiate between a rash from a plant source and a mosquito bite. While most people experience a mild reaction to mosquito bite others can have a more severe rash because of the bite. I wanted to include a picture of a more severe bite so that it can be used to easily tell the difference between a more severe mosquito bite and the rashes caused by plants. (11)
This blog is full of interesting facts about different plants that can trigger a rash. But what can you do? In our next blog on this topic, we will be talking about how to use nutrients such as Green Tea, Vitamin C and even Turmeric to help reduce your histamine and itchy skin.
Sources:
What is Asthma? (Part 2) Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog we talked about what asthma is and what can increase your overall risk of developing the illness. We also talked about what the risk factors are for a flare up or asthma …
Understanding Fasting part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog on fasting, we were focused on shorter fasts such as water or juice fasting. We also talked about how you would go about doing a detox or cleanse, which lasts longer than a …
Understanding Fasting
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Fasting can be done for so many reasons. It can be done for religious reasons, cleansing or for general detoxification of the body. Fasting can also look vastly different depending on the reasons behind your fast. Several types of fasting’s include water fasting, juice fasting or not eating until after a certain time. At this time of the year many Christians are fasting for the religious observance of Lent. For some this may mean abstaining from meat on certain days of the week. For others it can mean following a strict vegan diet.
Now I know what you are thinking, what does this have to do with supplements? Obviously if your goal in fasting is to cleanse or detox it is important to know what nutrients can help with this goal. While water or juice fast is usually only done for 12-72 hours, supplements can still play a role towards keeping you healthy and promoting detox. During longer stricter fasting periods supplements can help you feel better overall and allow you to consistently follow your fast without feeling cravings or fatigue. In this blog I will make some supplement suggestions as well as make some recipe suggestions for you to try out! Remember, as I always say, have fun in the kitchen. You never know what you might cook up next.
Let us get into it, shall we?
When it comes to water, juice or even a detox fast it is important to start by eliminating all toxins such as caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and processed foods. For example, it is important to eliminate beverages such as soda since they contain such a high amount of sugar and other preservatives. (1) Now if it is not feasible for you to eliminate all these at once its ok. Reduce the amount of toxins at a pace you feel comfortable with. The goal to health should be a marathon not a sprint! What can you do to help support detox?
https://mapmygenome.in/blogs/learn/7-day-healthy-eating-plan-to-detox-your-body-naturally
As you can see there are plenty of ways to incorporate additional nutrients! For example, Greens Hx can easily be mixed into hummus! If you are not fond of beets Invite has powdered beets that can be easily mixed into smoothies or other foods such as soup.
That is all good but what about those doing a longer fast? What should those who are looking to maintain energy do when they are vegan or vegetarian? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In our next blog we will be talking about the nutrients that can help maintain energy and overall health when you are doing a longer fast such as those observing a religious holiday such as lent.
Sources:
