14 May 4 WAYS TO REMEDY SPRINGTIME ALLERGIES
4 WAYS TO REMEDY SPRINGTIME ALLERGIES
Seasonal allergies, the bane of springtime. We love the warmth of Spring and those lovely blooms but this year, a lot of us are feeling like it’s not worth the price! For those of you who’ve never experienced springtime hay fever, this year may be your first. It’s one of the worst allergy seasons on record. I usually only have very mild hay fever symptoms for one or two weeks every May but this year, my symptoms started in April, are worse, and still present one month later! What to do? I’ll share some of my secrets. Some are easy and some are not so easy.
DIET
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: STOP THE SUGAR! STOP THE DAIRY! STOP THE WHEAT! Pro inflammatory, pro inflammatory, pro inflammatory. And since alcohol is sugar in liquid form, it’s included. If you’re saying to yourself, “never!” then read on…
For years, I’d cured my hayfever by simply avoiding dairy for the few months of Spring. Dairy is by far the worst food you can eat if you have allergies. I’ve seen it clinically and felt it personally. In fact, children with milk sensitivities are more likely to have hayfever. The culprit is casein, a dairy protein, which increases mucus production in most people and is pro inflammatory. If quitting alcohol, sugar, and wheat is too much then simply avoiding dairy is an option.
Making dietary takes work and is not so easy for everyone but I must stress that the following suggestions may not be effective without dietary change.
QUERCETIN
A favorite of mine, quercetin, is strongly anti inflammatory and decreases the histamine response. It can’t be taken like claritin. One capsule isn’t going to immediately clear your nasal passages or ease your itching eyes. With quercetin, as with most natural remedies, it takes daily use to feel relief.
STINGING NETTLES
Urtica, stinging nettles, can be an extremely effective remedy for those suffering from a runny nose, sneezing, and itching. Like quercetin, it is also anti inflammatory (although quercetin is stronger) and reduces the histamine response. Particular to stinging nettles is its ability to reduce prostaglandins which have been linked to “runny” noses.
HAY FEVER HOUSEKEEPING
Sounds simple but changing your pillowcase every day can reduce hay fever symptoms. When you walk outside, even if for a few minutes, your hair collects pollen. So unless you’re bald, change your pillowcase every night. You don’t want to breathing in pollen all night long while you sleep. Also, wash or rinse your hair out at night. If that’s not an option, try covering it while you sleep. Use an air filter in your room. Change your sheets at least weekly, more often if you can. Don’t sleep in the same room as any pets that go outdoors. They are covered in pollen! And of course, keep floors clean and use a damp cloth when dusting. If you can, sleep in a room with non carpeted floors. Carpet is a reservoir for allergens and pollen.