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QUICK
ALLERGY NEWS
The National
Institute of Environmental Health have released a scientific study
backing up what I have been advising dust mite sufferers all along.
First line of attack is to use dust mite encasings on your beds.
Then what you should be doing is vacuuming religiously and using
a vapor steam cleaner to kill the dust mite population. What people
ask me is whether an air cleaner will do it - the answer is no.
The air cleaner is the icing on the cake at the end of the day.
These other things have to be done first. Just think about it -
how powerful would an air cleaner need to be to dislodge dust mites
embedded deep in carpets, mattresses, or upholstery? Air cleaners
will only cope with those particles floating around in the air.
Do not expect them to do dusting for you. This study is the best
justification for the purchase of a vapor steam cleaner I have seen.
We have heard from people who are now buying them to start businesses,
which offer services to go around, and kill dust mites in people's
mattresses with steam cleaners.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010807080452.htm
A simply fascinating
little article is this one, which talks about certain trees which
add to our pollution levels and those which can help. City and new
house planners take note.
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/07/07242001/pollution_44398.asp
Part of the
problem in our society and with no hope of getting better soon,
are the tiny soot particles emitted by automobile tires which has
significantly contributed to the decrease in our air quality. Read
the full news release at
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0723-111.html
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MERCIA'S
SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT PILLOW
Being a light
sleeper I decided that I was the ideal candidate to figure out the
pillow puzzle. If you think it is simple figuring out which pillow
is right for you - then think again. Also try getting any advice
in a retail store about pillows - forget it. I was in for some surprises
in my search. My own perfect pillow in the end was quite an unexpected
choice - but your choice of pillow like your ideal partner in life,
and is different strokes for different folks. I have also subjected
all sorts of people to "pillow testing" and watched how
they interact with pillows . "The Pillow Trip" has been
an interesting one! Now I am a walking Pillow Head…here is
a summary of my research for you all. Be warned this review is not
for the faint hearted.
1. The
average departmental pillow lasts about 18 months. If you fold over
your pillow in half and the poor thing just lies there, you have
a dead pillow. Time to bury it. I went back and stayed with in my
childhood home recently and I swear the pillows were over 20 years
old. Could be 30 years. Moldy, smelly and stained. Guess what my
dear old Dad is getting on my next trip to the UK? And don't pretend
that a good number of you don't have pillows like that out there.
I know, I have been asking about your pillows. The answers amaze
me.
2. Most
pillows are the harbinger of dust mites - millions of them and we
bury our noses in those little critters every night! You can kill
the little beasties by putting your pillow in a plastic bag and
freezing the pillow in the freezer for a while. Using dust mite
covers which also act as protective encasings are a good idea. Use
a dry steam cleaner to kill the mites. Most people drool at night,
so you must use some kind of encasing.
3. Do
you scrunch up your pillow, fold it in half like a neck roll, or
otherwise paw all over it like a your cat or dog trying to get it
to fit comfortably underneath your head? Sure sign your pillow and
you are not compatible. Time to go on the pillow search.
4. Some
pillow fillings are hypoallergenic - meaning if you have allergies
you are likely to not to have a reaction to these ones. Best examples
here are hypo-allergenic [super cleaned], PURE down, wool, cotton
or natural latex.
5. Best
dust-mite resistant pillows are wool and natural latex. Worst pillows
for attracting mold and dust mites are any kind of foam, memory
foam excepted.
6. Biggest
disappointment was a memory foam contoured pillow. To be begin with
I thought I was in pillow heaven, until I woke boiling hot every
night for a week. We also noticed a very unpleasant odor from the
pillow and found out that memory foam outgases the VOC toluene.
7. Wool
and its softer cousin Alpaca [we are adding Alpaca soon to the site]
is the longest lasting and healthy kind of pillow you could hope
for. Wool pillows hold their shape for years and are naturally inhospitable
to dust mites. They also wick away moisture and will keep you cooler
in summer and warmer in winter. Side sleepers are most likely to
like wool pillows as a firmer pillow suits them best. But be warned,
these pillows can feel like a rock if you prefer a squishy down
pillow. Great for support, but totally lacking in the "sinking
pillow sumptuous luxury feel ". A wool pillow is healthy not
sumptuous.
