Artemis Therapeutics - Maker of Lucida, the NEW allergy relief

Good Eatin' in the Summertime

2010-07-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine told me the other day that she has been studying Holistic Health Counseling through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (www.integrativenutrition.com). She's on her way to earning a certificate to be a Holistic Health Counselor. This is very exciting and I'm so proud of her. She is starting to offer Nutrition and Wellness counseling and coaching to clients. If you find that you're in need of some health & wellness advice, take a look at Jessica's website. www.CloserToRealHealth.com

Jessica sends out monthly newsletters and the last one had some great recipes from her school. They look perfect for a cook-out this summer!

Bok Choy Apple Slaw
Prep time: 7 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
6 stalks bok choy (about 1/2 head), thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 granny smith apple, sliced
1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing:
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons honey or brown rice syrup
salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. First make the dressing by combining all the ingredients and whisking well.
2. Chop all the salad ingredients, leaving the apples until last. Mix in a salad bowl.
3. Toss salad with half the dressing. Add additional dressing if desired.
4. Eat immediately, or chill for up to one hour and then add the apples just before eating.

Asian Watercress Salad
Prep time: 7 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 bunch washed watercress
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup baked tofu
1-1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2/3 tablespoons plum vinegar or other vinegar

Directions:
1. Tear watercress into desirable size pieces.
2. Mix with carrots in a salad bowl.
3. Drizzle sesame oil and vinegar over salad and toss.
4. Dice tofu into bite-size strips.
5. Serve in individual salad bowls, sprinkle tofu on top of each and serve.

Here's to yummy food and good nutrition!

Uninterrupted thoughts

2010-07-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Several weeks have gone by since last posting. I think I'm finally coming up for air. Part of the busyness of the last couple of weeks was flying with my kids out to South Carolina to visit with my parents. Now, the reason why I feel like I can breath is because I flew home last Thursday - sans kids! They'll fly back with my mom in about 10 days. I catch myself aching to be with them - I miss them a lot and at the same time enjoying the quiet solitude of my life as I know it right now. I know it's short lived! My time has been spent catching up on work, sleep, meditation, exercise and hanging with hubby and friends.

I realized yesterday that since having kids, my life has felt like one big interruption. AND I actually got to complete that thought - which is how I came to that realization. Oh, the irony! I remember thinking when I was a teenager that my mom and all my friends' moms were a little off their rocker (and it wasn't just the whole know-it-all teenager thing that I had going on - haha). I was actually pretty spot on and it's come full circle. Moms ARE a little off their rocker and it's because they can never have a complete thought! There are always interruptions. More times than not, they're good interruptions- but interruptions, nonetheless. Like, Mom come see what I painted! or Mom, come outside and play soccer with me! or Mom, come jump on the bed with me! I don't mind those interruptions so much. It's the interruptions that sound more like this that I can do without... MOM! we need more toilet paper! or MOM! I can't find my other shoe! or MOM! it's my turn! It comes with the territory, but really? really? Did the universe intend for moms to go crazy?

It really is great being a mom and truly a blessing. I mean, really... how could you not get all sappy over these two?

Just wish me luck in maintaining my sanity!

Dreamy

2010-06-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend is a big weekend for my family. My daughter turns 5 on Sunday AND it's Father's Day. Since I knew Sunday was going to be busy with families celebrating Dad's Day, I thought I'd throw a little birthday party for my daughter on Saturday. So I've got plenty to do in preparation for that - it's going to be a wig party, so we've got to make sure that we all have our wigs styled and ready to go. Then, in preparation for Father's Day, I wanted to experiment with acrylic paint on canvas - which I've never done before. Nothing like giving an experimental gift to your husband for Father's day. Thank goodness he's everything a father should be... understanding, patient, kind and encouraging. So when he gets my experimental canvas painting, he'll appreciate the effort that went into it.... hopefully!

So here is the beginning of what I've done so far. I'm letting this part dry and then I'll add background and a little flare. I'll update as it progresses.

Life-giving sun

2010-06-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

I learned early on how important the sun is - without it there would be no life on Earth.

