I’ve been hearing people ask about using honey for spring allergies (which just started to kick in for me this week), so I thought I’d do a bit of evidence-based digging for you, and here’s what I found. The answer, unfortunately for some, is no, there is no strong evidence that taking honey helps decrease allergies.… Read the rest
I never thought spring would arrive this year, but when it finally arrived, it quickly brought along the springtime itching and sneezing. Now, we’re already starting the summer allergies, which is more a blend of tree pollen and grasses. It’s hayfever time.… Read the rest
Hayfever is the common term for allergic rhinitis. I see this in my clinic all spring, and at other times of year as well. There are a lot of over the counter medicines you can use for this, but in late April with all the Beijing trees shedding like a snowstorm, make sure you have the medicines at home or in your travel kit!… Read the rest
Springtime is just starting to warm up in Beijing, and it feels great to be putting away those thick down coats and dusting off those pastel shirts and Easter finery. It also heralds an annual spring tradition in my clinic– patients feeling miserable with sneezing, itchy and watery eyes.… Read the rest
It usually feels like we live in a toxic world here in Beijing, bombarded daily from the air and what we eat and drink. But what about the other extreme of being too clean? In our zeal to protect our families from toxins and germs, could we be harming as much as helping?… Read the rest
Over the last months I’ve created a few online slide shows based on Powerpoint presentations I’ve given in Beijing, and I wanted to review them here. They focus on the most common illnesses, and they review symptoms as well as prevention and treatment.… Read the rest