Each year, the blooming of the cherry blossoms in the Nation’s Capital heralds the arrival of spring, and for many of us, allergy season. Allergies are quite common, about 1 in 5 Americans suffer from them. An allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to any substance normally harmless to the human body. Common allergens are: pollen, grass, dust, and molds. Major symptoms include: itchy and watery eyes, stuffy and runny nose, post nasal drip, and even hives and wheezing.
Allergies result from a hypersensitive immune system. The allergic immune system misidentifies an otherwise innocuous substance as harmful, and then attacks the substance with an intensity far greater than is required. In a properly functioning immune system, white blood cells differentiate between threatening and non-threatening proteins - invading those deemed harmful and ignoring those deemed harmless. The allergic immune system creates an abundance of antibodies against benign substances. When triggered, these antibodies stimulate a cascade of events that ultimately results in the release of histamine. Histamine causes vasodilation, inflammation, and a host of other symptoms associated with allergies - sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and itching.
Conventional treatments for allergies include: decongestants, anti-histamines, and allergy shots. These may offer temporary relief, but do not solve the underlying problem as the body’s immune system continues to be impaired.
Naturopathic treatments offer immediate symptom relief, and more importantly, a strategy for correcting the underlying immune system imbalance. Restoring health to our digestive system is of utmost importance in re-establishing a balanced immune system. Our digestive system is where the external environment meets our internal mileau, and where over 80% of our immune cells originate. Daily stress and suboptimal nutrition (low fiber, caffeine and alcohol consumption, processed foods and refined carbs) leads to intestinal inflammation and even a condition called “leaky gut”. Simply put, incompletely digested foods and toxins can leak into systemic circulation through an incompetent intestinal wall. Once in circulation, these food particles and toxins can trigger unnecessary immune action.
Effective allergy treatment involves identifying and eliminating/reducing exposure to allergens (including food allergens), following an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce the load on our immune system and heal the gut. Homeopathic and herbal remedies can be utilized as a complement to dietary and lifestyle changes to help offset the worst of symptoms. Now is the time for heading off allergies this spring, see below for a plan.
Allergy Relief
- Follow an anti-inflammatory diet avoiding sugar, dairy, wheat and food additives - these foods are congesting and irritating to the nasal passages. A body that is less congested is less allergic. A good quality probiotic can help heal the gut and encourage the immune system to self-modulate over the long term. Stay tuned for more on probiotics.
- Limit exposure. Change bed sheets and pillow cases frequently. Avoid outside activities during peak pollen hours, close the windows to your house or car during high pollen days, wear a face mask and protective goggles when mowing the lawn and gardening. Strip off your clothing and hit the shower or bath after outside activities. Not only should you wash from head to toe, but your clothes should be washed as well.
- Try eating local unpasteurized honey (from a place near to where you live) starting at 1 tsp daily until you see a response (adverse response is possible) increase up to 2 tsp daily. Symptoms should improve over a 2 week period.
- Nettles are a natural anti-histamine, can be taken in capsule form, or a tea can be made by steeping 1 tsp in 1 cup hot water and drinking 3 cups daily.
- Use a saline rinse or Neti pot to irrigate your nasal passages and rid them of pollen.
- Natural remedies available in Dr. Rodriguez’s dispensary:
- Allergiplex - 1 tablet weekly for 4 weeks to help prevent symptoms prior to allergy season. Can be taken daily when symptoms arise.
- Northeast Allersode - Homeopathic preparation of local pollens, grasses, weeds for desensitizing the immune system. Take 1 dropper 3x daily for prevention.
- Aller-C - Contains quercitin which stabilizes mast cells and prevents the release of histamine. 2 capsules twice daily for prevention, then 3-4x daily as a therapeutic dose.
