Holistic Advice for dealing with Seasonal Allergies.

There are a ton of exciting things to look forward to when spring arrives, but seasonal allergies is not one of them. Some cannot even leave the house for too long without getting puffy eyes and closed nostrils due to the amount of pollen in the air.

Seasonal allergies can have a significant impact on one's life and is especially a huge burden on the healthcare system. Approximately 600 million people are affected by seasonal allergies and these numbers are continuously rising.

What is a pollen allergy?

Pollen is a very fine powder produced by trees, flowers, grass and weeds to fertilize other plants of the same species. Naturally, the immune system wards off illness by defending the body against harmful viruses and bacteria; which is why it is very important to constantly maintain your immune system.

For the people with pollen allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies the harmless pollen as a dangerous intruder; then the immune system begins producing chemicals that include histamine to fight against the pollen which is known as an allergen. This allergen causes symptoms such as sneezing, itchy and water eyes, congestion, shortness of breath etc.

Lifestyle Enhancers for Seasonal Allergies

1. A Neti Pot or Saline Solution can be used to help flush pollen from the nasal passage that you inhaled.

2. Removing and washing any clothing that was worn outside; this is so that you do not spread more pollen around in your house.

3. Dusting and cleaning indoor spaces frequently during these seasons.

4. Drinking Herbal Teas to support the consumption of respiratory and immune boosting effects.

5. Detox your body by eliminating fried foods, sugar, alcohol and other toxins from your diet.

6. Adding essential oils to a bath, cup of tea, massage oil, or an oil diffuser can help reduce allergy symptoms. Peppermint, basil, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils have been linked to fight inflammation and boost the immune system. (note that not all essential oils are safe to consume internally unless the label says otherwise).

Herbal Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Mullein Leaf

Mullein contains soothing and healing properties that is a respiratory remedy that can fight irritation or inflammation. It is also great for relieving lung congestion, dry coughs and shortness of breath caused by the airway closing up.

Stinging Nettles

Like I mentioned before in my previous article on herbs, Nettles are a POWERHOUSE and an essential in any house hold. It has been proven to be an effective anti-inflammatory and has the ability to prevent an other inflammatory events.

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of those herbs that is super accessible and multifunctional. Recently it has been credited in helping relieve asthma symptoms because of the rosmarinic acid found in it. This acid, which has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, is what makes it appealing to seasonal allergy sufferers as well. Basically, the rosmarinic acid can help suppress the inflammatory responses of white blood cells as well as allergic antibodies, making it a great option as a natural allergy relief.

Local Honey

Taking local honey to help prevent seasonal allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy. This is the theory that by ingesting small doses of the thing you are allergic to you will slowly build up a tolerance to it (this is the same basic concept as allergy shots). Since locally soured honey will inherently carry traces of pollen in it, it is thought that this is a natural way to build up a tolerance. You can find local honey in your local health food stores, farmers markets are my favorite go to.

(Pictured is my Favorite Local Brand of Honey in CT and its really affordable.

Garlic

Not exactly an herb, but it turns out that garlic is great for both enhancing your food and your immune system! Garlic is high in quercetin, which is an antioxidant that prevents cells from releasing histamine. This is helpful because when you’re experiencing spring allergies, your histamine levels will increase as the body tries to combat the allergens. So up your garlic intake a bit to naturally control your bodies reactions to the pollen-filled air. I would highly recommend Garlic Tea daily with Local Honey; works like a charm everytime!

"For every dis-ease in the body, somewhere in the world there exists a plant which is the cure." - Rudolf Steiner.

That being said, there is a cure/remedy for your seasonal allergies, you just have to find what works best for YOU and incorporate that into your daily routine, and not just during allergy season. Try to incorporate preventative measures into your daily routine before they become a problem so that your immune system has already become strong enough for you not fall victim to any illnesses or respiratory problems. During this season, respiratory infections are at all time high so you have to stay on top of your remedies daily.