Putting a Stop to Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
By Dr. Molly Casey
Allergies this time of year can be a bear. Pollen counts are high and so is the congestion, runny noses, sore throats and pounding heads. Is there anything you can do naturally to suffer less and decrease the impact of seasonal allergies? Yes!
Seasonal Allergies
An allergen is something that elicits an allergic response. In the case of seasonal allergies, this trigger is usually something outdoors, usually pollens from trees, grasses, plants and weeds. The pollen is most often carried through wind and individuals who come in regular contact with it. The immune system reacts to the pollen as an allergen and symptoms result.
Symptoms may include:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Watery and itchy eyes
- Itchy sinuses and throat Congested/clogged ears Postnasal drip
Less frequent symptoms:
- Headaches
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
This all sounds pretty miserable, right? And if you’ve ever dealt with them you’ll attest to the fact that the symptoms can get pretty gnarly and then start to affect your levels of sleep -- and so the cycle gets worse.
Natural Immune System Support
All allergic reactions involve the immune system. In my professional opinion, it’s logical to infer that the healthier one’s immune system the less reactive to external triggers and ultimately fewer allergic reactions and symptoms. So my advice to all patients is to work diligently and consistently to improve the function of your immune system to decrease the effects of allergies.
Clean Eating
The truth is that much of the food in American society is really not food, but rather chemicals and modified processed substances companies and people accept as “food.” For the healthiest immune system, humans need to be ingesting food and drink that is closest to its naturally grown state as possible. Here’s a super easy rule: the farther something is away from where it’s grown and its natural state, the less healthy it is for you or the more damaging it is.
Staying away from common foods that are known to produce mucus and are common allergens will also increase the optimal functioning of the immune system. From a dietary standpoint, it will add less stress to the immune system and allow it to fight other allergens with greater ease because the stress load has been decreased. Common foods that are highly allergenic or produce mucus are dairy, wheat, beer, and sugary juices.
Support
Boost your immune system with support through three separate avenues.
Proper rest - The bottom line is that people don’t sleep as much as they should, nor is the quality of the sleep they get optimal. Sleep is a weapon in the battle of health. Get a minimum 7-9 hours of dark deep sleep nightly. And if you are suffering from allergies, feel free to offer your body more rest as you feel it needs.
Supplementation - Sometimes additional help is called for, no questions asked. A few supplements that can help with controlling allergy symptoms are as follows: quercetin, eucalyptus oil, frankincense oil, probiotics, or plain old large amounts of garlic, lemon, and even bone broth. All of these help the immune system and decrease the effect of allergy symptoms either directly or indirectly.
Chiropractic care - Chiropractic adjustments improve the function of the communication system within your body. When there is better communication there is better health and overall function of all systems, including the immune system and the lymphatic system (which carries away waste).
So is there anything you can do naturally to decrease the effects of seasonal allergies? Yes! Don’t suffer needlessly. Take your next steps forward in the journey of health and healing and support your immune system with rest, supplements, and chiropractic adjustments!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.