Kids with Crazy Allergies: Are you Really Breathing?

I recently came across a book entitled: Conscious Breathing by Gay Hendricks which inspired me to write this post.

Since my son turned six months I have been on an endless quest to understand his eczema problems. My son would often have what I would call "itch fits" where he would frantically attempt to scratch everything on his body and I would just sit there and wonder what the hell was wrong with him. Mind you my son is allergic to so many different things: From fish, to nuts, to tomatoes, soy, egg whites, pollen and mold etc... But what would spark these "itch fits" was, and still remains a mystery to me.

However I have learned how to deal with him and his "fits".

1. Firstly I don't wash our clothes our his body with any thing other than fragrance free hypo-allergenic soap.

2.  Cold compresses. He knows the drill, nothing stops itching faster than the cold it also helps reduce inflammation that occurs if he's already been itching for a while (like while sleeping).

3. I try and make sure he is properly hydrated most people are unaware that eczema develops as extremely dry skin patches, so in order to combat this proper hydration is a must. Our bodies are over 70% water, why would you not replenish your body of it's number one nutrient?

4. Over moisturize. I'm always making blends with olive oil and I especially like natural Shea butter. It is especially nice to apply oils or butters while fresh out of the tub or shower while your body is still wet. It helps to seal in the remaining moisture and it makes it easier for application.

5. Avoid Junk like fast foods and foods that are overly processed. They additives (chemicals) that are in processed foods stress the body.

Any who, in Dr. Hendricks book he talks about how most people live their whole lives without breathing properly. The thing that really struck me is when he mentioned that 70% of toxins within the body are released through the breath! Have you ever noticed that those with skin issues usually are asthmatic or have some type pf breathing issue( perhaps they can't even breathe from their noses)? If your body can't expel toxins through respiration properly it will expel them through the next biggest eliminative "organ", which is if you haven't guessed it already...  your skin! So BREATHE BABY!

Get a book on conscious breathing, take a yoga class, or just simply set a few minutes aside each day to breath properly through your diaphragm/stomach. I highly recommend reading Dr. Hendricks book how he connected breathing to emotions almost had me in tears. He talked about how we as a culture repress our emotions by not breathing through them. Have you ever noticed when your going through a particularly difficult emotional situation, you hold your breath? Well Dr. Hendricks explains that doing this can trap emotions within, if you don't fully experience an emotion, repress it by holding back as we do our breaths your body can retain those emotions and past hurts. He also talks about his personal experiences in regards to breathing and how they have helped him stay connected or emotionally balanced one might say.

So there you have it my take on eczema, breathing, and emotions. Check out Dr Hendricks book it was very insightful and enlightening.

Helpful Links:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Breathing-Breathwork-Release-Personal/dp/0553374435

2. http://www.onepowerfulword.com/2010/10/18-benefits-of-deep-breathing-and-how.html

3. http://www.breathing.com/articles/sex-breathing.htm