8. I
tried the Royal Pedic latex contoured pillow and got my husband
to try it too. This is another firm choice. It maybe a rubber material
but make no mistake about it - this is a healthy "almost but
not quite" rock. It comes in one size - standard. Being used
to huge fluffy looking pillows, this looked darn small to me when
I took it out of the package. I almost felt ripped off but I dutifully
gave it a whirl for a week. So here was the big surprise- while
I couldn't scrunch it up like I was used to, I did not need to because
the contour fitted perfectly underneath my neck. What's more, I
slept beautifully and had no back pain. I just have to get used
to its appearance, as this pillow looks so pathetically small and
scarcely a decorating asset.
9. Soft,
Medium or Firm pillows which one is best for you? Well, here it
gets interesting. Side sleepers do best with firmer pillows because
they need to fill the space between the neck and shoulders to get
proper alignment. Stomach sleepers like the softest pillows. Soft
to medium is best for them because they do not need their head to
be raised too high and cut off circulation. Back sleeper like the
happy medium.
10. Now
onto this mysterious thing called "fill power". The easiest
way to figure it out is to say as the numerical fill power increases
so does the quality and so does the life of the pillow. Our best
hypoallergenic down Hypodown 800 fill pillows will last 10 years.
So like anything else you get what you pay for. Forget pillows with
fill power less than 550. We tested a range of "fills"
from 600 to 800. To be honest, most people had a hard time distinguishing
between the 600 and the 800 although the purity of the down increases
with the fill number.
11. What
makes one down pillow hypoallergenic and another just a regular
pillow? Here the answer surprised me. The stuff that people are
allergic to in down is due to the cleaning process or lack thereof,
in cleaning the down before it is put in pillows. So those companies
that offer hypoallergenic down pillows put the down through a special
rigorous cleaning process.
12. Goose
down is much more expensive [softer] than duck down and if you really
get into it for comforters where in the world the down comes from
makes a difference. All geese do not produce the exactly the comparable
level of soft down. This is a topic for another article for comforters,
but in pillows, I discovered a labeling problem. An "all down"
pillow may contain quite a significant percentage of feathers, or
other fill. With our Hypodown pillows, they do contain a small percentage
of milkweed floss which has some properties to enhance the hypoallergenic
nature of these pillows. However, I was astonished to find "pure
down" is an incredibly loose term and one widely abused in
my opinion.
13. And
now onto synthetic down, the most popular brand being "Primaloft".
I confess that when I first tried out Primaloft I was very enthusiastic.
At last, a big squishy soft pillow that felt as nice as down. They
really are comfortable and soft. The price was right too. I have
to say that after about 18 months of use, these pillows are not
dead, but the fill has moved and the pillows are not nearly as plump
as they were. The answer is they are much cheaper than allergy free
goose down pillows [about 1/4 of the price] and they do not last
as long. A nice choice for the guest bedroom, or the college dorm.
14. Cotton
pillows. Another choice for the firm pillow lovers. These are simply
the best choice of those with multiple chemical sensitivities. There
is nothing in these pillows, which could trigger a reaction even
in the most sensitive.
And the answer
as to my favorite pillow? It turned out to be the natural latex
contoured pillow. It has taken away a number of my aches and pains
and I have been sleeping better. My only problem is one of aesthetics!
My husband's side of the bed is full of luxurious looking Hypodown
pillows and I look at this tiny funny shaped pillow my side and
it looks rather pathetic. But I sleep much better. So I figure that
is more important.
Look at our
entire pillow collection at
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/pillows.html
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NEW
PRODUCT BRIEFS
 A.
CORDLESS HEPA VACUUM CLEANER.