So no life on Earth, huh? That means us, right? So why does the sun get such a bad rap? I hear that we need exposure to the sun to produces Vitamin D, and we need that vitamin D to promote bone health. Plus it improves mood.

So if we're outside getting the sunlight and fresh air that our bodies and minds so dearly need, what happens if we stay out a little too long and we find that we start to feel bad. Could it be an allergy to the sun??.... It's possible. As I started to do the research to find out more about sun allergies, I thought I'd include some pictures of what these different reactions look like. Well, I changed my mind after spending about 10 minutes looking at some pretty messed up skin. I'll let you click on the links below- if you've got the stomach for it!

Here are a couple different types of sun allergies - Polymorphous Light Eruption, Actinic Prurigo, Chronic Actinic Dermatitis, Solar urticaria and Photoallergic Eruption.

Since Polymorphous Light Eruption is the most common and least severe of the three, I'll start there. It usually occurs during the early stages of summer after just a few hours of sun exposure. It's caused by the UVA and/or UVB rays and takes the shape of an itchy, red rash on the skin. It's sometimes also referred to as sun poisoning.

Next up is Actinic Prurigo. These symptoms include red, raised patches of skin and itchy bumps that may extend onto the skin that wasn't exposed to sunlight. Fluid filled bumps form and crack open. Actinic prurigo often causes chapped and split lips, and can affect the cheeks, neck, ears, arms and hands. In some people, actinic prurigo leaves scars. Symptoms generally start in the summer months and improve by late autumn.

Another type of allergy is Chronic Actinic Dermatitis, which can cause thick patches of dry, itchy and inflamed skin on the face, scalp, back and sides of the neck, upper chest, and backs of the arms and hands. Large affected areas may have areas of exposed skin that aren't affected.

Fourth in line is Solar Urticaria, whose symptoms start within minutes of exposure to sunlight and can include hives, itching and blisters. Solar urticaria can affect both exposed areas and areas covered by clothes. It occurs most often in older adults. Symptoms usually improve within an hour after covering exposed skin.

Finally a Photoallergic Reaction is caused by a chemical reaction of sun's rays and a sunscreen or the makeup brand which doesn't suit your skin type. Usually a rash will occur on the skin.

Now, I'm sure you're asking yourself - can Lucidia help? And the answer is yes to a certain degree. It will help internally to calm the release of histamines, but when you've got a sunburn, what you're longing for most is to soothe your skin. So try this home remedy... take a cucumber and mash it up to create a paste and apply it to the irritated area. You should feel it cool your skin within minutes. Best of luck to you this summer and don't forget your SUNSCREEN!

Thanks to the Mayo Clinic for helping me find out more about sun allergies.

Forever Flowing

2010-06-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

If you read the Celtic Blessings blog then you know how excited I am to turn the page of my calendar. Here's what I read today when I turned to June...

Forever Flowing

I once walked out in the springtime,
and in the freshness of the morning
I came upon a spring of sweet clear waters.
And the spring was gushing toward me.
Its sweet waters flowing toward me.

Again I walked in the summer,
and in the warming of the summer
I came upon that spring of
sweet clear waters.
And the waters coming toward me.
Its fresh waters flowing toward me.

I walked abroad in autumn,
and in the chilling of the autumn
I sought that spring of sweet clear waters.
With its waters rushing toward me.
Its clear waters flowing toward me.

I walked then in the winter,
and in the freezing cold of winter
I found the spring of sweet clear waters.
And it was clear but cold and frozen,
And its waters were not moving.

But there is another water flowing,
that flows ever without ceasing,
flows from spring on through the winter,
and it brings life everlasting,
flowing always to me through me.

Blessed Be from Atremis Therapeutics

Poor Knoxville

2010-05-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

I came across an article yesterday that stated that "Knoxville has it all: high pollen counts, high use of allergy medications by residents, and not enough allergists to treat them". The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America did a study of this season's allergy count and found the following cities to be the hardest hit by allergies...

