Anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies knows that a walk in the park on a beautiful spring day can turn miserable pretty quickly. Itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, clogged ears--all of which can range from mildly annoying to utterly unbearable. Not to mention the fatigue and brain fog you just can’t shake. While antihistamines can certainly improve your quality of life, there are several quick and easy lifestyle changes you can make to win the war on seasonal allergies.
-Decrease the inhalant load by washing your hands and face after being outdoors and showering before bed to remove pollen. You may not see it, but every time you step outside, pollen coats your hair, skin and clothes. Washing the bedding more frequently can help as well--especially if you’ve been leaving windows open.
-Improve indoor air quality by decreasing exposure to allergens. Easy solution: place a HEPA air filter in the bedroom and keep windows and doors shut.
-Neti pots or nasal saline washes can be useful in clearing your nasal passages of mucus, pollen and other allergic debris that can get trapped there. Both offer major relief.
-Decreasing the body’s overall histamine load can work wonders towards improving allergies. Many people have food sensitivities that cause their bodies to make more histamine and worsen seasonal allergies. Finding and removing these foods via an elimination diet or food sensitivity testing can be life-changing. We also know that cross reactions between inhalant allergens, and specific foods can add to the allergy burden. For instance, if you’re allergic to birch and you eat kiwi or apple, you’re likely increase your histamine load, increasing your allergic symptoms.
-Pay attention to the gut. More than 60% of our immune system is located in the gut, and allergies are a manifestation of an overactive immune system. Making sure the the intestinal barrier in the gut is strong and intact will decrease allergies, as will having a robust, diverse and balanced microbiome. Keep in mind, you can have an unhealthy gut without having gastrointestinal symptoms. A functional medicine provider can help with this piece.
-Specific supplements can play a large part in decreasing allergic symptoms. Quercetin is one such powerhouse: Not only is it anti-allergy, but it’s anti-inflammatory, an anti-oxidant, and immune regulating as well. A typical dose is 500mg three times per day, started a few weeks before allergy season kicks in.
-Stinging nettles can also help with allergies, thanks to its anti-inflammatory action. This can be taken in capsule form, 200mg three times per day, or you can drink it as a tea.
-Let’s not forget about Vitamin C, which can prevent the cells’ release of histamine, as well as increase its breakdown. 500mg three times a day is a good place to start.
-Vitamins A and D can also help in modulating the immune response and improve allergic symptoms.
-There are some supplement formulas that contain a mixture of herbs and nutrients that can help. Orthomolecular’s Natural D-Hist, Xymogen’s AllerDHQ and Designs for Health HistaEze are a few of these formulas.
-Finally, chill out. Anxiety increases adrenalin, and that causes mast cells to release histamine and add to allergic symptoms.
Put these tips to good use and hopefully you’ll be able to smell the roses without having to reach for a tissue.