We were just testing out the first ever hepa cordless wet and dry
vacuum in our office when my husband walked in. His first reaction
with a big grin "You bought that for me, right Honey?"
You can guess who now has this vacuum in his possession and uses
it enthusiastically for cleaning his car. So if you have allergies,
you can now clean out your car or do quick ups for kitchen crumbs,
cat litter or stairs with a cordless hepa vacuum. It even has a
whole bunch of attachments for crevices and a little head light,
useful seeing in the car. This is surprisingly powerful vacuum and
lasts longer than other cordless vacs before needing recharging.
All the guys we showed this to and tried it, love this machine -
a perfect gift. For myself, I found it convenient but a little heavy
at 5 1/2 lbs. I would do kitty litter pick up or stairs spruce up
but my arm would get tired using it for blinds or any where when
I would lifting it up. When I clean my own car, I prefer to get
the central vacuum hose out for the job, as it is more powerful
and of course very light. BUT my husband is love with this thing,
raves about it and is as happy as a clam with his new toy! Price
$74.95
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/dirttamer-hand-held-vacuum-cleaners.html
B. ADD ON
DEHUMIDIFIER PUMP.
A triumph for David at our office, who said that the DeLonghi pump
dehumidifier was too unreliable. So he researched umpteen pump manufacturers
in order to find a pump, which will fit most dehumidifiers out there.
We tried it out with one of Comfortaire dehumidifiers [our favorite
lower-end dehumidifier] and it works like a charm. The Comfortaire
and pump dehumidifier combo are now in David's basement pumping
out gallons of moisture a day, and I do not think I will ever see
them back here. The pump is currently listed as an accessory on
the Comfortaire pages but works with most dehumidifiers. Price
$79.95
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/dehumidifier-condensate-pump-with-tubing.html
 C.
SEBO HEPA UPRIGHT VACUUMS.
There are many of you out there with a lot of carpets and a fondness
for upright vacuum cleaners and are tired of throwing them away
every couple of years. The Sebo vacuum cleaner is in a class of
its own as an upright vacuum. The motor will last 15 to 20 years
or more. The design is the way it should be - the Cadillac of uprights.
Price $499.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/sebo-x1-vacuum-cleaners.html
D. ALL COTTON
PILLOW.
Cotton pillows are half way between wool and down for softness but
definitely on the firm side. They are a wonderfully healthy choice
for those with multiple chemical sensitivities. Price $54.95
upwards.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/pi-all-cotton-pillows.html
E. HYPODOWN
HYPOALLERGENIC GOOSE DOWN PILLOWS.
Simply the ultimate in hypoallergenic down. We offer them in 3 fill
powers -600 good, 700 better, 800 best, which equates to the relative
amounts of pure goose down and Syriaca clusters which have an effect
of increasing the hypoallergenic nature of these pillows. They also
come is soft, medium and firm. The 800 fill pillows will last longer.
These are incredibly plump luxurious pillows and the favorite of
my poor husband who has been dragged through sleeping on a wide
variety of pillows lately. When I lovingly gave him the the Hypodown
pillows to try, he brightened right up and said "At last, you
are giving me some decent pillows to sleep on!". My reply "Trust
you to like the most expensive". However, to tell the truth
he cannot tell the difference between 600 and 800 fill - I can but
that is because I have become like the princess and the pea with
pillows lately. Price $99.95 upwards.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/pi-hypodown-600-pillows.html
F. WOOL PILLOWS.
As I said above, the wool pillows are naturally dust mite resistant.
They last for an exceptionally long time but are only for those
who want a very firm pillow. I slept on them for two years [I prefer
firm pillows] and loved them, my husband found them a little on
the hard side [he likes medium]. Price $49.95 upwards.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/domestic-wool-pillows.html
G. MIELE
UPRIGHT STICK VACUUM CLEANER.
We have a limited edition hepa light weight stick vacuum from Miele.
It is easy to use and does a surprisingly good job for the money.
