Natural Relief From Seasonal Allergies

Natural Relief From Seasonal Allergies
By Shannon Sinsheimer, N.D.

Throughout the year, many people are affected by seasonal allergies. Depending on the specific causes of your allergies, the season you are affected will vary. It is most common to be affected in the fall and spring for pollen allergies and in the winter for mold. Although there are many over-the-counter remedies that can relieve the symptoms, there are also natural methods to ease the symptoms of allergies, if not to rid them in their entirety once and for all.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies are a response to an over active immune system reacting to an endogenous or foreign substance. The body mounts a response to rid or attack the foreign invader, in this case pollen or mold, and the effect is overproduction of mucus and itchy eyes and throat. The goal of seasonal allergy treatments is to suppress the immune response or halt mucus production, effectively alleviating the allergy symptoms.

A naturopathic treatment plan aims to relieve the symptoms of the allergies as well as the cause. Of course, the pollen and mold are not eliminated, but there are additional aggravating factors in the diet and immediate environment that can be controlled to help restructure the body’s misguided response to pollen and mold. The plan can be adapted seasonally or yearly to assist with relief and bring the body back into ongoing health.

Relief of symptoms is attained through a combination of vitamins, enzymes and herbal remedies. The most common herbal remedy for seasonal allergies is stinging nettles. Stinging nettles have an anti-histamine effect that mimics over-the-counter drugs such as Benadryl, but without the side effects. It can be taken in pill, tincture or tea form and is commonly implemented before the allergy season as a preloading dose. A combination of Vitamin C, Quercitin, Bromelain and Bioflavonoid is a great adjunct to the herbal therapy. This combination provides natural anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and immune boosting actions for the body. To break apart excess mucus that forms, causing uncomfortable sinus pressure, there are specific enzymes (mucolytic enzymes) administered as part of the treatment plan.

In addition to oral supplements, there are lifestyle habits that can be adapted to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies. Steam inhalation with the addition of eucalyptus essential oil can break apart sinus congestion and open the airways. This is breathing in steam from a boiled pot of water with a towel lightly draped over the head and pot, inhaling through the nose as the steam rises. Be very careful not to burn yourself in the steam.

Nasal congestion can also be reduced by using a nasal lavage, which is a saline solution poured into each nostril using a netty pot or small syringe, as you tip the head back. You can add a small amount of goldenseal tincture to help reduce any bacterial overgrowth in the nasal lavage and then allow the solution to drain out of the nostrils over some type of basin. Nasal congestion can cause discomfort and pressure, but holding a warm rag over the sinus area will help mucus from becoming stagnant.
Lastly, putting an air filter in the bedroom will filter out any allergens that have found their way inside. The bedroom is the place that you stay in one place for the longest amount of time and do most of your deep breathing. By putting the filter in the bedroom, you clean a large majority of the air you breathe.

To reduce the reoccurrence of seasonal allergies, a focus on diet is most appropriate. Most symptoms of seasonal allergies are exacerbated by common food sensitivities. Eliminating dairy out of the diet can help reduce mucus production and eliminating sugar will help boost the immune system in the appropriate way. There are people who have sensitivity to wheat as well, which can exacerbate allergy symptoms.

Homes that have a large amount of carpet or have household pets can worsen symptoms. A house that contains mostly tile and wood floors is more ideal for a person with allergies. If the house has animals, make sure there are air filters in the home, the house is regularly cleaned and dusted and the animals are bathed regularly to eliminate exposure to animal dander.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet filled with whole grains and fresh produce is always part of any healthy regimen because it will provide the necessary movement and nutrients a healthy body needs. A diet with poor nutritional content only provides disservice to the immune system. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and healthy stress levels will decrease inflammation and provide the necessary time for the body to rebuild and repair.

Seasonal allergies tend to be especially burdensome in the desert from the dust, yearly grass cutting, reseeding and spring pollen. However, there are many routes to relief that a natural treatment plan can provide. Focusing on relieving the symptoms without the side effects of pharmaceutical treatment as well as working on the core causative factors can provide a lifetime of relief rather then just a season of improved comfort.

You can reach Shannon Sinsheimer at 760-309-8620.