Simple Tips to Reduce Spring Allergy Symptoms –
It is possible to use natural remedies for spring allergy symptom relief. The past week we stayed with a couple in Paris that are old friends with my husband. The wife was suffering terrible seasonal allergy symptoms and she seemed to think it was just an allergy to pollen. Oh how I wanted to set her straight but there was a language barrier that kept us from discussing complex subjects like how to strengthen the immune system.
Many times allergies to pollen and grass are due to over burdened protective linings of our gut, lungs, skin and even brain. I have worked with many clients who took some simple steps and eliminated their seasonal allergies all together (after consulting with their doctor first of course!) I did all I could to show my new friends what they need to eat and do improve their health, many times using sign language and charades. I guess they will make changes when they are ready.
Simple Tips to Reduce Spring Allergy Symptoms
Check your Vitamin D
Try to get your level of vitamin D level to 50 ng/ dl which will give your immune system and boost because it is more like a wellness hormone than a vitamin. Having adequate vitamin D levels will give you stronger defenses against seasonal pollen as well as cold and flu’s. It is best to take a liquid with a meal containing fat to increase absorption. Always check your level each year at your doctor. I take this brand of Vitamin D3.
Reduce toxins in the home
The more toxins clogging your liver the less able it will be to effectively deal with pollen in the air. The pollen becomes the scapegoat most people end up blaming for their allergies, when really is a result of their overall toxic load. Air fresheners, cleaning products, and perfumes are some examples of products where natural versions can help us to detox.
Get rid of artificial personal care products
Again these products are so full of chemicals that drag down your ability to effectively detox which will create a hay fever type reaction. Conventional shampoo, deodorant, anti-bacterial soap and toothpaste are all good examples toxic personal hygiene products. I like to use a combo of coconut oil , apple cider vinegar, and baking soda for just about everything!
Heal your gut
When eat a lot of hard to digest foods over time the small intestine becomes very inflamed. This process opens spaces between the villi letting undigested food particles into the blood stream. The immune system attacks these undigested foreign particles creating a deluge of activity that derails it from it’s normal job of dealing with pollen. The best way to so this is to remove gluten, grains, and vegetable oil products. Many clients who do this throw out their allergy medicine for good. Read about how my little bro got rid of his inhaler here.
Drink more homemade bone broth
The best thing for a weakened immune system is minerals and collagen which are both plentiful in bone broth. Also the material in bones and joints is the same as the lining of the gut which will facilitate faster healing reducing allergy symptoms .It so easy to make your own. Follow my recipe here.
Get more protein
Our immune system consists of our skin, linings of our lung, gut and brain. Many times our body is trying to repair these linings but it lacks the building material. You can’t build a house with no bricks, right? Same goes with your for immune system repair.
Increase essential fatty acids
Essential fatty acids like grass fed butter, fatty wild fish like salmon decrease inflammation which will allow our immune system to calm the reaction to pollen and other allergens. Most people have a very skewed ratio of omega-3/6 fats in their which will create many symptoms of illness such as frequent colds and spring allergies.
Increase Magnesium Rich Foods
Many fruits and veggies contain a lot of magnesium which is essential for healing the linings of the immune system. It is also crucial for cell turnover in the gut. Magnesium rich veggies are critical to liver detox which will open the door to being able to enjoy spring weather without a bad reaction. I love this natural magnesium product
Take Quercetin
Is a powerful anti-inflammatory flavanoid, that can help calm nasal congestion for a more a short term remedy. It is found in certain rich colored fruits such as well like blueberries, cherry, and blackberries. Roobios tea also has a lot of quercetin as well as elderberry, passionflower and licorice teas. Onions, broccoli, most leafy greens as well as fresh herbs are good sources of this healing antioxidant. I like this product to get 500-1000 mg per day.
Use Stinging Nettles
Nettles is an herb that has been used for centuries as an anti-histamine. I have used it a lot for colds and flu’s in a tea form. You can also take it in a pill about 300 mg per day, this is a good brand.
Get lots of sleep
Many times allergies are assign of over stressed adrenals that have had it up to here with your pedal to the medal lifestyle. Sometimes your body stops you before you have the good sense listen to the internal signals. The most important time for repair is between 10-2 am so don’t miss these essential hours for immune repair and allergy relief.
Increase Beneficial Bacteria
When you have a lot negative bacteria from a lifetime of eating SAD diet, overuse of antibiotics, and too much sugar/carbs, an environment of dysbiosis (too much bad bacteria) is created. These bacteria create waste products that slow down the bodies ability to detox outside environmental pollution and pollen making the person’s immune system to overreact with headaches, sneezing ect. The best way to get more good bacteria is to eat a variety of fermented foods like beet kvass, sauerkraut, raw yogurt, and kombucha. You can also take a good probiotic which can help. This is a good brand that many clients like.
What strategies have helped you to naturally overcome seasonal allergies? Let me know!
This post is linked to Party Wave Wednesday
Eve says
The pro-biotic link is broken
Caitlin Weeks says
it works now.
mildred says
Lots of good suggestions. I’m doing some of them. Vitamin D ng? I’m taking 2000 IU a day. Is that close? I notice a few places need a grammer correction.
Little Mountain Haven says
a tsp a day of raw LOCAL honey is also great to take a month or more before allergy season. The pollen in the honey will give you a slow immunity build up to it as you are taking pollen from your local area 🙂
Rachel @ day2day joys says
Great tips! I need to work on getting more sleep. Also getting adjusted by a wellness chiropractor can help!
Laura says
Wow! What a great list! I have cleaned up my diet in the past few months (it looks a lot like these recommendations) and for the first time in my adult life I am going without allergy treatments! Thanks for sharing.
G says
I have seasonal and year round allergies (mold, dust, anything scented). Should this work for both? I recently read sauerkraut should be avoided if you have allergies. What do you think? Thanks!