Dear Friends,

Whether or not it's actually worse, a lot of people are complaining about spring allergies this year. Where I live on the Sunshine Coast, a week back the pollen count for deciduous trees including alder and birch was really high, and although still high now, it’s the conifers such as cedar, doug fir, and juniper that are pumping. And then in a couple months as the cottonwood trees release their seed fluff, the grass will start to pollinate too. If you’re an allergy sufferer, some part of you is probably dreading this change in weather.

Normally I recommend reading my post on season allergies, and still think that the recommendations are perennial strategies to deal with this issue effectively. So much of the allergy season depends on your health in the previous season, and one of the reasons why people suffer as they do is that they don’t make the effort to have a healthy fall and winter. It’s pretty hard during holiday season, with lots of temptations, but it all comes down to choice, and whether or not temporal pleasures are worth months of discomfort. I supposed this doesn’t sound very compassionate, but as a former allergy sufferer myself, I can’t but help state the “elusive obvious”.

But it’s not all about physical health and lifestyle. One under appreciated component in the allergic response is the state of your nervous system, and where your head is at. Allergy sufferers know all too well not just the dread, but the upset, irritation and even desperation that allergy symptoms can cause.

Years ago when I suffered, I remember when I would walk down the street, that if I heard someone in the neighbourhood mowing their lawn, I would take another street to avoid them and inevitable result of itchy eyes and sneezing. But sometimes coming across this was unavoidable, so I needed to come up with another strategy.

So over time I developed a technique where I would begin to prepare myself for exposure, not by dreading and worrying, but by telling myself that I was going to be ok. Thus instead of giving in to the usual cascade of anxiety and fear, I reasoned with myself that my immune system didn’t actually need to freak out, that Life wasn't out to get me, and that I could survive and even thrive simply by keeping my nervous system calm. And it most cases, this actually worked quite well.

I was reminded of this a few weeks back when I came across a paper showing that increased allergic reactions may be tied to the release of corticotropin-releasing stress hormone (CRH). In this study, when researchers added CRH to a nasal polyp organ culture, they saw a dramatic increase in mast cell activity, and likewise, found a commensurate increase in the number of degranulated mast cells in the nasal mucosa of stressed-out-lab mice (yes, I felt sorry for the mice!):

CRH is normally released by the hypothalamus to induce cells in the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn, stimulates the synthesis of cortisol, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and DHEA. While CRH is crucial to regulating the inflammatory response, it has some negative side-effects that can easily become chronic issues, such as the suppression of appetite and an increase in anxiety. CRH release also results in both the suppression of certain aspects of the immune responses, and as observed in this study, enhances the allergic response.

The tantalizing message of this study is that if we can control our stress response, we can have a big influence on the expression of allergies. It’s not easy (until of course it is), but when we’ve tried everything else - following a low-inflammatory diet, addressing nutrient deficiencies, taking the right herbs, and supporting digestive and respiratory health - it all comes down to our nervous system, and our underlying thoughts and behaviours.

In Ayurveda, there is a notion that “consciousness precede form”, that whatever exists in material form has an underlying consciousness that allows it to come into being. Whether or not you want to apply this to inanimate objects is one thing, but there is no denying that this is absolutely true when we consider our individual minds. Through our thoughts we are in the constant moment of creating the future, and what we focus on and tell ourselves about it has a huge impact on what comes next. In this respect, the allergic response is clearly based on the assumption of the past, and a projection of what will come to be.

While I am not suggesting that you can make your allergies simply disappear through sheer will, uprooting the underlying pattern of belief that is inherent to being an “allergic” person will go a long way to bringing an end to your suffering. Don’t buy into the belief that you are an “allergic” person, or refer to the condition as “my” allergies. This is the same approach I suggest to addressing other common issues that we personally invest in, such as “my” anxiety, “my” depression, or “my" insomnia. Changing your thoughts and your internal conversation can play an important role in restoring your health.

Spring Semester begins April 11

We’re always happy to receive testimonials, and just recently we received one from a recent graduate of the Inside Ayurveda program, a student that had also joined us in 2017 for the Ayurveda in Nepal program, in Kathmandu. This is what she had to say:

"What a mind opening experience it was to take the online Inside Ayurveda course through Dogwood School of Botanical Medicine! More than a herbalist course, it teaches the theory and principles of this ancient approach to health and wellness, providing perspective on wellbeing that isn’t represented in western healthcare paradigms. A great program for professionals or anyone wanting to explore traditional eastern healing methods.”

- Carolyn Belanger, RN, Edmonton, AB

It’s true that we don’t have a big marketing budget, and it’s hard to compete with the larger schools to get our message out there. But we strongly feel that our programs offer enormous value to the serious student.

One student that recently registered in all three of our online programs told us that “your teachings are truly a needle in the haystack of herbalism and health!”

We’re quite confident that there are few programs that offer the depth of knowledge and value. And for a limited time only, register for these programs at COVID pricing, which is 50% off the regular price!for your content.

Anxiety and depression in Ayurveda

~ free online lecture ~

We still have a few spots available for this free lecture on Anxiety and Depression in Ayurveda, this Thursday, April 1.

First given at the AHG Symposium in 2018, this lecture will provide a practical review of yuktivyapāśraya cikitsā (i.e. rational therapy), sattvāvajaya cikitsā (i.e. behavioural therapy), and daivavyapāśraya cikitsā (spiritual therapy). This lecture will also incorporate the use of entheogenic and psychedelic therapies, which I have been using in my practice for a decade.

Title: Anxiety and Depression in Ayurveda
When: April 1, 2021 at 1pm PST / 4pm EST
Register for lecture here

Dinacharya Lifestyle Program

For those of you interested in studying Ayurveda, but would probably find the Inside Ayurveda program too in-depth and technical, we happy to offer the new Dinacaryā Ayurveda Lifestyle Program!

For only CAD$275 you receive access to eight comprehensive classes on Ayurveda, covering all the theory and practical information you need to employ Ayurveda in your daily life.

This program also includes a free one hour lifestyle consult with me (Todd Caldecott), and gives you access to our weekly Q&A for an entire year.

Click the link below to learn more and register.

2021 Apprenticeship Program

Starting in 2021 we will begin to offer apprenticeship training to a small, select group of individuals.

The goal of this program is to provide a personalized mentorship experience in the field of clinical herbal medicine, primarily in exchange for physical labour and work, to help build out the infrastructure on our farm, located on the northern Sunshine Coast of BC.

This program is idea for students living in the qathet region (northern Sunshine Coast) or are willing to relocate.

Please use this form to submit your interest.