Natural Allergy Prevention And Relief

Seasonal allergies can make a beautiful time of year feel miserable. Itchy eyes, scratchy throat, coughing, skin breakouts (hives, eczema) and sniffles leave many people hiding inside and living in discomfort, during the spring and summertime. While conventional treatments may offer some relief, they are not always immediately effective and also come with side-effects; for example, sleepiness and fatigue.

There’s good news-- natural remedies and lifestyle modifications can help relieve and even prevent allergies.

Lifestyle Modifications to help relieve and prevent allergies:

• Limit Exposure. No one wants to miss out on the sunshine, but it certainly can be helpful to take extra care on high pollen count days. Wear a mask or scarf over your mouth and nose on these days.
  
• Shower Before Bed. This is important because pollen and dust accumulate on your skin and in your hair. Washing before bed helps to limit your exposure.
  
• Wash Clothes and Bedding Frequently. This helps to prevent the buildup of allergens. Be sure to use all natural detergents!
  
• Wipe Down Pets. Simply take a wet cloth and wipe down pets after time spent outside; this will help limit tracking pollen and dust into your home.
  
• Hydrate! Dehydration causes a state in which mucus is more difficult to expel. The holistic rule of thumb is to take your weight in pounds, divide it in half, and drink that amount of water in ounces.
  
• Reduce Stress. Stress weakens your immune system. Take extra care to get enough sleep and rest.
  

Natural Remedies to help relieve and prevent allergies:

• Nettles: This is an herb that acts as a natural antihistamine. If you have mild allergy symptoms, nettle tea is great. If your symptoms are more severe, try a freeze-dried form in capsules. Natural medicine expert, Dr. Aviva Romm, recommends 300mg, 2-3 times daily.
  
• Probiotics: Look for probiotics which contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as research has shown these species support healthy immunity. Probiotics help to heal the gut, and guess what-- gut inflammation plays a role in seasonal allergies! Try incorporating fermented foods, such as sauerkraut into your diet.
  
• Quercetin: This is plant pigment found in foods such as onions, apples, citrus, and broccoli. The supplement form of quercetin has exciting research results; quercetin inhibits histamine release, meaning it is a natural antihistamine. Quercetin acts as an anti-inflammatory and also boosts immunity in your mucus membranes (nose and throat), which prevents reactivity to potential allergens! It is helpful to start quercetin supplement 4-6 weeks prior to allergy season.
  
• Neti Pot: This works by helping to wash out potential allergens before they enter your airways. When using a neti pot, use a pre-made saline rinse or add 1 tsp of sea salt in a quart of boiled distilled water to make your own. Cool the solution before pouring it through one nostril and letting it drain out the other.
  
• Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter: The natural and organic ingredients will help soothe and heal irritated skin, such as rashes and eczema, which are often symptoms of seasonal allergies. Try Edye's Organic Peppermint Oil Skin Repair for extra itch relief.
  

The Gut/Seasonal Allergy Connection
When it comes to natural healing, it is important to consider the root causes of symptoms. According to Dr. Aviva Romm, “While the connection between your gut and seasonal allergy symptoms might not be instantly obvious, healing your gut is the first step to waving your seasonal allergies goodbye.” Our guts play an important role in breaking down potentially allergenic proteins; a barrier of cells prevents these proteins from entering the bloodstream. Our guts also host special bacteria and immune cells, which function to break down and eliminate these proteins. When the gut lining is weakened and inflamed (which can result from processed foods, food sensitivities, antibiotic use, chronic stress, etc,), these proteins are able to get into the bloodstream. This ultimately results in systemic inflammation; the body reacts to these foreign proteins, for example tree pollen, as dangers and an allergic reaction ensues.

• Start to heal your gut by eating whole foods!
• It can be helpful to do an elimination diet with the help of a qualified healthcare professional. This can help you determine food sensitivities.
  
• Support your gut health with probiotics through eating fermented foods. You can also use a probiotic supplement.
  

Edye’s Naturals supports you in a healthy lifestyle. Try these lifestyle and natural remedies to support your health this allergy season-- your spring and summer will be more joyful!