1. Knoxville, TN

2. Louisville, KY

3. Chattanooga, TN

4. Dayton, OH

5. Charlotte, NC

6. Philadelphia, PA

7. Greensboro, NC

8. Jackson, MS

9. St. Louis, MO

10. Wichita, KS

Then for those of you lucky enough to live these cities, they were at the bottom of the list. For once it's BEST to be at the bottom! People living in these cities are least affected by springtime allergies.

100. Harrisburg, PA

99. San Diego, CA

98. Daytona Beach, FL

97. Boise City, ID

96. Miami, FL

95. Oxnard, CA

94. Fresno. CA

93. Denver, CO

92. Los Angeles, CA

91. Colorado Springs, CO

Compliments of WebMD

Oldest Spruce Tree EVER!

2010-05-19T11:43:00.001-07:00

So I received an e-mail earlier this week from someone asking whether Lucidia helps with spruce allergies. I let him know that Lucidia relieves spruce allergies because of its ability to strengthen the immune system, cleanse the body of allergens and act as a decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc.

Ok, but that's not the point of my story here... the point is that I wanted to get an idea of where this person was potentially e-mailing from so that I could hopefully better answer his question depending on the region he was living in. So I googled the spruce tree and this is one of the links that I came across...

The world's oldest known living tree (9,550 years old), a conifer that first took root at the end of the last Ice Age, has been discovered in Sweden... I admit, I'm a bit of a skeptic. For all the years of schooling I've been through and well... just good ol' plain observation, I thought that the circumference of the tree was a good outside indicator of the age of the tree. Take a look at this picture and someone please explain where I went wrong in all those years of biology...If it is, in fact, over 9,000 years old - I'm impressed and amazed! It's at a time like this that I wish I had the ability to touch something and know its history. If any of you ever watched the Heroes tv series, then you'll know what I'm referring to. There was a character who could touch an object and know it's past. Of all the "powers" that people had on that show, the ability to know an objects' past and all that it has seen, felt, achieved, heard, etc. would be the power for me. How cool would it be to know what this tree has been through.

Asthma

2010-05-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

I just spent a couple of minutes talking on the phone to a wonderful lady with the San Diego Natural Guide. I contacted the guide earlier this week to see about getting a spot in their directory for the Fall. So as we were talking, she was asking about Lucidia and if it could possibly benefit someone with asthma. She was saying that she used to live in Illinois and had a friend come visit her recently from Illinois. The last time they saw each other, this friend was asthma free and in the two years since then, she developed such severe asthma that she uses a breathing machine when necessary and at times will have to wake up in the middle of the night, just to get herself hooked up to the machine to regulate her breathing.

Wow, I felt so bad for this woman. It's no way to live your life - to feel like you're being suffocated. Ugh! To not be able to breath... and then what if you're caught somewhere without an inhaler or breathing machine. It seems frightening.

So anyway, as this nice woman from the San Diego Natural Guide and I were talking, she asked whether Lucidia would help her asthmatic friend. I let her know that her friend should definitely not try to replace her breathing machine with Lucidia, but that Lucidia will help improve her immune system and strengthen her body so it won't be affected by allergens.

I've never experienced asthma, so I wanted to do a little research to see what happens when someone has an asthma attack. This is what I found... Basically the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and your airways produce extra mucus that blocks the passage of air.

Some of the most common triggers of asthma are pollen, dust mites, mold and pet dander; and irritants, like smoke, pollution, fumes, cleaning chemicals, and sprays.

Thanks to the following sites for helping me out with my curiosity about asthma.
http://www.aaaai.org
http://www.bio.davidson.edu

Celtic Blessings

2010-05-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

So I have this really cool 2010 Celtic Blessings calendar. I think I ordered it off of Amazon or something cheesy like that. I wasn't really sure what I was getting when I ordered it - I just liked the pictures that were displayed on the website. It turns out that I scored big time - not only does it have beautiful Celtic art, but the blessings are pretty cool too. Every 30 days (or there abouts), when I get to turn the calendar, I love reading that month's little gem of wisdom. So for the month of May, here is a Celtic Blessing from me and my calendar to you...

