Post-nasal drip is among the most common causes of persistent cough, hoarseness, sore throat and other annoying symptoms. ⁠
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It's a common diagnosis and can be caused by a number of reasons which may linger for weeks or even months...⁠
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Reason may include: ⁠
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-Allergies⁠
-Viral infections (including the common cold)⁠
-Sinus infection⁠
-Irritants in the air (such as fumes or dust)⁠
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The good news is that most of the causes can be quickly identified and most will improve with treatment. ⁠
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There are a number of treatment options, including home remedies on how to avoid and relieve postnasal drip:.⁠
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💧Drink plenty of fluids ⁠
Keeping well hydrated will help thin the mucus in the throat.⁠
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🙅‍♂️☕🍺Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol⁠
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks may cause further dehydration (and, as discussed above, fluids are integral to thinning mucus in the body). Not only that but caffeine and alcohol are both inflammatory and could add to your discomfort or contribute to gastroesophageal reflux, which can further contribute to mucus in the throat.⁠
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🍋Load Up on Vitamin C⁠
Vitamin C is known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. We suggest squeezing half a lemon in warm water and adding honey to taste. ⁠
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🍵Chicken Soup and Tea⁠
If you've been told that chicken soup helps with post-nasal drip (or other symptoms of a cold or flu), it's true! But it doesn't actually have to be chicken soup - any hot liquid can help thin the mucus and help you maintain hydration. ⁠
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🛁Get Steamy⁠
Using a vaporiser or humidifier can increase the moisture level in your house, which helps decrease mucus formation, allowing you to breathe easier. A long, hot shower (in which you inhale the steam) can work wonders as well.⁠
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🌡Get an Allergy Test⁠
Just because you're noticing a lot of mucus in your throat, doesn't necessarily mean you're suffering from postnasal drip. In fact, it might just mean you have an allergy to dust, pollen, or even certain foods. ⁠
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Contact us to learn more about allergy testing and how we can support you through the season!⁠ 💛⁠ ...

If you've ever had a cold that just wouldn't go away, chances are it was sinusitis - an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the cavities within the bones that surround the nose. ⁠
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The sinuses are lined with a thin membrane that produces mucus, which is normally swept along by hair cells and drains through small openings into the nasal cavity. Sinusitis (also called rhinosinusitis) starts when this drainage system becomes blocked, usually from swelling due to inflammation caused by infection or allergy. Soon, your head hurts, you feel facial pressure or pain, and thick mucus clogs your nose. The symptoms may clear on their own, but often they persist or repeatedly return.⁠
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There are many things you can do to reduce your chance of developing sinusitis or to relieve early sinusitis symptoms. 🤧⁠
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One of the most important is to promote drainage and keep nasal passages clear. ⁠
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Here are some suggestions:⁠
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🛁Bathe your nasal passages daily. Run water gently into the nasal passages to help clear excess mucus and moisten membranes. Good times to do it are in the morning and at night⁠
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💧Drink lots of water. Good hydration helps keep the mucus thin and loose. Have a bottle of water at your desk at work or put a glass near the kitchen sink to remind you to drink water throughout the day.⁠
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🧖‍♀️Inhale steam. Linger in a hot shower. Or bring water to a boil and pour it into a pan; place a towel over your head, and carefully bend over the pan to inhale the steam. To avoid burns, keep your distance at first and move in gradually to a comfortable zone.⁠
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💦Avoid dry environments. A humidifier in your home (in particular, by your bed) and where you work can help prevent nasal passages from drying out. Keep humidifiers clean and free of bacteria and mould.⁠
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🛏️Sleep with your head elevated. Mucus pools in your sinuses at night when your head is down, so have your head propped up with pillows or a wedge during sleep.⁠
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👃Be nice to your nose. Blow your nose gently, forceful blowing can irritate the nasal passages and propel bacteria-laden mucus back up into your sinuses. ...

