I'm trying to figure out which supplements I should purchase in May. I'm definitely going to order more magnesium oil from Swanson's. I'm also suffering from seasonal allergies so I decided to take a look at the protocols for allergies, and what the supplements cost through DPN. I also decided to compare and see if any of these items are also available through Swanson's.

WOW! What a huge price difference! Collinsonia Plus is $12.95 for 60 capsules (215 mg each), while stoneroot from Swanson's is only $2.99 for 60 400 mg caps!  OK, it doesn't include the larch, but I have a package of larch powder I can use separately. If I take about 400 mg a day, that means that the DPN product comes to $12.95 per month, and the Swanson's comes to $1.50 per month. While I'm at it, let me see if I can replace my package of larch powder through Swanson's.  $9.99 for 250 grams of pure larch powder, vs $34.95 for only 100 grams at DPN.

This is a HUGE price differential. It makes me think two things: 1) Whoa! Great deals! I should buy all my supplements here!! 2) Um, wait a minute? Why is it so cheap? Is it inferior quality? Unhealthy additives? Would I do better skipping some supplements altogether and paying top dollar for the few I do take?

So, what do you think guys? Stoneroot from Swanson's or skip the stoneroot altogether?  This option may mean spending more time on antihistamines this spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M8-JLKvWgM
"the rest.......it s up to you"

JM is so wise!!!! haha

OK, Jackie Mason is a funny guy, but that doesn't answer my question about the quality of Swanson's supplements.

If you don't check the bacterial count, you can buy Collinsonia raw material for pennies..

Not all Larch is created equal so be careful with it... Dr. D's is the highest quality.

Quoted from Andrea AWsec

Not all Larch is created equal so be careful with it... Dr. D's is the highest quality.

I was just going to mention the same thing.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out which supplements I should be taking this month. Defintely the magnesium oil, vitamin D (which I already have plenty of), B-6, and rhodiola. I've also been drinking a lot of rosehip tea and taking the larch, but I'm not sure how important the ARA-6 is and if this is something I need to continue taking (ie: buy more) or not.

I'm certainly going to pay much more attention to SWAMI (which I haven't really done since my father died a little over a month ago) and I'm sure  that the combination of stress and imperfect eating is affecting my body.

Are there any herbs or other supplements that I should add to my routine to help me better handle seasonal allergies? Or should I just keep up with what I've been doing, take antihistamines as needed for this allergy season, and trust that my  body will heal more by the next time allergy season arrives?

Which supplements are the most important to get from DPN, and which ones are "safer" to buy from other sources?

up your fermenting!
let food be your medicine......but you know that already

My opinion on ARA6, after taking it for years and stopping it once for many months -- it's important for deep immune support.  I can't financially afford to take it in large amounts, but its' long-term benefits are obvious to me.  My compromise is to take it daily and on-going, but in a small amount.  I'm currently taking 1/2 tsp/day.  This still seems to be giving me the benefits that I want.  

I want to order more mag oil tomorrow, so I definitely have use for that Swanson's coupon.

Do you think I should JUST order the mag oil, and not add any new supplements for allergy/immune response?

Quoted from ruthiegirl

I want to order more mag oil tomorrow, so I definitely have use for that Swanson's coupon.

Do you think I should JUST order the mag oil, and not add any new supplements for allergy/immune response?

Listen to Lola....she's always right!~  

For your seasonal allergies, have you tried taking local honey?  My husband used to suffer with allergies from February until mid May, and he started taking a teaspoon of local honey daily since sometime last year (the latter part).  Occasionally, he misses a day.  This year, he hasn't had any problems, so far.  Thank God!  He was very miserable.

I have more sinus issues ...I believe...than most anyone I see on these forums. I am currently waiting (finding the right Dr.) to have my second sinus surgery in almost 3 years.( I have multiple polyps and have to breathe through my mouth.)

Just wanted to add that eating local honey is a daily thing for me and I just don't want to know what would happen if I didn't eat it.  
I tried collinsonia and it didn't make a difference for me but adding Quercetin Plus and Proberry caps to my regular DPN supps have helped me alot!  

Quoted from cajun

I have more sinus issues ...I believe...than most anyone I see on these forums. I am currently waiting (finding the right Dr.) to have my second sinus surgery in almost 3 years.( I have multiple polyps and have to breathe through my mouth.)

