Keep Your Nose Clean: Avoid the Horror of Seasonal Allergies

By Sara Butler

It’s that time of year again -- the time of year I like to refer to as “The Pollening.” If that reminds you of the title of a horror movie, then good -- because waking up with goopy eyes and a throat that feels like it’s on fire at the hands of an invisible enemy is the stuff from which horror movies are made. Just give me a few weeks and I may go full Linda Blair here.

Seasonal allergies, despite coming around every single year, are still a big challenge for many people. Sure, you can take allergy medications to help, but those are only a Band-Aid for the issue. The real problem is that your immune system has been kicked into overdrive by the pollen in the air. Aside from moving in with the Boy in the Bubble, it can seem like options to escape pollen are slim. There simply has to be a better way to help calm your immune system and be a little less miserable, right?

The good news is that yes, there are a few strategies you can use to help reduce your allergy symptoms and stop looking as if you’ve cried your eyes out watching Old Yeller on repeat every day. Here are some tips to help you deal with allergies naturally.

The Cause of Seasonal Allergies

In the spring, the air is filled with grass, ragweed, mold, pollen, and cedar. These allergens are breathed in and your immune system tags them as intruders. This sets off a chain reaction in which your body releases antibodies to attack and secretes a chemical called histamines into your eyes, nose, and lungs. The histamine is supposed to work to remove the harmful things from your body, but what really ends up happening is that inflammation abounds and leaves you with itchy, watery eyes, a sore throat, and a slew of other unpleasant symptoms.

Your body is trying to do right by you and help you to feel better, but you’ve got to help it along.

Natural Strategies to Deal With Seasonal Allergies

There are several things you can do to help your body remove the offending allergens and help you to feel better in the process. You can:

• Keep your nose clean - The pollens and other allergens in the air bind to the mucous membranes inside of your nose. Cleanse your nasal passages with saline to help wash away those irritants and keep your mucous membranes moist.
• Reduce stress - The pollening is a stressful time on your body, so try to reduce the havoc that stress hormones can wreak on your body by trying to reduce other stresses in your life. Self-care is of vital importance when you’re feeling bad due to seasonal allergies, so take time to relax and be good to yourself to help relieve stress.
• See the chiropractor - The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic have but one goal: To help your body work the way it was meant to. That means that they identify issues that may be disrupting the natural workings of your body, such as joint dysfunctions, and treat them so that your body can do what it was made to do. Once your body finds that equilibrium, then you may also find that your allergies are less of an issue.
• Eat right - You should make sure you’re providing your body with the proper nutrition it needs to stay strong and healthy. Plus, eating right means that you’re contributing to good gut health and your gut is your immune system’s first line of defense. Keep your gut healthy by cutting down on processed foods and added sugars and you will help to improve your immune function, too.
• Clean your house - Allergy triggers can easily build up in your home, so make sure you change air filters often and dust your shelves and vents -- and anyplace else pollen can collect. You should vacuum any carpets in your home at least twice per week and make sure to regularly change your pillowcases so that any allergens that have transferred from your body to your pillow don’t cause problems as you sleep.

Yes, spring is in the air -- unfortunately. But it doesn’t have to make you feel wretched. Instead, try a few of these tips to help calm your allergies and enjoy the spring flowers for once!

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.