Springtime Allergies

Spring is in the air, literally, in the form of tree, grass and flower pollens palpable to all who venture outside. Most people look forward to this season of warmer weather, longer days and greener grass. With all the beauty that spring entails comes something not so pretty—allergies. Unfortunately, around 25 per cent of the population suffers miserably from allergies, especially in the spring and fall.
Spring brings out allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, in many people. To cope with their sniffling, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, etc., many people turn to their medical doctors for relief. However, more and more allergy sufferers are trying natural remedies to relieve symptoms. And there is more proof that natural and alternative allergy treatments are just as effective as prescription medications. In a study done at the University of Glasgow, 80 percent of patients given a homeopathic remedy had an improvement in their hay fever symptoms, while only 38 per cent of patients on the placebo improved.

An allergic person produces an antibody to ordinary things. That antibody latches onto a cell that contains many chemicals. When an allergen, such as pollen, comes in contact with the antibody in the cell, allergic symptoms begin. One of the first chemicals to be released is histamine, which tends to cause itching and watering in the nose, eyes or throat. Tree pollens are among the first to trigger allergic symptoms. Although alders and juniper-type plants begin to produce pollen in January, they are less allergenic and not prolific pollen producers. We begin to see oak pollen in the spring, and oak can be a real problem—although people tend to believe that pine causes more problems. Pines create heavier pollen, but it is fairly rare for someone to be allergic to them. People who suffer from allergies commonly mistake coughing, itching and sneezing for colds. These indications end after a couple of days, whereas symptoms last longer if someone is continuously exposed to an allergen. Changes in the weather can bring relief, but sometimes only temporarily. The rain is nice because it washes the pollen out of the air. But on the other hand, it may then be followed by a burst of more blooming and pollination. On windy days, of course there is much more pollen in the air. As tight as our houses are now, a lot of pollens don’t get inside. But molds, cockroach and house-dust mites can also cause allergic reactions. Mites and molds tend to grow in beds and carpets. By removing carpets wherever possible and enclosing bed linens in zippered covers, the problem can be alleviated.

All types of allergies are a reflection of an impaired immune system. There are several issues that can cause this, which is a discussion deserving of an entire article in itself. However, to properly heal an allergy, you need to treat the cause as well as the symptom. Logically, it is necessary to identify the culprit and (if possible) remove it from your diet or environment. Meanwhile it’s imperative that you build up your immune system, and purge your body of toxins. In most cases, a combination of therapies proves to be the most successful in treating allergies. Among the therapies that have proven to be most effective are Diet & Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Homeopathy.

Often a person suffering from allergies is also the victim of digestive disorders. These must be corrected before any significant improvement can occur in the treatment of allergies. Remember to always consult your health care practitioner before changing your diet or health care regime. Some herbs may cause havoc with other medications you’re taking or health issues you may have.

Echinacea is a tremendous immune enhancing supplement. Garlic has well documented health effects including enhancing the immune system through stimulation of natural killer cell activity. Bee Pollen is helpful for people with allergies because, aside from containing all the nutrients the human body needs, it also strengthens the immune system. Some people, an estimated 0.05 percent of the population, may be allergic to bee pollen, so caution should be taken. It is best to try taking a small amount in the beginning (1 or 2 granules) and gradually build yourself up to about 1 teaspoon every day. Astragalus Root, Golden Seal Root, and Brazilian Ginseng are herbs also geared to strengthening the immune system.

Nettle is a well known remedy for hay fever and other allergies. It helps relieve inflammation caused by allergic reactions and clears congestion in the nose and chest.

Fenugreek is another herb said to effectively expel mucus and phlegm from the bronchial tubes along with expelling toxic wastes from the lymphatic systems.
Honey is said to prevent hay fever. Small amounts of flower pollen found in honey are thought to have the ability to “desensitize” honey eaters who are sensitive to flowers.

As well as the help from herbs, a person suffering from seasonal allergies has other alternative medicine options. For example, daily doses of Vitamin A are often recommended to allergy sufferers. There also those who find allergy relief with Vitamin C. In addition to consuming citrus fruits and Vitamin C as a supplement in pill form, try soaking in it by adding a few tablespoons of powder Vitamin C to your next bath.

Acupuncture is highly successful in restoring the immune system. Because of this, Acupuncture and Acupressure both have much to contribute to a person afflicted with allergies. Often tremendous success can be seen with only a few treatments.

Ayurvedic Medicine directs its’ focus on the digestive system and works towards repairing this aspect. The digestive system is responsible for eliminating toxins from our bodies. If this is impaired and your body becomes overwhelmed with toxins, it will react with health issues like allergies and asthma. Ayurvedic Medicine encourages a rotation diet in these instances. A combination of diet and herbs are the treatment of choice with this modality.

Homeopathy also shares a high degree of success in dealing with allergies. It works on the principal that exposing the body to small diluted doses of the substance that a person is allergic to will encourage the body to heal itself. This involves a variety of factors and takes into consideration the entire patient and every aspect of their health.

Allium cepa is a common homeopathic remedy that is said to help runny eyes and clear nasal discharge. It comes from the common onion, which is renowned for causing tearing of the eyes. When given to allergy sufferers in micro doses, it seems to improve their condition.

Pulsatilla (made from the windflower plant) is commonly prescribed for persons who have nasal discharge during the daytime and congestion at night.

These are just a few examples of natural remedies for allergy sufferers. With a little help from nature, even those who are prone to allergies should be able to enjoy a spring day without suffering. Regardless of which avenue you decide to pursue, make sure you see a practitioner qualified in that field. Your health is too important to leave in the hands of anyone else.

Alleviating allergies with herbs is not a quick fix. The effects have to be cumulative. They don’t give instant relief of symptoms. The most important thing is to find the combination of herbs that is right for you, and then keep the body cleansed of toxins. It’s a cleanse, feed and rebuild process. Such a process may require a naturopathic doctor to create a remedy which is individually tailored to symptoms of the person. While a medical doctor might prescribe antihistamines or decongestants to treat a person’s allergies, a homeopath or naturopath is likely to recommend natural healing with common herbs or changes in diet. It’s your choice.

If you’re among those who believe that allergies are linked to stress you should consider yoga, meditation, or a similar relaxation technique. Lessons in proper breathing may also aid allergy-related respiratory problems.

Outside of living in a bubble, allergies cannot be avoided. But by taking preventive measures and proper medications, herbal or otherwise, they can be tolerated and even allow allergy sufferers to stop and smell the flowers without aggravating their symptoms.

Namaste