Helping Children with Food Allergies Become Independent ~ with our wonderful naturopath and allergy advisor Rachel Balm.
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We all want our children to be able to go to school, camps and play dates without fear of a food reaction and possible death.⁠
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We all know how strong peer pressure is and we don’t want our children to have their voices silenced because they are concerned with what their friends or classmates might think. ⁠
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Here are some things you can teach your child to help them feel confident about communicating their food requirements to their friends, friends’ parents or restaurant staff.⁠
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🗣️ Have your child practice their “food allergy script”⁠
For example, “I’m allergic to dairy and nuts. Does this food have dairy or nuts in it?”. Teach them to look someone in the eye and clearly and loud enough to be heard and say what they are allergic to.⁠
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🤓 Teach them to read ingredient lists⁠ and what kinds of foods might contain “hidden” allergens⁠
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🍽️Test the food before eating it⁠
With the exception of those children for whom even the least little exposure to a food particle will trigger a severe reaction, taking a small bite of food and waiting to see if they have any kind of reaction is a way of ensuring whether or not a dish is safe. For most children a good general rule of thumb is to take one little bite and wait 5 minutes to see if there’s a reaction.⁠
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🙅‍♀️If in any doubt, don’t eat it!⁠
This will be hard for them sometimes because it may mean not joining in with eating the birthday cake at a party or even missing out on a dinner that has been prepared for them. This is likely going to happen to them many times over the course of their life and will be disappointing each time, but will get easier. ⁠
The bottom line is; it is better to be safe then have an allergic reaction. ...

Severe food allergies can be stressful for a family and especially stressful for the children – those with allergies and those without – and it can be hard to make sure that neither the allergic child nor their non-allergic siblings feel singled out. ⁠
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Depending on when the allergies start, as well as the birth order of your children, these problems can be mild, or they can be very troublesome.⁠
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The difficulty with food allergies is that both the children with allergies and their non-allergic siblings can feel like it is not fair. This can cause friction among siblings if you can’t find techniques to address this early on in their lives.⁠
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Supporting the Child with Allergies 💛⁠
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There is a part of human nature that always wants what we can’t have and for the child with food allergies, the idea that they are missing out on the best tasting foods because of their allergies can be a potential concern for the future. The best ways to support your child with allergies is to make their special allergenic food seem like normal everyday food i.e if they have an allergy to dairy use alternative milks and non-dairy ice creams and research local restaurants and know which ones serve safe dishes. ⁠
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Supporting the Child Who Doesn’t Have Allergies 💛⁠
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It is important to encourage non-allergenic children to support their allergenic siblings. However, you don’t want them to feel like you are always accommodating the allergic child, and that if they didn’t have food allergies, their own food choices would be better. ⁠
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Of course, it would be very unfair for your non-allergic child to miss out on the things their sibling is allergic to but it would be equally unfair to give one child a treat and exclude the other. ⁠
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Here a few ways so your non allergic child doesn’t miss out:⁠
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-put things in their lunchbox that they like ⁠
-take them out for special treats and to restaurants you can’t go to with the allergic child ⁠
-try to get them involved in shopping for, and cooking meals for their allergic sibling. They feel good about helping and therefore have fewer reasons for frustration or resentment.⁠
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DM us with any questions you might have 💛⁠ ...

Do you think your baby is allergic to cow’s milk?⁠ 🐮🍼
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When babies develop vomiting, diarrhea, and fussiness, some of them are diagnosed as having an allergy to cow’s milk protein. When that diagnosis is made, babies on formula have to switch to a specialised formula and the mothers of breastfeeding babies have to eliminate all dairy from their diets.⁠
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The problem is that specialised formulas are very expensive and eliminating all dairy from your diet can be very difficult, leading some mothers to stop breastfeeding all together!⁠
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There are two kinds of cow’s milk allergy. One of them is mediated through a type of immunoglobulin called IgE, which causes classic food allergy. This kind is easier to diagnose, as children have more classic symptoms of allergy such as rashes, facial swelling, or flushing. There are also blood tests that can help make the diagnosis.⁠
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The other kind is not mediated through IgE and is tougher to diagnose with certainty. Babies with non-IgE mediated cow’s milk allergy can have various symptoms, such as vomiting, fussiness during or after feeding, diarrhea, or blood in the stool. The problem is that lots of babies without allergy can have vomiting, fussiness, or diarrhea and there are other reasons why babies might have blood in the stool. ⁠
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The only way to definitively diagnose non-IgE mediated allergy is to eliminate all dairy, see if the baby gets better and then reintroduce dairy again and see if the symptoms come back. For lots of understandable reasons, many parents don’t want to do that reintroduction once a baby gets better, however the baby getting better may have nothing to do with the diet change.⁠
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Do you want to clear up confusion on what your baby is exactly reacting?⁠
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Please phone us on 9226 0561 and talk with one of our highly experienced practitioners. We can help and guide you through this process. 💛😊 ...

We’re in the thick of "Allergy Season" 🌼 🐝 but luckily, there are simple and natural ways, like changing your eating habits, that help treat and ease the pain of seasonal allergies. Brilliant!