TO KNOW GOD
Come care for the blossoms, and care
for the bulbs, care for the condor high
over the hills, and care for the hills
as well. Care for the dark, soft earth;
see that it deepens and is not washed
away to the sea. Care for the weak things,
the drifting specks of life in the oceans,
for the tiger hunted from the jungle,
for the whale driven from his depths.
Care for the children of men and for
the children of all that live and
multiply and hunger for life; care
for those who live a hundred years and
those whose span is over with the
setting sun, for they all have their
part to play - and their secrets.

Care for the winds that they are not
poisoned, and guard the great forests,
for their breath is our breath. For
even if you have seized the staff of
great dominion, your fate is bound
with the least of this creation, and as
you treat the least of creation, so you
treat the Creator.

O you who gaze upon this now,
If you would know the holy will of God,
then care for his creation.

Blessed Be.

LucidiaLife.com

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

2010-05-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

I went camping with my family this weekend at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. I'd have to say that it was the most relaxing camping trip I've ever been on. So many times when we've gone camping, we went with other families OR our kids were too young to be ok with weathering the elements and it made it... well, let's just say, a little less relaxing.

When you go with other families, it's really fun, but it seems like you're always on-duty - fixing a meals, cleaning up after a meal, making a fire, fixing a bicycle, making trips to the potty, applying sunscreen to someone, making a trip to the general store to get fire wood - ohhh, the list can go on... But for some reason, this weekend was just us, just peaceful, just taking hikes when we wanted, just riding bikes when we wanted, just playing games when we wanted, just us being there enjoying each other and the gifts of Mother Earth.

It's no coincidence that we took our camping trip over the May Day holiday (May 1). May Day is not a holiday that we put a lot of effort into celebrating here in the United States - which is unfortunate. May Day has been around for thousands of years and part of its celebration is in honoring trees and flowers. With all the trees and flowers radiating and proud to be vibrant and fertile, it's a wonderful time to take a moment to honor that which gives us life here on Earth.

Happy May Day to you, from your friends at Lucidia.

A Career in Counting Pollen?

2010-04-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

I was listening to KPBS, the local NPR station here in San Diego the other day. It was a bit of a miracle in and of itself that I got to listen to this one interview. I was in the car with my kids on the way to school last Wednesday morning and typically if I'm in the car with them we're either rocking out to Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift. So as it happened last Wednesday, we got in the car and my daughter says, "can you put on kids music?", so I obliged and turned on the radio. I must have been listening to KPBS the day before (sans kids - of course) because the first thing I hear is the commentator talking about counting pollen. So this really peeked my interest and before I knew it we were at my kids school and unfortunately for them, they didn't get to have their morning dose of Justin or Taylor.

Here's the full interview below. This whole counting pollen thing seems old school, but sometimes good ol' fashion human observation is the best way to go.

LucidiaLife.com

Eye Candy

2010-04-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

My kids remind me daily of the miracle of growth and change. Here's my daughter enveloped in a beautiful bed of vibrant ice plant flowers.

And I LOVE her expression as I'm showing her how precious those little flowers are...

Herbal Steams

2010-04-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I wanted to do a little reading up on herbs. I feel like no matter how much I read about them, I find that I either forget or find out something new each time I pick up a book. So I cruised over to my bookshelf and started looking at the various titles of the books laying there. I stopped at a book written by Lesley Tierra, titled A Kid's Herb Book. I remember buying this when I was pregnant with my son about 7 years ago. I love this book! It's so wonderfully written and sweet to read. It offers some great projects you can do with your kids, songs you can sing, fairytales, and best of all, it shows your kids how herbs can help the body feel better!

A Kids Herb Book gives a little advice that I thought would be helpful during this allergy season - herbal steams. Steams are especially beneficial whenever you have a stuffy nose, lung congestion, allergies, asthma, cough, sinus infection or cold. The herbal steam goes through your lungs and nostrils, helping to ease your breathing and make you feel better. So here's how to do it...
1) Boil about 2 quarts of water
2) While still hot, pour the water into a wide bowl or pot
2) You may then either put herbs into to water to make a "tea" or put about 7-8 drops of essential oil into the water. The best herbs or oil to use are lemon balm, thyme, oregano, sage, eucalyptus, mint or tea tree. Its important to add into the mix a strong-smelling herb, such as eucalyptus to quickly open the sinuses, nasal and lung passages to allow the other herbs to flow through.
3) Put a towel over your head and tuck all the edges in so the steam doesn't escape
4) Lean over the pot or bowl so your face is near the hot water
5) Breathe the steamy air for 5-10 minutes or more. You'll start to notice your face feeling hot and wet, but you should start breathing easier

