Too Clean?A Critical Look At The Alleged Link Between Asthma and Cleanliness

Americans are ridiculed around the world for our attention to cleanliness. Recently some natural health experts have suggested that the growing problem of childhood asthma is directly related to our obsession with clean homes and a handful of studies seem to confirm their suspicions. Are these claims founded in truth or are they the result of "experts" deliberately misinterpreting data? Here's what we know for sure:

*It's true that childhood asthma is more common in the US than some so-called Third World countries but it's also true that the staggering infant mortality rate in those countries means that many Third World children simply don't live long enough to develop the symptoms of asthma.

*It's also true that our immune systems need a certain level of germ exposure to develop fully but that exposure need is easily met during normal daily activities. (In fact, the birthing process exposes infants to a number of germs.) Unless your child is living in a bubble he's getting all the germs he needs to develop a healthy immune system.

*Asthma is far more common in impoverished children than in middle-class or wealthy children and the number of childhood asthma cases in the US has risen right along with the number of children living in poverty. If cleanliness was really a factor we should be seeing a rise in asthma across the board and not just among those least likely to practice good household cleaning habits.

*All major asthma organizations promote household cleanliness as a first-line defense against asthma and other allergic conditions. They all tell us that regular dusting and vacuuming go a long way toward removing allergens from our homes.

Given what we know about asthma it's clear that cleanliness is an important part of living with asthma and not, as some claim, part of the problem.

Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath specializing in illness prevention counseling. Ms. Barger holds certification in Ayurveda, Iridology, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and American Herbology. For more information about protecting your family from germs please see our web site at http://www.LisaBarger.com.

---

Sheepskin Underlays, For a Better Sleep

Sheepskin a better sleep If you want a better sleep,... Read More

Healing Through Stories

Stories are powerful. How many times have you heard a... Read More

Relieve Constipation with Aloe Vera

Menstruating or pregnant women should not use Aloe Vera, in... Read More

Alternative Medicine vs Conventional Medicine - Part 1

The term 'alternative medicine' that is so commonly used today... Read More

Green Drink For Constipation

A green drink is a powerful drink that can help... Read More

Colloidal Silver - Time For a Comeback?

I'm sure you know what it's like to be sick.... Read More

Heart Disease and Homocysteine

Are you aware that one of the most important indicators... Read More

Consultation Guidelines For Hypnotherapy

The initial consultation may well be the most crucial aspect... Read More

Lumie Dawn Simulation Wake Up Clocks - The perfect Start To Your Day!

Light plays a crucial role in the synchronisation of your... Read More

Revolutionary Medicine: Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films,... Read More

Snoring: A Common Sleep Disorder

Sleep consumes as much as one-third or more of the... Read More

Norepinephrine ? A Factor in Fibromyalgia Pain That Your Subconscious May Be Able to Curb

Normally an inhibitor of pain, norepinephrine can produce pain as... Read More

You Don?t Have to Live With Stiff Neck Pain

Getting quality sleep has, for many, become an elusive goal... Read More

Feng Shui for Your Health and Vitality

How many of us wake up in the morning feeling... Read More

How to Stop Hair Pulling With Hypnosis

Stress caused by the day-to-day issues of home life and... Read More

Aromatherapy

What is aromatherapy? Used for centuries, aromatherapy is known to... Read More

The Effects of Stress

Stress can affect you in four different ways:The Physical Effects... Read More

Gout Pain Relief With Cherry Power - How To Ease Pain By Eating Fruit

We can all learn something new every day! And good... Read More

Stuttering Self Help

I am Stephen Hill from Birmingham in England. I started... Read More

Neroli: The Fragrance that Exudes Contentment

One whiff of this unique fragrance will be enough to... Read More

About Child Bedwetting

Bedwetting also known as nocturnal Enuresis is a common problem... Read More

Natural Healing For The Body

Back-to-Nature AromatherapyBack-to-nature is a new health initiative by people living... Read More

Test Your Indoor Air Quality!

How safe is your Indoor Air?1) Does your home have... Read More

An Aspirin A Day Can Give You Cancer

I want to share a health alert with you. So... Read More

Discover 5 Scents That Will Turbo Charge Your Energy, Mood, Brain Power, and More

Control AppetiteIn studies of 105 subjects, it was found that... Read More

Evolution of Aromatherapy

The Origin of AromatherapySince the beginning ? from the time... Read More

Injured Athletes and Acupuncture

I have always been amazed at the clinical results that... Read More

Constipation: A Serious Health Concern

How often do you go to the bathroom and have... Read More

Vibrational Medicine

Vibrational medicine attempts to treat people with various forms of... Read More

Some Tips on Stopping Smoking

Are you looking for tips on stopping smoking? And would... Read More

Holistic Lifestyle

Sometimes living that wonderful and beneficial holistic life can sometimes... Read More

Gallbladder Disorders And How To Treat Them Using Natural Remedies

The gallbladder is a 3 to 4 inch-long pear-shaped organ... Read More

Will This Years Flu Paralyze The US And Canada?

According to the Associated Press on August 26th, the US... Read More