There are also certain foods that can in fact make your seasonal allergies worse. Alcohol, peanuts, sugar, processed foods, wheat and chocolate to name a few.

Now, we aren’t saying eliminate all of these foods completely, just be mindful of your intake and how it may affect your seasonal allergies.

While the list of foods above may have you considering clearing out half your pantry, there are plenty of foods to say YES to this season!

🌶️ Spicy Foods

If you’re suffering from congestion, incorporating spicy dishes like flavourful curry, can help thin out mucus. Cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon are your culinary friends! Ginger helps break down toxins in your system and is a great sinus decongestant.

🥕 Fresh, Organic Vegetables

Getting your recommended intake of colourful vegetables and clean proteins is always recommended, but especially important during allergy season. Choose nutrient rich veggies like carrots, cabbage, beetroot, or swiss chard, which is high in Quercetin— a natural compound that fights hay fever and inflammation.

🍯 Local Raw Honey

A spoon full of local honey can help relieve watery eyes, congestion and most allergy symptoms because it contains the very pollen your seasonal allergies stem from.

🥬 Probiotic-Rich Foods

Sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha are probiotic-rich foods that increase energy levels, improve digestion and harbor immune boosting powers.

🥃 Liquids

Both bone broth and apple cider vinegar help break up mucus, ease respiratory issues, reduce inflammation, and boost immunity!

🍍 Pineapple

Amazing for fighting allergies! This delicious tropical fruit has some pretty amazing health benefits. It's rich in many antioxidants, such as vitamin C, and helps boost the immune system. Pineapple contains a digestive enzyme called bromelain which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. The core contains the highest concentration of bromelain, so don't throw it out! The riper the fruit the softer the core will be.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ...

Gluten Free / Dairy Free Blueberry Banana Muffins ⁠
and soooo easy to make! 🧁 💛⁠
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INGREDIENTS⁠
-3 bananas, mashed ⁠
-2 eggs⁠
-1/4 cup olive oil⁠
-1/4 cup pure maple syrup⁠
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract⁠
-2 1/2 cups almond flour⁠
-1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder⁠
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda⁠
-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt⁠
-1 cup blueberries⁠
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INSTRUCTIONS⁠
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin pan with paper liners.⁠
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2. Mash the banana in a large bowl. Add the eggs, oil, maple syrup and vanilla and whisk until well combined.⁠
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3. Add the almond flour, then sprinkle the baking powder, baking soda and salt over the top. Whisk until well incorporated and no lumps remain, then gently fold in the blueberries.⁠
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4. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden brown and set. Remove from heat and place on a wire rack. Let stand 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely.⁠
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Enjoy! ...

Ahhhh Spring has arrived ...⁠
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The birds ⁠🕊️⁠
and the bees⁠ 🐝⁠
the pollen⁠ 🌼⁠
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But it's not just springtime pollen that can trigger a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. Indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroach parts, mould, and animal dander can lead to allergy symptoms in some people or make allergy symptoms worse. ⁠
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Understanding the nature and location of indoor allergens is fundamental. The key to managing allergies that are caused by indoor allergens involves reducing your level of exposure to them or avoiding them entirely, if possible.⁠
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Recommendations to help reduce indoor allergens;⁠
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✅Sealing entry points for pests⁠
✅Keeping pets out of the bedroom⁠
✅Wash bedding each week in hot water⁠
✅Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture⁠
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Contact us to learn more about allergy testing and how we can support you through the season!⁠ 💛⁠ ...

Manage your stress levels with Jowee - our wonderful clinical hypnotherapist ✨⁠
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Stress is constantly in our lives. Stress can stem from money worries or spiked by a sudden health scare. It can exact a toll upon you — physically, emotionally, and psychologically.⁠
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Stress is a fact of life, but you can determine how it affects your life. You can counteract the damaging effects of stress by calling upon your body’s rich potential for self-healing.⁠
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One way to reduce stress is to deep breath 🧘‍♀️⁠
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Deep breathing also goes by the names of diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing, and paced respiration. It encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure thus making you feel relaxed and clear headed. ⁠
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Whenever your stress level is rising, find a spot to slow down and inhale a few rounds of deep breathing. It also aids you in disengaging from distracting thoughts and sensations. ...

