Freezing weather is gone, and the warmth of the next season begins to thaw the remnants of that icy winter. Nature awakens again, with sight of buds slowly growing from the wet soil that not long ago was covered with mountains of snow. However, alongside this seasonal revival comes an all-too-familiar foe for many: pollen. The return of sunny days also marks the onset of seasonal allergies, leaving countless individuals battling sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion. But fear not, there are ways to combat seasonal allergies naturally without becoming dependent on antihistamines and steroids and set your body up for success.
Identify and Remove Obstacles to Cure
Poor indoor air quality can be a huge trigger for allergens, leading to poor quality sleep. Dust can collect in hard-to-reach places, causing sneezing, watery eyes, and coughing. Some general tips to get started improving your air quality include:
- Get a HEPA air filter and vacuum filter. Change it every three months.
- Keep pets out of your bedroom. This is hard for some of us but if you do, be sure to run a HEPA air filter.
- Remove or replace old carpets (hardwood floors are best!)
- Use a Neti pot every morning and evening.
- Take a shower and put on clean clothes before bedtime. Contrast showers can be helpful. Start your shower in hot water, then swap your hot water for cold for a few minutes.
Assess the Determinants of Health
Is your body being properly nurtured? Create space for your body to create those natural antihistamines! Some things to try include:
- Eat a variety of colors, eat seasonally, eat organic, and eat regularly.
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Move your body! 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every day.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Learn to manage stress well.
- Be happy and appreciate all the blessings in life.
Decrease Histamine Release
The body releases histamines in response to exposure to allergens. Some common symptoms of histamines include headache, hives, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, and digestive issues. Naturopathic doctors can recommend a few supplements and herbs that can aid in decreasing the number of histamines in your body.
Start Acupuncture
One final way to take care of your allergies is with acupuncture. In fact, it has been shown that four weeks of acupuncture treatment can significantly reduce your allergy symptoms.
Allergies don’t have to be the end of your springtime enjoyment. You can still lead an active and happy lifestyle even when the pollen gets out of hand. By dealing with your problems with naturopathic treatments, you can manage to beat allergies this season.
