During the spring season there are many beautiful things that we start to enjoy again. Those lovely flowers blooming and the melting of the snow in some areas can really have us feeling grateful for all the things new.
With the season comes allergy symptoms that are not so fun to deal with such as runny nose, coughing, watery eyes and sneezing.
The question you might have is if it’s actually possible to enjoy this season without the misery of allergies coming in and taking all the fun out.
Short answer…yes!
In this article I wanted to talk about some natural things you can shift in your lifestyle as well as natural medicine support you can utilize to hopefully get you to not rely on over the counter medications.
Causes
Histamine is the one we have to thank for those allergic flare ups and it is in our body makeup to have it. The receptors are found throughout the body but the immune cells and lungs have the highest concentration of histamine.
When things start to be more available through the air or with contact through the skin the immune system responds which sees them as a threat and begins to release histamine which triggers inflammation in the body.
Here is a video that demonstrates how allergies work.
When the body is inflamed internally there is a cycle it goes into with release of certain hormones, like cortisol, the famous stress hormone, which has been seen to decrease insulin sensitivity and rise blood sugar levels. (1)
When there is too much cortisol in the body your body is in a fight or flight response constantly which can lead to brain fog, weight gain, sleep disturbances, irritability, mood swings and cause us to age more rapidly.
The real question is…how do we break this cycle when seasons shift and we automatically, almost genetically, are inclined towards the histamine release, cortisol release and inflammation in the body?
The key to anything is balance.
Balance with lifestyle changes such as diet and selection of herbs that can help in this process.
Immune system
Strengthening your immune system is the best way to start fighting off seasonal allergies naturally. Since histamine is involved in the immune response and is involved in the inflammatory response it plays a central role as a mediator of itching.
So if you strengthen your immune system you are in a position to put up a better fight and most allergens will pass and not develop into a hay fever.
Sugar
I think by now we are all aware of how food affects our bodies and the type and quality of the food matters.
But sugar can really cause issues to the body.
Most doctors will agree that it’s not necessarily sugar itself but excess amounts of sugar which can cause many problems.
And nowadays sugar is in a lot of premade products even innocent items like ketchup.
The main issue with sugar is that it really weakens the immune system. In studies it shows how sugar effects causes a negative immune response when it is face to face with an allergen. (2)
Studies show that in groups that have a higher sugar intake vs participants that do not consume sugar, there is a noticeable difference in blood markers in the inflammatory process. (3)
If this seems like a really terrible discovery for you, changing sugar habits are known to be hard. But the benefits are great to doing so since limiting sugar intake also means:
– weigh management
– helps to regulate blood sugar levels
– helps your heart health
– improves oral health
– may reduce acne or skin conditions
– reduces risk of liver disease
Here is a good article on why it’s so hard to quit sugar and changes you can make one week at a time.
Homeopathy
This is a really great starting point with allergies and homeopathic remedies. If you are new to the homeopathic world it is great to buy premade combinations until you learn which one works really well for your body.
With my kids I always use this if I know they will have allergies and do not know which specific remedy works, once I see it working it’s easier to narrow it down and buy a remedy that is at a higher dose.
This product is popular but if you do not match the remedy in a way it needs to be matched with “like treating like” with homeopathy then it will not be useful.
If you need more of a personalized plan when dealing with allergies, reach out for a free consultation to see if maybe a one month program is right for you for the allergy season.
Herbs
Herbs have been used historically to assist with helping allergies through immune modulation, by addressing specific needs such as mucus in the lungs and reducing inflammation. Here are some good ones to dig deeper into:
Cordyceps mushroom (cordyceps militaris)
This mushroom is a very potent anti inflammatory and immunomodulator agent. It works by inhibiting degranulation in activated mast cells and inhibits synthesis of cytokines. (4) It is also known to fight other things like blood sugar balance and inflammation and has much potential in acute lung injury as well as supporting cardiovascular liver health. (5)
Reishi (ganoderma lucidum)
Reishi is known as an immunomodulator and also is an anti inflammatory. It supports your gut health and is effective in treating chronic immune issues. Reishi acts like a steroid in a way which suppresses certain inflammatory compounds in the body. It helps with blood sugar balance as well and this is helpful in the onset of seasonal allergies by keeping blood sugar levels at bay. (6)
Stinging Nettle (urtica dioica)
I have a full article on this wonderful plant which is easily found around springtime which can be read here. But it is a natural antihistamine with reducing inflammation that trigger hay fever symptoms. It hinders the release of compounds that spark allergic reactions and reduce allergic histamine and inflammation response. (7)
Mullein (verbascum thapsus)
One of the best herbs for respiratory health. It is known to reduce mucus formation and calms coughs and eases wheezing and tightness of breathing. It also is helpful in getting mucus out from the lungs and keeps from mucus forming again.
With people that work with me, it is one of the herbs I blend for them for their protocol against allergies.
Yarrow (achillea millefolium)
This herb is very easily grown and easy to find in the wild. Yarrow is a bronchodilator. It helps relax the blood vessels and improve breathing. It is also drying which soothes swelling in the nasal glands. (8)
Yerba Santa (eriodictyon californicum)
This is another herb to consider for mucus and phlegm symptoms that often comes with allergies. Yerba Santa is my favorite for drying up mucus fast. It is also great at reducing inflammation. (9)
Goldenseal (hydrastis canadensis)
For chronic allergy symptoms such as sinus headaches, hay fever and lower respiratory conditions, this is a great herb to consider. It is used to modulate microbiome flora which reduces the intensity of allergic flare ups. (10)
Diet
A low histamine diet is a short term approach which can be looked at to reduce exposure to the body of high histamine foods allowing the gut to heal.
Food high in histamine include:
– aged foods
– alcohol
– processed meats
– dried fish and fish sauce
– sugary drinks
– nightshade vegetables
With a low histamine diet there are also foods that reduce inflammation such as:
– beef liver
– raw honey
– ginger
– pinapple
Overall looking into an anti inflammatory diet is helpful for someone dealing with allergies.
Final thoughts
If you need help with managing blood sugar balance during the seasonal allergy season reach out for a free consultation to see if we can work together for creating a routine and specific blends for your needs.
For those suffering from hay fever, you can greatly reduce your symptoms by avoiding sugar or limiting sugar and focusing on low histamine, anti inflammatory diet as well as looking into homeopathic remedies and herbs like stinging nettle or mullein.
Because allergies impact your blood sugar levels, look into managing blood sugar levels through medicinal herbs and lifestyle changes.
God bless you and yours,
Krystina
