Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
Each year, like clockwork, I suffer from nasty seasonal allergies. Symptoms start coming on in late March/early April — you know, the congestion, runny nose, sneezing, some fatigue. Then it quickly progresses into what feels like a full blown cold, along with eyes so itchy I feel like I want to scratch them out of my head. No bueno.
This year I decided to take matters into my own hands and design myself a thorough and natural allergy prevention regimen.
I’ve learned a lot over the years about what causes my body inflammation — inflammation in the body and a weakened immune system are two of the main reasons why people suffer from seasonal allergies — and how to reduce that. I also took into account what has worked for fellow seasonal allergy sufferers. Here’s my regimen for reducing and preventing allergies naturally.
Reduce Inflammation
Ideally, you want to prep your body at least 6 weeks before allergy season to reduce/eliminate seasonal allergy symptoms. But since allergy season is already here, you can just start now and that’s fine, too.
Because a lot of food we eat actually causes inflammation in the body, your first step is to reduce inflammatory foods. I had a sensitivity test with my Naturopathic Doctor a few years ago that revealed that I’m most sensitive to dairy, sugar, and gluten. And these foods are known to cause inflammation, so I’m definitely not the only one. If you can get a similar test done, I highly recommend it. But you can also just avoid the three things I mentioned and likely find your inflammatory responses go way down!
You can also consider adding foods that help fight inflammation to your diet.
Step Up Your Supplements
Adding supplements to support your immune system, reduce inflammation, and otherwise gear up your body’s defenses will help you immensely! Here’s what I take:
• Bee blend
• Probiotics
• Olive leaf
• Omega 3’s
• Turmeric
• Local honey (1 tsp-1 tbsp) and 8oz of rooibos tea daily
• 8oz of Nettle tea once or twice a day
Clean Your Air
I have an air purifier running constantly in my bedroom while sleeping. Since I work from home, I also run it in the main part of my home during the day while I’m working.
This helps to remove a lot of dirt, impurities, and allergens from my space. I highly recommend it! Not only is the air inside your home ripe with allergens, it can also contain as many or more toxic substance than the air inside.
Essential Oils
Diffusing essential oils throughout your space during the day as well as while you sleep can help. Oils like eucalyptus, mint, rosemary, and clary sage are great to use.
You can also mix them with a a carrier oil and rub the blend on your chest or the bottoms of your feet before you go to bed to help you breathe easier, with the added benefit of aromatherapy.
Relax
Move your body and do what you love to keep your stress hormones low. Stress makes everything worse, including allergies.
Meditation and relaxation exercises are also extremely helpful, so consider your yoga class or morning stretch an important part of your allergy-prevention program!
Drink Water!
Now is not the time to let yourself get dehydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of clean water to help your body function optimally and flush out impurities.
Once Allergy Season Hits
Continue to follow all of the tips above. Hopefully you will see that your symptoms decrease dramatically!
If you continue to experience symptoms, try the following:
• Take Amylase, a natural anti-histamine present in our saliva
• Use eye drops as needed to relieve your eyes
• To reduce symptoms, try Sabadil, a natural, non-drowsy, homeopathic formula
I know it probably seems like a lot, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes not to suffer during my favorite time of the year.
Wanted to chime in from the “Environmental Allergy Capital of the Continental U.S.” also known as Austin, Texas with two more strategies that have served me well: Netti Pot cleanses morning and night with salt water and alternate nasal breathing
A third “trick” told to me by a lot of old timers here (and I have tried and it worked well) is to add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of local honey (must be local and unfiltered) in a coffee mug and pour hot water over, stir to mix. Sip this as a daily tonic and/or for acute symptoms when everything else has failed.
I would add alcohol to the sugar/gluten/dairy evil “white foods” list. I know! I know! Thougt the alternative is sniffling, sneezing and suffering!
Agree 100% that it is all about making yourself an unwelcoming “host” to pollen, or so I have learned these past years.
I love the site and products! Although products a bit expensive for me. Could you please advise how to get rid of skin tags naturally? Thank you!!
February of 2015 was my last bout of allergies. I had been reading and following Donna Schwenks’s blog Cultured Food Life for 3 years before finally deciding to make kefir, Kombucha and Fermented vegetables last year and within a few weeks a had no more allergies. I’m still amazed I have no more issues.