Upon the arrival of spring many people start sniffling and sneezing. Congestion, sinus pressure, itchy and water eyes have become almost common place in the spring. Have you ever stopped to wonder why this is so?  It’s interesting when you think about our ancestors, who spent far more time outdoors and did not depend on pharmaceuticals when pollen counts were higher.

Traditional medicine and natural medicine view allergies in very different ways. The traditional medical view is that the allergy is a result of the patient being sick, or of their body malfunctioning. Natural medicine, on the other hand, views allergies as a result of the patient’s chemical/allergen exposure and dietary habits. In this way, it is the patient’s environment that is sick, not the patient.

Allergies are a symptom of the cause. Most people’s allergies dramatically improve with proper nutrition.  I think that’s worth repeating… Most people’s allergies dramatically improve with proper nutrition.  A qualified holistic health practitioner and/or naturopath can help you with a comprehensive nutritional approach to allergies.

Summer is almost officially here but I’ve noticed that many are still dealing miserably with allergy season. Here are some natural remedies that can greatly help alleviate the symptoms.

Nettle

Nettle is an herb that has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Taking ½ teaspoon tincture or 1-2 capsules (preferably freeze-dried) every 2-4 hours may alleviate symptoms. A tincture is a liquid extract that works faster and more completely than other forms of supplementation. Tinctures come is small glass bottles with a dropper.

Some of you may even be able to find them in your back yard and make a tea or eat them in your salad.  Check out this resource:

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Nettle.html

I don’t suffer from seasonal allergies but I have used a Nettle tincture in the past when coming down with a cold and I found it to be very effective.

According to Dr. Andreas Schapowal, “Although the term hay fever is commonly used for seasonal allergic rhinitis, it is inappropriate because the symptoms are neither produced by hay nor associated with fever. Allergic rhinitis is caused by pollen allergens falling on the mucous membranes of the nose, resulting in a hypersensitivity reaction.”  Therefore, he recommends Butterbur.

http://www.medindex.ch/andreas.schapowal/

Butterbur

(Petasites hybridus; butter dock, bog rhubarb, exwort) is an Asteraceae herbaceous plant native to Europe, northern Africa, and south western Asia.

Extracts of butterbur have been used in bronchial asthma, smooth muscle spasms, and headache, and studies have shown that they inhibit the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which may be associated with antispasmodic activity and anti-inflammatory hypersensitivity.

Here is a brand of Butterbur that you can try:

Solaray Butterbur

Eliminate Dairy

Dairy is a very mucus producing food, eliminating it completely from your diet during allergy season, can greatly reduce your symptoms. Let me reiterate that you must remove it completely in order to experience the benefits.

Additionally, Homeopathic remedies -which you can find at a health food store or from a Homeopathic practitioner- as well as Acupuncture can be used successfully  to relieve allergy symptoms.

Written By: Alicia Castellano

Alicia Castellano, CHHC, AADP

Alicia is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor with a passion for helping others transition into a healthy lifestyle and create extraordinary lives for themselves. She lives in Houston,Texas where she runs a private practice. Alicia loves to dance, loves music and has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning.

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