Just wanted to add that eating local honey is a daily thing for me and I just don't want to know what would happen if I didn't eat it.  
I tried collinsonia and it didn't make a difference for me but adding Quercetin Plus and Proberry caps to my regular DPN supps have helped me alot!  

cajun, you might want to read this and see if anything resonates with you.
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/sinus_polyps.html

I don't have a source for local honey at the moment, although I think a friend of mine is planning to buy a whole bunch of it in bulk and then I'd buy a quart off of her. I'm also not entirely sure how that would work with SWAMI- I only get 1 tsp of sweeteners a day, so I'm not sure if a teaspoon of honey daily would count as my daily sweetener or if I'd consider it a supplement and not count it.

I've cut out cheese for the past couple of days, and that alone has helped a lot. Pollen count is super-high right now, and has been for the past several days. I took a claritin on Saturday, and I didn't notice when it wore off on Sunday. I think I'll stay away from all cheeses for the duration of allergy season. Plus I had some fermented ginger carrots after reading Lola's post about cultured veggies.

Ruthie,
Staying away from cheese is a great idea, especially if it is just seasonal...mine used to be!

Chloe,
Wow! Great site, thanks! Soooo much info to take in but am going to try the Essiac tea and castor oil. My polyps are in the maxillary sinus ( and I can feel them move and hear them squeak)   but the rest of my sinus cavities are full of ???.."there is no air space" as the Dr. said. I have not been able to smell or taste for a long time..... only if something is very spicy or very sweet or sour.
I am trying to follow my swami as strictly as possible to weed out more food allergies.(yeast) I know I am sensitive to dust and am also going to use the lavender essential oil.(adult asthma)
Thanks for the info.....any help is appreciated.

You're welcome, cajun.  Hope you find something that helps you!   I love earthclinic.  People
have some really interesting things to share.

Ruthie, I just checked the pollen count in my area.  Very high today is a pignut hickory tree pollen.  And the way this allergen manifests is that I keep smelling an odor that reminds me of
burning leaves.  My eyes burn and itch and my skin/head itches when I'm outdoors.  But I'm not sneezing. I'm living on quercetin and bromelain.  Seems to be helping somewhat.  One ear is
stuffy and I'm tired. Trying to eat lots and lots of vegetables the past few days.  Felt the worst
after eating dairy on Saturday so I'm going to avoid it for awhile.

OK, I'm placing the Swanson's order today.

I'm getting the mag oil, rhodiola, and I'm considering buying stevia and arnica from them as well, since their prices are better than I can get locally. I decided not to get any other herbs or supplements to deal with the allergies- I'll keep on using OTC meds as needed this month, and hopefully I'll heal enough via diet to not need them again in the fall.

Hi ruthiegirl:

What about Quercetin & Stinging Nettle?  I usually don't bother with Collinsonia until after I've ignored the allergy symptoms too long, and I need to fight off a sinus infection.

Also, if you're interested, I have a coupon code that you can use to get $5 off at iHerb.  They have supplements, teas, bars, and even stuff like maple syrup.

Good luck!

What are the benefits of magnesium oil rather than taking liquid oral magnesium?

The short answer is because magnesium is absorbed much better through the skin than through the GI tract. Take a look at the big magnesium oil thread for more details:

http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-pres/m-1296361320/s-new/he

Quoted from ruthiegirl

The short answer is because magnesium is absorbed much better through the skin than through the GI tract. Take a look at the big magnesium oil thread for more details:

http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-pres/m-1296361320/s-new/he

Thanks

Quoted from ruthiegirl

Basically, I'm trying to figure out which supplements I should be taking this month. Defintely the magnesium oil, vitamin D (which I already have plenty of), B-6, and rhodiola. I've also been drinking a lot of rosehip tea and taking the larch, but I'm not sure how important the ARA-6 is and if this is something I need to continue taking (ie: buy more) or not.

I'm certainly going to pay much more attention to SWAMI (which I haven't really done since my father died a little over a month ago) and I'm sure  that the combination of stress and imperfect eating is affecting my body.

Are there any herbs or other supplements that I should add to my routine to help me better handle seasonal allergies? Or should I just keep up with what I've been doing, take antihistamines as needed for this allergy season, and trust that my  body will heal more by the next time allergy season arrives?

Which supplements are the most important to get from DPN, and which ones are "safer" to buy from other sources?

hi ruthiegirl, why don't you try Maxalife supplements? my family and i have been taking their supplements for more than 2 tears now and it is really helping us a lot. you can check the list of their supplements and their prices at http://www.maxalife.com. you can also read about the ingredients here if you're concerned about the safeness of the contents. almost all supplements are in capsules btw.