Allergies are a result of a foreign substance entering your body’s system. This foreign substance alerts your body’s security guards, so they call in their friends to help take care of the trouble. Makes sense, right? You don’t want that substance to cause your body harm so it’s a good thing that it is getting responded to, right? Well, its not quite so clear.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THAT JUST SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
Sure, that defense system of your body is fantastic and constantly working in your favor. It’s the reason we build up an immune system and stay healthy, even when it seems like everyone else around you is getting sick. We start to run into some issues when your body has security guards that are a little too overzealous about their job. It is only supposed to recognize true threats to your health. You develop allergies when your body is inappropriately recognizing things that shouldn’t be causing you any issues. This is incredibly different person to person in terms of not only what you might be allergic to, but how severe the reaction is. A good example is peanut butter. Its not the healthiest thing in the world, sure, but it shouldn’t cause you any harm. Its completely edible. For some people with allergies to it, eating peanut butter could cause an upset stomach. For others, it could be fatal due to how strongly their security guards react.
WHAT ABOUT SEASONAL ALLERGIES? WHAT’S GOING ON THERE?
Its that time of year. All of the frost and snow and ice is done for the year (hopefully). That means that the plants and molds and other living things that couldn’t survive the cold are coming back. They release pollens and spores and other substances into the air for communication and to make new plants. This is then breathed in by everyone and processed by the body. Especially if people are out opening up windows with the nice weather and burning brush or old wood. This is going to cause the reactions to happen in the sinuses and airways where things become angry, puffy, swollen, and miserable. This is what hay fever is.
OKAY COOL, BUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THIS?
Some people decide that they want to go the medical route, in which there are some medications and over the counter options to help deal with the symptoms. We personally prefer to use natural means of dealing with these issues. Here are some good ones to try out.
• Saline Nasal Irrigation – This uses saline fluids to flush out the things that are causing your sinuses and nose to feel clogged, or runny, or just plain uncomfortable. There are kits online and in most drugstores that have their own instructions on how to best use the product.
• Butterbur – This is a plant that is native to Europe and Asia, but also grows here in the USA. Extract from that plant has the same effect as taking an oral antihistamine. The plant itself, has some toxic properties to it. So, we recommend taking it as a supplement since that has been lab tested.
• Vitamin C – This is a fantastic natural antihistamine that works differently than the medications do. Those medications block the receptors for histamine (which is the substance that causes the swelling reaction). Vitamin C will keep you from producing as much of the histamine in the first place.
• Essential oils – In particular, peppermint and eucalyptus. Peppermint oil, when diffused, has been shown to help open the sinuses and reduce airway inflammation. This leads to breathing easier and less of the sinus pressure that causes headaches. Eucalyptus works in a similar way to reduce inflammation, but also opens the airways and can reduce upper respiratory tract issues.
More than anything, eating a good balanced diet, staying active, and getting plenty of sleep is the key to getting over allergy symptoms. Don’t skip out on your adjustments either! It enhances nerve function and has been shown to improve immune system function. You’re just an adjustment away from an awesome day!