Allergy season can be stressful business. Coping with watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or a sore throat can affect how you get through each day. 🤧⁠
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Not only can allergies cause stress, but stress can make allergies worse. If you're feeling stressed for any reason, you may find yourself dealing with worse allergy symptoms than usual.⁠
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The stress response is the body's way of keeping you safe. When the brain senses danger, it alerts the adrenal glands to release stress hormones. This causes your heart to pound, blood pressure to rise, and blood vessels to constrict to send more blood to your brain and muscles. Stress makes your breath quicken to get oxygen to your muscles, and sends fat and sugar into the bloodstream to boost your energy.⁠
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The stress response is helpful in the short term as it enables us to get through a difficult situation. But if you trigger the stress response repeatedly, then over time it can contribute to depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, heartburn, and many other health related problems including worse allergies.⁠
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We spoke about useful tips to get on top of your hay fever in our previous post, however allergy management should also include strategies for stress reduction. ⁠
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Stress reduction tips! 🧘‍♀️⁠
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You can reduce stress with exercise — the kind that gets your heart and lungs pumping — and by eliciting the relaxation response, a well-studied physiological change that can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen consumption, adrenaline levels, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.⁠
There are many ways to elicit the relaxation response, such as meditation, guided imagery, yoga, tai chi, and deep breathing exercises. ⁠
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Stress reduction isn't the number one way to treat your allergies, but it may still be an important one.⁠
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If you find this helpful, or know someone who needs to know this information tag them below, or DM us with any questions you might have 💛⁠ ...

Meet Priya Birdi, our awesome Ayurveda Practitioner and Allergy Advisor.✨⁠
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Ayurveda is considered as one of the oldest continuously practiced healing sciences originating in India over five thousand years ago. It is based on a holistic approach to health and wellbeing that views the mind and the body as a whole. Priya uses the Principles of Ayurveda to extend her focus beyond the symptomatic with the aim of addressing the root causes for imbalances in the body.⁠
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As an Ayurveda Practitioner specialising in Allergies, Priya offers her clients the best of both worlds by blending the best of Eastern and Western medicine. Her multi-disciplinary approach draws upon her breadth of formal education, Priya's qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Ayurveda, a Diploma in Beauty Therapy, and Certificates in Reiki and Reflexology.⁠
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⁠Priya has always been intrigued by the human body’s innate ability to heal itself, an interest stemming from a young age that evolved into a passion and eventually led to her career path. Priya had overcome her own skin issues throughout her childhood from the age of two, a health journey which affords her an appreciation of the frustration and confusion surrounding allergies and skin disorders.⁠
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Priya guides and supports her clients through a series of transformative changes to achieve balance in the mind and body. ...

Colds and allergies produce many of the same symptoms: a runny nose, tiredness, and sometimes a sore throat. But they have different causes - a virus causes colds, while allergies are an immune system response to trigger substances, known as allergens. ⁠
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There are ways to distinguish one from the other. Colds sometimes produce a fever, but allergies never do. In addition, if you are suffering from allergies, you may also have itchy, watery eyes, symptoms that won't typically accompany a cold. But perhaps the biggest clue that can help you distinguish between a cold and allergies is the duration of symptoms. ⁠
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Cold symptoms rarely last more than two weeks, but allergies can last as long as you are exposed to the substance that is triggering the reaction. So, if your "cold symptoms" appear at the same time every year and last for an extended period of time, the cause may very well be allergies. ⁠
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Many people with seasonal allergies will experience symptoms for six weeks at a time. If you are allergic to something in your home, such as dust mites, mould, or pet dander, your symptoms could get worse during the winter months, because the house is sealed up and fresh air isn't getting in. ⁠
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The good news is that PAC (that’s us) are here to help. Get in touch 📞 and we’ll you get you feeling happy outdoors again 🍃 ...

Vitamin C 🍊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠
Vitamin C is a power house antioxidant which stimulates the production of our immune cells and assists our ability to ward off and deal with infection. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠
⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠
As a vitamin, it is essential that you obtain vitamin C from your food and supplements as your body does not make vitamin C on its own. ⁠
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A potent antioxidant, vitamin C protects your cells from damage, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps your body to fight infections. When taken during allergy season, vitamin C can slow down the overreaction of your body to environmental triggers by decreasing your body’s histamine production.⁠
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Our recommendation is to increase the vitamin C – rich foods in your diet which includes capsicum, kale, brussel sprouts, papaya, kiwi fruit, broccoli, berries and citrus fruits.🥝 🥦 🍓 🍊⁠
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If you find this helpful, or know someone who needs to know this information tag them below, or DM us with any questions you might have 💛 ...