I know from personal experience that whenever I get a sinus infection, if I make myself a tea tree oil steam, the infection doesn't stick around for more than a day. It's amazing, right?! I was in class this weekend for my Waldorf teacher training and one of the instructors was lecturing on Botany and she would explain the intricacies and beauty of a plant and she would exclaim, "doesn't this blow your mind?!". Well, in honor of Ms. Shivani, the fact that the tea tree has miraculous medicinal properties that clear away my sinus infections... my mind in blown!

For other ways to help your body feel better during the allergy season, check out LucidiaLife.com. For an herbal steam demo, check out this video.

About Us...

2010-04-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

I've been posting to this blog for about a year, although you wouldn't know it considering this is only my 8th or 9th entry. If I were to be graded on effort... well, let's just say that I'm glad there are no grades given out for blogging (only the sound of crickets chirping loudly due to the fact that nobody's reading what your write!). I did have another blog going for awhile that was more popular when I lived in Budapest in 2007-2008 (to see that you can go to pachamaya.blogspot.com).

Anyway, I could say that my dog ate my blogging notes or I could say that my internet has been down or I could make up some tragic accident that would garner sympathies for my lack of blogging. But to be honest, it's been pretty busy and the down time that I have is usually spent AWAY from the computer, or any other electronics for that matter. So in this blog entry, I thought I'd give a little personal glimpse into why it's been so busy.

My business partner, Nathalie Babazabeh and I joined forces mid-year of 2008 to bring Lucidia to the public. We both have a deep knowledge of natural and holistic ways to better your health. Nathalie comes from an Eastern medicine background with a license in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. She has a clinic in Oakland, CA called Grand Acupuncture Center (www.bambooforestacupuncture.com). She also has a passion for plant medicine and all the wonderful medicinal properties that plants offer. She's also raising a daughter as a single parent.

I have a Masters degree in Holistic Nutrition and am currently enrolled in the teacher training program at the Waldorf Institute of Southern California. Prior to taking on Lucidia full time, I was working an office job and raising two kids with my hubby, Andy.

So, as you can see, both Nathalie and I have a lot to juggle. But speaking for myself, I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to devote my time and energy into something wonderful and beneficial to the health of the body. This leads me to another thought...

There's been a tremendous amount that I've learned through my Waldorf teacher training, but something that has really resonated in me recently is the idea of that which is in the microcosm is also in the macrocosm and visa versa. Like a reflection. One may apply this idea in any number of ways; it's infinite in its possibilities. I'll go ahead and apply this idea to Lucidia and how it helps enhance the immune system, clear the blood of impurities, enrich the body with vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids, and relieve allergy symptoms. If an individuals' body is healthy and vital, then can we see that in a reflection of the Earth as well?? hhhmmm... some deep thoughts for a blog. haha

My intention is to do something or offer something that will help people feel better, and in doing so, offer the same to the Earth through this idea of microcosm-macrocosm reflection. And in honor of Earth Day on Thursday, I hope that all my readers are in good health, good spirits and joyful this time of year.

These are my thoughts for the moment. For a little more business sense about Lucidia, you can check out our mission and goals at www.lucidialife.com

What do you do when allergies hit?

2010-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Living here in California, we get quite a few earthquakes. And more so lately in Southern California - fortunately they're just the ones that get your attention and start your heart racing a little. So it's been on my mind lately that we should have some things stowed away just in case we don't have power or water for a few days.

Back in 2008, I lived in Houston during the last big hurricane - Hurricane Ike, where we didn't have power for 8 days. I don't care what time of year it is in Houston - if you don't have power to run some kind of air conditioning in your house, you'll end up with hot, humid, sticky mess of a house after a couple of days. Living through that made me think about being prepared also.

