Allergy Season Help - Naturally
Watery, itchy eyes? Runny nose? Sneezing? Sound familiar? Yes, spring has arrived and so have seasonal allergies for millions of Americans. While many people just suffer through or take medications like Zyrtec or Claritin, there are some natural remedies that may be helpful.
First, it’s important to understand how something like pollen in the air can cause such a reaction. Probably due to our modern lifestyle, allergies are a result of an imbalanced immune response. An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction to an otherwise harmless substance. For some, tree pollen or grass pollen can cause the body to react by releasing histamine. In response to histamine, the nasal passages swell and increase their mucus production. The sneezing and runny nose is the body’s attempt to get the irritant out.
One way to support the body naturally is to take bioflavonoids which help to stabilize the cells that release histamine. One very effective bioflavonoid specifically for allergies is Quercetin. Certain antioxidants, such as grape seed extracts, vitamin C and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) can also be used to support the immune system and make it better able to cope with allergens.
Taking essential fatty acids like fish oil or cod liver oil are helpful in managing the inflammatory response of allergies. Avoiding dairy foods is recommended as dairy stimulates an increase in mucus production. Drink lots of water to help thin secretions. A number of herbs can also be taken for allergy symptoms including stinging nettle, butterbur, and eyebright.
During days when the allergens are high, stay inside as much as possible. Do not open the windows and run an air purifier with a HEPA filter, especially in the bedroom. You can check the pollen count in your area at the following website: www.aaaai.org
The recommendations above may be helpful for many allergy sufferers. If you try these remedies and your allergies still persist, you may have to explore other stressors of the body including potential food allergies, low adrenal function, other environmental factors like mold or pet dander,etc. While you may not be totally symptom free during the height of allergy season, you can certainly do a lot naturally to manage the symptoms without dealing with the annoying side effects that conventional drugs can bring.