We see this as a good choice for a second vacuum, perfect for back
to college kids, lightweight enough for the elderly. It is unusual
to get a vacuum of this lightness with a hepa filter. We only sell
it with the hepa filter included. Price $299.
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/miele-s157-upright-stick-vacuum-cleaner.html
Top
FAN
MAIL FOR IQAIR
EDITOR'S
NOTE: I have to say that for people who have severe allergies
or asthma and are desperate for relief, we get more unsolicited
fan mail around the IQAir Air Purifier than any other machine. You
would think that I am making the following email up but it is actually
typical of the Thank-You notes we get about IQAir. I am actually
not surprised. Why? We have done some testing with a particulate
monitor and IQAir came out as the most efficient air filter. What
does this mean? It means that when the machine blows out "clean
air" the air is actually free of particulates and not blowing
allergens back out at you. [More results of this testing later issues]
-----Original
Message-----
From: Benjamin Gardner [mailto:sonoftherighthand@excite.com]
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 2:26 PM
I don't know how to get a review posted, but
thank you for helping with a decision...
I purchased an IQAir HealthPro. I researched
like mad, and I am going to have to say that your review should
have been enough. This UNIT IS ASTOUNDING. The IQAir is leaps and
bounds beyond the competition both in quality and in presentation.
I am not saying that there aren't impressive products available
from other companies. I am saying that IQAir is in a different class
all together. The unit is superb. The manual is superb. And now
we get to the small touches that put it even farther ahead (as if
the quality alone wasn't enough).
The IQAir comes w/ a 5 year warranty, BUT if
you fill in the warranty card and send it in (which by the way doesn't
ask intrusive personal questions like annual income, # of people
in house, hobbies, etc.) the warranty automatically becomes a 6
year warranty for free. Additionally, IQAir is now producing the
HealthPro with the HealthPro plus console as standard.
This means if I want to turn it into a Plus model
ALL I DO is buy the gas filter. I spoke with an IQAir representative
on the phone, and it was the most pleasant call I have put in to
virtually any company. Everything from the company to the product
is simply the best I have seen (and I have looked A LOT).
Thank you for your review. You hit the nail right
on the head. But IQAir has provided improvements even since your
review. If I could post this as a customer review I would, since
people really need to understand just how impressive IQAir's product
and approach are.
Sincerely,
Ben Gardner
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/iqair.html
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MARGARINES
WITHOUT DAIRY, NUT OILS, SOY
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Mary Jo did some research for a member, which I thought
some of you would be interested in.
Dear Rebecca,
Here is what I could find. There is a margarine....not butter.
Margarines without
dairy, nut oils, or soy
(Thanks to Rex Baker and Kathy Lundquist)
Migdal Margarine
(Kosher for Passover)
from World Cheese Company
Brooklyn NY 11232
Usually found in kosher delis/stores
Here is the link that I found this on. It is a kosher food.
http://www.skyisland.com/OnlineResources/cookbook/milkfree/margarine.html
I also found
this phone # when I searched on Migdal and Margarine. You could
call and see if they have this product.
WORLD CHEESE
CO. (MIGDAL & HAOLAM)
718-965-1700
I found this
website that sells the migdal margarine as well on line.
http://www.mykoshermarket.com/grocery_r1.asp
Hope this helps....Good
luck.
Mary Jo McEldowney
Allergy Buyers Club.com
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COURSE
THIS SEPTEMBER ON SINUS CURE
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Murray Grossan, MD, is giving a course in Los Angeles
this Fall about how to cure your sinus problems based on his latest
superb self help book on the topic. If you are anywhere near LA
this is truly an opportunity. Murray is both incredibly knowledgeable
and entertaining. The course is a real deal.
Course The Sinus
Cure
Date: Sept 26
6:30 to 9:30 PM
course fee is $39. Location is Westside in Los Angeles.
contact The Learning Annex web site to register at www.TheLearningAnnex.com
or
310 478 6677
This course,
based on the book "The Sinus Cure" will elaborate on the
7 steps
to relieve sinusitis.