So you might be asking, "what do Southern California earthquakes and Houston hurricanes have to do with Lucidia?" Well allergies can take you by surprise just like an earthquake or they can subtly build and either fade into something benign or consume you with misery like a hurricane and no power for 8 days. Either way, what do you do when allergies hit? What kind of "emergency goods" should you buy when it's allergy season?

For starters... tissues are a must! Just this last week alone, I had two strangers come up and ask me if I had a tissue because their allergies were acting up. Weird, huh? Why ask me? I don't know if it's the fact that I carry a huge purse that's bursting at the seems and overflowing with all sorts of random "must-haves", or that I'm a mother of two small kids, or if it was just the universes' way of having me talk to people about the great benefits of Lucidia. Regardless, having a package of tissues in your pocket or purse for the next couple of months is a good idea. I mean really, who wants to see a grown woman (or man) wipe their nose with their sleeve!? haha

Ok, so what else to carry along with you? ... maybe a good lotion. If you're anything like my husband who suffers from eczema, then a lotion with calendula in it is usually very helpful. In addition to dry skin, dry eyes can be really painful, so carrying a travel size bottle of saline solution would be good too.

And, of course, Lucidia!

So this allergy season, be prepared for when your nose starts to run, or for when you're sneezing uncontrollably or your skin starts crawling and your razor-like nails just aren't gonna cut it for that dry patch of skin on the inside of your elbow. Yikes! Anyway, my hope is that you can enjoy this beautiful time of year and live in it to it's fullest. It's a gift to us... Enjoy it!

To learn more about Lucidia and its health benefits during the allergy season, visit www.lucidialife.com

Querce -what?

2010-03-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Quercetin! With more and more public awareness of holistic and natural supplements and foods, you've probably hear of quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant found in several fruits and vegetables, such as apples, cranberries, blueberries, red onion and broccoli. Among the long list of medicinal benefits, quercetin has an amazing ability to combat allergies. Studies have shown that quercetin limits the release of histamines. In addition, it acts as a decongestant and anti-inflammatory. With such powerful allergy fighting effects, it's no wonder why we formulated Ludicia with quercetin as one of it's primary ingredients.

To learn more about quercetin and how it benefits the body during allergy season, visit www.lucidialife.com

Mother Nature has a good sense of humor

2010-03-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

For example, the herb, stinging nettle.

Stinging nettles can cause and cure allergies. How does something both cause and cure allergies? Good question. Well, let's see how this fast growing weed works. First, we'll start of by describing how stinging nettles causes an allergic reaction. If you've ever brushed up against nettles with your bare skin, you'll know it immediately. Your skin will feel like it has little thorns or needles sticking in it and will most likely start to itch and burn. So this is how stinging nettles causes allergies, now let's see how they can cure allergies.

The leaves of stinging nettles contain quercetin, a bioflavonoid that inhibits histamine release in the body. Stinging nettle also contains compounds that may have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory analgesic, numbing, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. And because stinging nettles contain many different active components, it's likely that benefits of the herb are due to a combination of several of the different components.

To learn more about stinging nettles and how they benefit the body during allergy season, visit www.lucidialife.com

Just some thoughts.....

2010-02-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

Artemis Therapeutics is committed to bringing natural health solutions to both mainstream people who don't ordinarily get the opportunity to address health concerns holistically and to the people who are well-versed in the natural approach world and use only the best and most trusted brands out there. In offering natural alternatives to people who need to take medications and OTCs on a daily basis for symptom relief, Artemis Therapeutics is committed to raising awareness, trust, and understanding of how natural ingredients can support health. This awareness and integration of natural solutions is essential for individual health, for the revival of the health care system in this country, to our country's strive toward the most cutting edge medicine in the world, and to the health of the planet.

It it the goal of Artemis Therapeutics in comradery with all those committed to holistic health to take the focus off of fear and liability surrounding natural health care and put the energy into developing safe and quality supplements and therapies as the most common way to address health concerns. Drugs, invasive therapies, and costly procedures should be used as necessary, but only when necessary. Natural solutions should be used to address symptoms, as a first line of defense as they often also act as disease prevention in addition to relief.

