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Coping with allergies naturally: Using nature's best to fight back
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Woman suffering from seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergies suck. The itching, sneezing, watery eyes - why do we have to be allergic to so many things on our own planet? Well, that's a bigger question than I dare to answer, but getting some relief during allergy season is something I can help with.
Fight Nature with Nature
Ragweed, pollen, and plant allergies can be fended off using holistic medicine, based on nature's own goodness. Start with complementary medicine modalities you are comfortable with and go from there. Every body will heal differently so you may need to try multiple remedies before finding something that helps you.
- Local Honey - Introduce local honey into your diet, the bees are naturally buzzing around plants that you're allergic to so small traces end up in the honey. It is thought that by ingesting local honey it acts like an allergy shot - gradually boosting your tollerance to local pollens. Check at your local farmer's markets and independent health food stores for local honey. Most honey in large grocery stores come from out of the country, such as China, which will not be useful for boosting your immune system to local pollens.
- Acupuncture - Many folks swear by acupuncture as a remedy for seasonal allergies. In Traditional Chinese Medicine allergies may be thought to stem from a liver qi imbalance. Use the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to find a local practitioner.
- Homeopathy - A good homeopath can make some suggestions of natural remedies based on your particular symptoms and physical responses to pollen. Start with someone like Dr Rodd Stockwell in Middleton, or Dr Janet Levatin in Brookline.
- Herbals - Herbs such as butterbur and goldenseal are popular remedies for allergies. Ask Mischa Schuller at Wild Carrot Herbs for her picks on herbal remedies in seasonal allergies.
- Reflexology - Who knew having your feet rubbed could help with itchy eyes? Read about Reflexology here in Massachusetts in this article.
What to avoid during allergy season
Now that you've got a good roster of ideas of what to try for your allergies here are some things the experts recommend avoiding:
- Echinacea and Chamomile - both are known to exacerbate allergy symptoms as they can either be allergens themselves or are perceived as very close to common allergens such as ragweed.
- Histamine Foods - these can aggravate a body already suffering with high histamine levels: fermented foods and drinks (beer, wine, yogurt, pickles, saurkraut, buttermilk, sour cream), vinegars, shellfish, papayas, pineapples, eggs, bananas, chocolate.
Find a good naturopathic doctor or integrative medicine doctor that can help you sort through the many layers of seasonal allergies. Boston has quite a few good naturopaths but start by asking your friends and co-workers about their experience and see if you can find a referral through them. Or do a search on the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians site.
(Photo: Evah Smit)
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