During "Allergy Season", lots of people are taking advantage of our popular Australian Airborne 12 Test.⁠
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This test looks at the twelve most common airborne allergens - including Trees, Grasses, Weeds, Pets, Dust Mites, and Moulds.⁠
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The specific allergens tested are⁠
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🌱 Australian Pine⁠
🌱 Common Silver Birch⁠
🌱 Willow⁠
🌱 Ryegrass⁠
🌱 Paspalum Grass⁠
🌱 Common Ragweed⁠
🌱 English Plantain⁠
🌱 Derm. Pteronyssinus (common dust mite)⁠
🌱 Cat Epithelium⁠
🌱 Dog Dander⁠
🌱 Alternaria Tenuis⁠
🌱 Penicillin Notatum⁠
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We not only tell you what you are individually allergic to from this list but also the level of sensitivity to each reaction.⁠
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As a Spring Special we are offering this comprehensive test for only $155 until the end of October (normally $240)!
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No referral is required, and the results are sent directly to you.⁠
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To order your test online visit https://allergytestingonline.com.au/product/hayfever-australian-airborne-12/⁠ ...

Well allergy season is well and truly upon us! ⁠🍃🌷🐝
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Are you at the mercy of your hay fever? If itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezing have taken over your life, changing your daily habits can help you manage your symptoms and reduce your exposure to environmental allergens.⁠
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To get on top of hay fever this season we have created a simple Allergy and Reactivity Reduction Program. This program has been very successful and has helped a lot of sufferers. ⁠
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In combination with our program here are a few useful tips! ⁠
🌼 Keep your windows closed at times when the pollen count is highest to prevent pollen entering your home.⁠
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🌼 Reduce your intake of histamine-triggering foods and drinks. Histamine is the chemical your immune system produces when exposed to allergens, responsible for the swelling and itching in your nasal passages and eyes. ⁠
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🌼 Improve the balance of bacteria in your gut and populate with allergy specific probiotics (we can help you here!) ⁠
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🌼 Wear wrap-around sunglasses and a hat with a brim to keep pollen out of your eyes to limit itchy, streaming, swollen eyes. ⁠
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🌼 Minimise pollen being spread throughout your house, by vacuuming your house frequently and showering, washing your hair and changing your clothes as soon as you get home. Not only will this keep pollen from triggering your symptoms, but it will make less work for you when you vacuum. ⁠
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🌼 Wash your bed sheets frequently and at a high temperature and dry indoors to prevent pollen sticking to them as they dry. ⁠
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🌼 Understand your diet better, our Nutritionists are here to assist you in better understanding mucous forming foods which lead to nasal and eye congestion, low histamine diet to minimise swelling and itching or why not take advantage of our most popular food intolerance test 220 foods, herbs, spices, additives to find out what foods you may be reacting to? Normally sells for $775 but on special throughout the allergy season for $499. ⁠
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No referral required. Stay tuned for our Australian Airborne 12 special next post!

If you find this helpful, or know someone who needs to know this information tag them below, or DM us with any questions you might have 💛 ...

Annie came to see us last September at the start of the allergy season suffering with hay fever symptoms of sneezing, nose dripping like a tap and intense itchy, red, swollen eye’s. The eyes were further irritated by the office air conditioning and she told us they were uncomfortable and dry throughout the day. When she blinked she felt like she constantly had something in her eye. ⁠
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Because her nose was dripping all the time Annie went through copious boxes of tissues and the sides of her nose were raw red. She would cover up the redness with make up.⁠
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It had been the same for many years and she decided it was time to sort this out as she said it was no fun having this discomfort to a point her nose was so blocked she could not breath at night properly and ended up with lot’s of sleepless nights. ⁠
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Annie’s energy levels were low and having to cope with her ‘wet, sneezy and itchy’ symptoms it was starting to affect her mood.⁠
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We allergy tested Annie for grasses, pollens, trees and weeds, animal dander, dust mite in fact all airborne allergens together with a comprehensive food sensitivity test of 220 foods. This test gave Annie clarity about the foods she was eating and how reactive she was to some of them on the report. The highest were the ones she was eating on a regular basis and was unaware they were contributing to her symptoms.⁠
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With the knowledge of the testing, gut health support and a carefully put together rotational food plan with our Nutritionist, Annie started to feel the benefit almost immediately. ⁠
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These photo’s are showing Annie’s eyes before any dietary changes and gut health support and the after photo’s were six weeks later.⁠
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Annie continued to improve and eventually reintroduced the foods which were problematic back into her diet without experiencing the allergy symptoms.⁠
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Other improvements were a better quality sleep, more energy throughout the day and less irritable.⁠
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Thank you for making the decision to come to see us Annie we are thrilled with your progress.⁠
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Don't suffer in silence! ⁠Get in touch 📞 and we’ll you get you feeling happy outdoors again 🍃 ⁠
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No referral needed.⁠ ⁠ ...