It is impossible for us to expect the FDA and the allopathic medical field to know and endorse every possible solution to our health concerns. Fears surrounding natural products and liability have paralyzed us and the development of medicine in this country. The most valuable asset we have from our doctors is to allow them to develop their practice of medicine over years of experience as experts of the human body and disease and to offer their personal opinions and ideas for our individual health concerns based on what they observe from our current state of being. Instead of encouraging this to develop... liability, laws and big health care have completely stunted it. Physicians are forced to practice according to the book in the name of being cost efficient and not liable, and instead it is costing us our good health, less and less health care, and us falling behind in medical development. Instead of sitting here paralyzed by the fact that not everything can be approved and integrated into the allopathic medical education system, Artemis Therapeutics has put the time, energy, and experience into clinical research and into sourcing from the highest quality, safety and efficacy tested ingredients available to develop supplements and information that you and your health care practitioner can trust.

Visit www.LucidiaLife.com for more information about how Lucidia can be your natural allergy alternative to better health.

What is Ragweed??

2009-04-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

During allergy season, ragweed is an allergen that we always hear about... but what is it?

Ragweed is also called bitterweeds and bloodweeds. There are 41 species worldwide. Many are adapted to the arid climates of the desert. Ragweeds prefer dry, sunny grassy plains, sandy soils, and to grow along river banks, along roadsides, and vacant lots. The pollen from ragweed is extremely light and can be carried for many miles on air currents. Ragweed seeds can also often survive for years in the soil, growing when conditions are right.

Ragweed is highly allergenic, generally considered the greatest allergen of all pollens, and the prime cause of hay fever in North America. Common Ragweed and Western Ragweed are considered the most noxious to those prone to hay fever. Ragweeds bloom in the northern hemisphere from early July-mid August or until cooler weather arrives.

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To learn more about other allergens in the environment that might be effecting your health and vitality, visit www.lucidilife.com

Hidden Allergy Triggers

2009-01-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

Hello again! I mentioned before I would pass on articles of interest. The latest article on allergies comes from WebMD. I found it to be an important article to read because it talks about hidden allergens. All to often, we can't figure out what triggers an allergic attack. This article names a few culprits and hopefully it will help you figure out what your sneezing, itching and runny nose are all about. You can click here to go to the article on the WebMD website or just continue reading...

Under Attack: Hidden Allergy Triggers
Mold, mites, and pet dander lurk where you'd never suspect.
By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Sneezing and wheezing can hit at the most unlikely times. You know you've got an allergy, but sudden attacks can be very mysterious. Richard Weber, MD, an allergy specialist with the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, reveals a few clues.
Allergy Attack: Stuffed Animals in Hot Water
Kapok (a tree native to tropical America, Africa, and the East Indies) has long been used to stuff pillows and pooh bears. The seed pods are used as stuffing for pillows, sleeping bags, and furniture upholstery. Like bird feathers and down, kapok was among allergens suspected in causing allergic reactions in both adults and kids. However, recent studies have shown that the stuffing isn't the problem -- it's the dust mites and mold.
"Turns out, even the foam rubber, synthetic stuff gets just as contaminated as down feathers," Weber tells WebMD. "In any humid climate, there's a very good chance that pillows and toys -- no matter what they're stuffed with -- will get contaminated with dust mites and mold."
Rather than tossing out those beloved items, try washing them, he suggests. Hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) and drying in a hot dryer kills dust mites. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the water also helps kill mites.
Allergy Attack: Pet Dander but No Pets?
Whether you've got pets or not, animal dander is likely lurking in your car or home. "You expect to find cat and dog dander where there are pets. But a number of studies have found significant levels in cars -- and in homes -- that have never had pets," Weber says.
In one recent study, researchers vacuumed the bus and taxi seats all over one city in Brazil. "When you look for dander, you find it," says Weber. "People with pets are carrying animal dander on their clothes, and deposit it wherever they sit. Movie theaters, planes, it's pervasive. The levels they deposit are high enough to trigger an allergic reaction. Half a dozen studies all over globe have looked at this issue -- the story's the same all over."
The best way to fight allergies from animal dander is to remove the pet from the home and avoid any contact. However if that's not possible, avoid or reduce contact with the animal.
When a thunderstorm rolls through, prepare for an allergy attack. Why? The winds stir up both mold spores and tiny particles released by pollen grains. It starts while the sun is still shining, says Weber. "It has to do with updrafts that often precede thunderstorms. They cause mold spore counts to go up astronomically, 100 times higher than normal."
As the storm passes through, winds also disrupt the grass pollen grains on the ground, causing them to release tiny particles -- particles that are 1,000 times smaller than the pollen grains, says Weber. "The particles don't show up on any pollen count. But a wave of cold air will sweep the stuff off the ground -- blow it just high enough to hit people in the face." Because the particles are so tiny, they are inhaled deeply into the lungs causing serious problems, he explains.
One thunderstorm can cause "a double-whammy before the storm rolls through, then afterward," Weber says. "Those fine particles can be very irritating."
Allergy Attack: Those Awful Roaches
Roaches do not discriminate. They thrive in the poorest and best of neighborhoods, Weber says. "Some parts of the country simply have more, like the Southeast where roaches are a fact of life," he tells WebMD. Restaurants and schools have roaches. The pests can even enter your home via your new couch -- an item that has been warehoused.
Roaches can be very difficult to eradicate, says Weber. Roach traps and baits, as well as insect sprays, can help. But spraying should occur only when no one is at home. Before you or your child returns home after spraying, make sure that your home has been aired out for a couple of hours.
Also, it's important to clean up the area where roaches have been found. They thrive in humid and water environments, so fixing leaks helps eliminate them. Dead roaches and their feces are often the cause of allergies -- not the roaches themselves. The American Academy of Asthma and Immunology suggests sealing foods in tight-lidded containers, vacuuming and sweeping after meals, and taking out the garbage frequently to avoid roaches.