Murray Grossan, M.D.
please visit
http://www.ent-consult.com
http://www.sinus-relief.com
Top
BOOK
REVIEW
 By
Murray Grossan, MD
http://www.ent-consult.com
Dr. Richard
N Firshein's Breath of Life
"7 Steps
Toward an Asthma Free Child" by Dr Richard N. Firshein
Publisher: Mighty Words, In Santa Clara, Ca.
This is a how
to book that gives easy steps for people with an asthmatic child
should do to help the child, and at the same time help relieve their
own anxiety.
As a parent,
I appreciate the 5 ways to get your child to eat right - including
placing healthy and greasy food on a towel overnight to show them
the "yech" fatty grease from the junk food.
The chapter
on nutritional healing clears up a lot of confusion on what foods
are valuable.
Dr Firshein
seems to have treated a lot of children. His breathing exercises
are the kind that a mother can teach her child very easily. For
example"blow the sailboat to improve air exchange".
There is considerable
attention to teaching a child not to panic with his attacks and
how to help him feel "relaxed". The visualizations he
describes can be learned easily by children.
The text is
written very simply yet has a very extensive up to date
bibliography and references. I feel most parents will find material
here to help then with their asthmatic child.
Dr Richard N
. Firshein practices in New York and his web site is at
http://www.drcity.com
Top
NEW
BOOK ON ALLERGY FREE COOKING
EDITOR'S
NOTE: I have not had time to look at this book myself [especially
as I do not have food allergies myself] or test recipes since I
do not cook in summer months but so many of you ask for recommendations
on allergy free recipes, I thought I would pass this along to you.
From: Linda
Coss [mailto:LindaCoss@FoodAllergyCookbook.com]
Dear Allergy Buyers Club,
I have recently self-published "What's to
Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook"
and I am proud to announce that it has already received nine 5-star
reviews from Amazon.com customers. This is a comprehensive cookbook,
with over 145 recipes for everything from breakfast foods to soups
and salads, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. I would appreciate
it if you would consider adding this title to the "food allergy"
section of your website.
For detailed information about the book, please
visit either Amazon.com or
http://www.FoodAllergyCookbook.com
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Linda Coss, Plumtree Press, 949-699-2749
Top
INTERESTING
LINKS
EDITOR'S
NOTES: Sometimes I come across a web site I love and feel we
are kindred spirits. This is one which has a number of very interesting
articles for you all. It is all about "how stuff works".
Howstuffworks
"How Allergies Work"
http://www.howstuffworks.com/allergy.htm
Wheezing, sneezing,
coughing -- it's the biological warfare known as allergies. Learn
about the allergic process.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Howstuffworks
"How Viruses Work"
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus-human.htm
With cold and
flu season right around the corner, and the Ebola virus in the news
again, it is a good time to learn how viruses work!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Howstuffworks
"How Your Lungs Work"
http://www.howstuffworks.com/lung.htm
We all breathe
without really thinking about it -- it just happens naturally. And
if you've ever tried to hold your breath, you know that you can't
for very long. Learn all about your lungs...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
How Vacuum Cleaners
Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/vacuum-cleaner.htm
Top
Enjoy the rest of the summer,
Mercia Tapping,
President
Allergy Consumer Review - Issue #26
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It
is now the dog days of summer, the time I pray for the relief
of the Fall. We are getting deluged with dehumidifier issues
and David is very proud of himself that we now can offer an
inexpensive auxiliary pump to retrofit many of the existing
dehumidifiers you all have out there. He has just moved to
an old house with a very moldy, damp, smelly basement. His
wife was desperate, as every time she washed their clothes
they smelled awful if she left them in the washer even for
the briefest of time periods. He has been trying out his new
dehumidifier pump solution at home, and told me he pumped
out an astonishing amount of moisture in a few hours. Without
the pump his wife would rushing down to empty a bucket 3 times
a day.
Please
send this newsletter onto your friends and tell them about
Allergybuyersclub.com. I appreciate your support.
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