05/02/2023
The month of May (in this part of the world) is a time of blooms, flowering shrubs and trees, along with wind and weather changes, and pollen! Many of us find ourselves dealing with the uncomfortable symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Allergies are a sign that your immune system is over-reacting to a normally harmless substance, like pollen, dust, mold, or pet dander. When the immune system encounters these substances, it may release chemicals that cause the body to experience symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing, itchy watery eyes, and/or skin rashes.
Here are some steps you can take to alleviate your symptoms and enjoy the spring season.
1. Know your triggers: Common springtime allergens include pollen, mold, and dust. Keep track of when your symptoms flare up and what you were doing or where you were at the time.
2. Reduce your exposure to allergens: it's important to keep your home clean. Vacuum and dust regularly to remove any pollen or dust that may have accumulated. Consider using a HEPA air filter in your home to further reduce allergens in the air.
3. Avoid peak pollen times: Pollen counts are typically highest in the morning and on dry, windy days. Try to stay indoors during these times or wear a mask when you are outside, especially while doing yard clean up or gardening.
4. Clear your nasal passages of allergens: A simple sinus rinse* can make all the difference in clearing the pollen/dust/mold off the immune cells in your nose AND will also reduce congestion by way of drawing fluid off the membranes involved.
• Sinus rinse is most effective right after being exposed to whatever ails you.
• This is an inexpensive and very effective way to reduce your symptoms without medications, though it does take some getting used to.
• This is NOT the same as a neti pot treatment.
• The recipe is below.
5. Optimize your GI (gastrointestinal) health. The immune system is strongly influenced by this, and if you have chronic issues like diarrhea or constipation, this may be playing a part in how reactive your immune system is to allergens.
6. Consider natural supplements:
• Omega 3 supplements will ease inflammation.
• Quercetin is a natural anti-oxidant that helps to prevent the release of histamine (a chemical mediator of allergies that triggers symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose) from immune cells and can block the effect of other chemical mediators of allergy symptoms.
• Stinging Nettles is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation.
• Antronex (by Standard Process) is a non-sedating anti-histamine extract of bovine (cow) liver that can reduce the impact of any histamine
• AllerGCo (by Standard Process) is an herbal blend that stabilizes the mast cells and reduces the output of inflammatory chemicals in allergies
7. Acupuncture can also make a huge difference in reducing your allergic response and rebalancing your overall health.
8. Pharmacologic allergy medications work by targeting the chemical mediators that cause allergy symptoms, providing relief from itching, swelling, congestion, and other symptoms. The specific medication or combination of medications used will depend on the type and severity of the allergy symptoms. Most of these are over the counter except in more severe cases.
9. In the case of severe chronic allergies, other medical approaches are available including Immunotherapy, which would require allergy testing by the appropriate provider.
With these tips, you can take control of your spring allergies and enjoy the season to the fullest. Don't let allergies hold you back - get out there and enjoy the outdoors!!
Meanwhile, see me or another integrative practitioner for more help if you are still having difficulty rebalancing your inflammatory response.
*Sinus Rinse Recipe
The goal of the sinus rinse is to rinse off air particles from the immune cell surfaces that are triggering allergic reactions. This will be jolting and uncomfortable at first. Persevere!! This practice makes a difference.
The Solution: for every cup of filtered water, you add 1 tsp sea salt (the basic formula).
Instructions:
1. Start with filtered water and boil it to be sure there are no organisms that can create health issues.
2. Sterilize the glass container you are using by pouring the boiling water into both the cap and bottle (the ideal container is a bottle with a cap that can be used as a reservoir for the rinse, like a tall McCormick spice bottle with a solid wide lip lid).
3. Dump the rinse, and refill with boiling water.
4. Add salt, in the ratio listed above (eg: ½ tsp for ½ cup water).
5. Cap and cool the solution to a comfortable temperature before first use, and cap between uses. (It does not need to remain sterile, but it is best if not left to open air between treatments).
The RINSE technique**:
1. Plug one nostril, and, using the bottle cap as a reservoir for the solution, draw the solution through the free nostril into your mouth. Then spit it out. (This requires a back of the throat activity similar to the muscle action needed to bring mucus from your nose, when you have a head cold, into your mouth to spit it out).
2. Repeat on the other side.
3. Best done TWICE daily.
4. Increase to 3-4/day when sinuses are very active, especially best right after being exposed to whatever triggers your allergies.
Tips:
1. Be prepared for the jolt of your first rinse. It takes some getting used to. Notice that there is a lot of clearing over the next several minutes after a rinse. Then, your congestion is better.
2. If your nose gets too dry with this rinse, cut back on the quantity of salt used.
3. Always use glass for your container. (I use a tall McCormick spice bottle with a solid lid. This holds ½ cup of fluid, and once the solution is made, will typically last 5-7 days until a refill is needed).
4. **If you are unable to perform the RINSE technique described above, there are other alternative sprays that can be effective, including:
• NeilMed NasaMist
• Xlear Nasal Spray
References:
https://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergic-reaction-causes