For more information on other allergens all around us, visit lucidalife.com

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

At Artemis Therapeutics, 2009 will bring about Lucidia, our herbal allergy relief formula. We're very excited! The website, www.LucidiaLife.com went live just this past week. If you haven't done so already, please check it out. You'll notice that we can't take orders at this time, but look for Lucidia to hit the market in March.

I continually read and research the topic of allergies and the effects they have on people. In the midst of doing this, I realized this information may be better shared with people suffering with allergies. As they say... Knowledge is Power. So as I read or find informative websites, I'll post them here.

To start, a nice overall comprehensive website about allergies is American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. More specifically, they have an article about 'what is an allergic reaction'.

Here's to your health in 2009!

Welcome to Artemis Therapeutics!

2008-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

My name is Kacey and I'm a part of a creative, dynamic partnership with two other people that I'm sure you'll get to know along the way. This is my first blog installment for our company, Artemis Therapeutics.

We've spent many hours in the making of Artemis Therapeutics. The first product you'll see on the market is called Lucidia. Lucidia is an herbal allergy relief supplement composed of reishi mushroom, stinging nettles, quercetin, bromelain and n-acetyl cysteine. The way we came up with this formula is based on scientific research, clinical experience and traditional herbalism.

Through research we discovered that...
Reishi mushroom enhances immune support, reduces allergic reactions, supports the lungs in asthma and bronchial disease and prevents viral infections.
Stinging nettles help purify the blood, fortify the blood with minerals, iron and chlorophyll to strengthen the body's resistance and moisturize dry skin; it is a natural antihistimine for immediate relief and it cleanses the kidneys.
Querectin reduces inflammation in the sinus cavities, inhibits release and production of histimine, has anti-viral properties, protects against oxidative and free radical damage, and breaks down mucous.
Bromelain exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity, potentiates the benefits of quercetin, breaks down mucous in the sinus passages and the bloodstream, and it breaks down metabolic waste from undigested food or food allergies.
N-acetyl cysteine protects the liver and detoxifies it from chemical exposure and oxidation by increasing glutathione levels.

Look for Lucidia to hit the market early 2009. The website where Lucidia can be ordered is www.LucidiaLife.com. In the mean time, check back with the blog, as I will update our progress, give current event information on the latest allergy research and give tips on how to better improve your health, naturally.