Allergies are one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in Australia so here are a few things that can help you enjoy the season in full bloom...⁠ 🌷 🌼 🐝 ⁠
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Zinc and Vitamin C - help to clear histamine (pro-inflammatory) and stabilise the immune system⁠.⁠
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Probiotics - up to 80% of your immune response happens in the gut, and a healthy gut depends on healthy bacteria. The good news is that we now have strains of probiotics that have been shown to reduce the symptoms of hayfever, skin conditions, and allergies! ⁠
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Bone broth - a great way to protect and repair gut health (organic please!)⁠.⁠
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A low histamine diet - aged and fermented foods, alcohol, coffee, cacao, dairy, and soy are naturally high in histamine, which can increase allergenicity⁠.⁠ It's best to limit or avoid these foods.⁠
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Allergy avoidance is always beneficial but it's essential that you also address the underlying cause, which may include immune dysregulation, poor gut health (aka leaky gut), dysbiosis/infection and inflammation. ⁠
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If left unchecked, allergies can ruin this wonderful time of the year - so don't suffer in silence! ⁠
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We test both IgE and IgG (explained in future posts - stay tuned!). ⁠
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Contact us to learn more about allergy testing and how we can support you through the season!⁠ 💛 ...

Spring is in the air ‘Allergy Season’ and don’t you just love all the grasses, weeds and pollens!!!! ⁠🌼 🐝⁠
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While many of us are excited for the return of long warm days, others are dreading the impending allergy season.⁠
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Seasonal allergies can affect almost anyone and at any time in life. ⁠
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The biggest culprits for spring and summer allergies are tree, grass, and ragweed pollen. When you inhale pollen, your immune system generates antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) that trigger mast cells to release chemicals called mediators, such as histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins. These eventually spread to different tissues like the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. ⁠
With high pollen exposure, the immune system can go haywire and flood the body with mediators. ⁠
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The result is often allergy symptoms such as ;⁠
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🤧runny and itchy nose ⁠
🤧nasal congestion ⁠
🤧sneezing ⁠
🤧watery and itchy eyes ⁠
🤧itchy throat ⁠
🤧coughing ⁠
🤧wheezing⁠
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Symptoms vary in severity and length, depending on your specific sensitivity to certain pollen and the amount of exposure. It's also dictated by how much IgE your body produces and how many tissues are affected. This is why some people experience allergies only during the spring or summer, and why people may fight symptoms for several days or weeks or the entire season. ⁠
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don't suffer in silence! ⁠Contact us to learn more about allergy testing and how we can support you through the season!⁠
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No referral needed.⁠ ⁠ ...

Allergy season is coming! ⁠
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Want to know how to be prepared? ⁠
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Watch this space 🧐 ...

How do you know if you or your child has threadworms (pinworms)? ⁠
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There are 3 main ways that you can detect threadworm: ⁠
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1. Observation or symptoms – i.e. you can see or feel them! (Eww gross!) ⁠
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You have obvious symptoms (e.g. an itchy bottom, restless sleep, or behavioural changes) or you can visibly see the worms in the toilet bowl or stool (they literally look like fine pieces of cotton ‘thread’, hence “threadworm”, which are up to 1.5cm long). Another way to spot threadworms is taking a torch light and looking around your child’s anus about 2 – 3 hours after they’ve gone to sleep. The worms migrate outside of the anus at night to lay eggs. ⁠
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2. Sticky tape test ⁠
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Either you or your doctor can briefly place a piece of adhesive ‘sticky tape’ across the anus several times to pick up the threadworm eggs. These can be viewed under a microscope or are visible on the tape as tiny white specks. ⁠
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3. Stool test ⁠
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A good way to find out if worms are contributing to ill-health is through a stool test 💩
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The test looks at a range of bacteria (good and bad), fungi, virsus, parasites, and of course – worms.⁠
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This is one of many tests that we have available. You can speak with us in your appointment to decide which is the right one for you. ...