A cold will typically start with a sore throat, then lead to thick yellow or green mucus and possibly a cough. The symptoms last about seven to 10 days. Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and throat, and clear... continue reading  about  My 6-year-old daughter has recently been sneezing, coughing and is tired. How can I tell if this is caused by allergies or if it's a common cold?

Here's a direct quote from the FDA about the term "hypoallergenic" as it relates to cosmetics:"Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic... continue reading  about  What does it mean when a product is labeled “hypoallergenic?”

Black mold can look menacing, but generally is benign. The primary symptoms that could occur would be from inhaling mold, including nasal stuffiness, nasal mucus drainage, cough, and occasionally shortness of b... continue reading  about  I found alot of black mold in my home. What are symptoms that mold is affecting me?

The long term treatment of choice for seasonal allergies is the now over-the-counter nasal sprays, like Flonase or Nasacort. Note that there is no immediate relief from them - they work slowly, over several day... continue reading  about  I struggle with seasonal allergies and take Claritin, plus use a neti pot. This season, I have also had shortness of breath and light coughing, but no wheezing. It's hard to do my usual workouts. Is there some kind of inhaler I can use?

The mechanism for spring and fall allergy is the same but the triggers are different. Spring allergy in Northern California is mainly caused by tree and grass pollen. (Read our article on Central Valley Allerg... continue reading  about  What are the differences between spring and fall allergies in Northern California? Are there different triggers?

Neti pots use normal saline to rinse the nose of excess mucous. Normal saline is water to which salt is added and has the same degree of saltiness as your body's fluids. Saline rinses temporarily relieve nasal ... continue reading  about  A friend uses a neti pot and swears that it has reduced her allergies (sinus congestion and headaches) by 75 percent or more. How does the neti pot work and is it safe?

Acute hives are actually fairly common, but finding the cause can be challenging. Hives occur when the immune system is stimulated into releasing histamine from inside the blood stream, resulting in the dilatio... continue reading  about  My wife just developed hives for the first time in her life -- on her face, arms and chest. What is known about hives, and what can she do to eliminate the symptoms?

Mild intermittent asthma is defined as:One bronchodilator (Proventil) usage no more than twice a week ANDWaking up at night with asthma no more than twice a month ANDExacerbation of asthma resulting in an unsch... continue reading  about  My asthma is intermittent and mild. Is the Proventil inhaler the best treatment? Are there any side effects? Is there a more natural method to manage asthma? And are there effective dust and other airborne allergen removers?

I have always recommended using distilled, bottled, or filtered water for nasal rinses. An alternative could be boiling tap water for at least five minutes. Municipal tap water should also be safer than well wa... continue reading  about  I was alarmed by an article about deaths related to using tap water in a neti pot. I have been using only tap water. Should I change to filtered, bottled or distilled water?