Got Allergies? - Ultimate Health Coach

This year has been a big year for allergies. With all the rain (in California) the mountains are green again, and the flowers are blooming! That’s great, unless you have allergies. I haven’t had allergies this bad since I was a kid in Ohio. It came on like gangbusters. Having allergies is definitely not fun. Runny nose, scratchy throat, stuffed up head, water eyes, sneezing, itchy nose, post nasal drip, etc. Or the dreaded stuffed up head AND a runny nose! What can you do?! Well, there’s always the over-the-counter drugs like antihistimines, decongestants, immuno-therapy, eye drops, corticosteroids, and the epi-pen.

You might recognize some of these:

Claritin

Zyrtec

Advil Allergy

Dimetapp

Sudafed

Mucinex

The problem with these meds is they have some side-effects such as drowsiness, dry eyes, dry nose, dry mouth, insomnia, abdominal pain, etc.

The other thing is that pharmaceuticals don’t actually cure allergies. They just treat the symptoms. In Natural Health, we prefer to find the source of the problem and fix it.

Here are some natural options for alleviating allergies:

Try an anti-inflammatory diet (allergic reactions are based on inflammation.)

Try an alkaline diet

Eat more garlic (an immune booster and antibiotic)

Eat more lemons (antioxidant, immune booster, alkaline, liver cleanser.)

Eat green leafy veggies (kale, spinach, collard greens, etc.)

Eat probiotics (pills or fermented foods – sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, etc.)

Drink coconut milk instead of cow’s milk (cow’s milk is phlegm-forming. Some people are lactose intolerant.)

Eat almond butter instead of peanut butter (lots of people have peanut allergies.)

Cut down on bread (many people are allergic to gluten.)

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar (has many uses, including reducing allergy symptoms.)

Eat pineapple (has an enzyme, bromelain, that helps reduce symptoms.)

Use bee products such as local honey, Manuka honey, and bee pollen.

Eat spicy food (helps dissolve mucus.)

Stinging Nettle – (an herb. You can buy in tincture form.)

Butterbur (an herb said to be as effective as some over-the-counter drugs.)

Essential oils (eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, basil, lemon, tee tree.)

You can use a Neti Pot or a Diffuser to allow the essential oils to affect your olfactory system.

You can mix essential oils with a carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil) and then put it on your chest, temples, back of neck, etc.

You can mix essential oils with water in a mister/sprayer and spray around your house.

Also, there are some lifestyle changes you can do to help alleviate allergy symptoms:

Take a shower to rinse off the pollen, etc.

Wash your clothes and bedding.

Clean your house.

Keep doors and windows closed.

Exercise!

Sit in a hot tub or steam room (gym steam rooms used to put eucalyptus in the steam. So nice.)

There are natural remedies sold at health food stores that combine various herbs, also. Check with your local health food store.

Let’s get through this spring allergy season. There’s no need to suffer.

Bill

Ultimate Health & Wellness