Understanding Allergies and Alleviating Symptoms

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at allergy relief.

Over the counter remedies only mask the symptoms and can have unpleasant side effects such as drying out your mucus membranes and fatigue. They can be helpful in an extreme situation but may cause issues when used long term. Luckily there are many natural supplements from a variety of reputable companies as well as some home remedies you can use to help you get through the season without having to buy stock in Kleenex. Keep in mind that different people have different allergies and the underlying causes are also varied. Different people will respond to different remedies and supplements. Here are a few suggestions you can try.

• Quercetin is an antioxidant used to reduce inflammation as well as natural bioflavonoid that is used to help stabilize mast cells to keep them from releasing histamine. When you have an allergic reaction your tissues become inflamed and release histamine which is what you experience as symptoms. Quercetin is best used as a long term remedy and many people start taking it about 4-6 weeks before allergy season to help prevent allergy symptoms.

• Vitamin C with Methoxyflavone: Vitamin C is always important to boost your immune system. It also serves as a mild antihistamine. Vitamin C with Methoxyflavone Complex is even more geared towards helping your immune system with allergens.

• Perimine by Metagenics: This is a patented extract of perilla seed, an herb that supports a healthy respiratory and immune response. Allergies are your body’s immune response on red alert to particular substances like pollen. Perimine helps support normal breathing and a healthy balanced immune response.

• D-Hist by Ortho Molecular contains special ingredients such as Vitamin C, Quercetin, bromelain and stinging nettles serve to boost the body’s natural immune system response.

• Trancor by Metagenics: When your body is under stress, whether it be emotional, physical or from an allergen, there is a certain cascade of brain chemicals and hormones that happens in your body. Trancor helps stop that cascade and calm your system. Used in conjunction with other allergy remedies it provides additional relief for allergy symptoms.

• Neti pots and saline sprays are a great way to flush out your sinuses and clear out allergens as well as opening up your breathing. Both western and alternative/natural practitioners recommend this approach. You can boost the effectiveness by sprinkling some probiotic powder in with the water. Your sinuses are mucus membrane and have a natural flora that needs to be maintained. Allergens can upset that natural balance and the probiotics help replace that. Flushing your sinus also works very well when you have a virus.

Over the counter allergy medicine does nothing to help your immune system, it only covers up the symptoms. Very often they dry you out and make you groggy or don’t work at all.

The key is to help boost your immune system so it is balanced enough to handle whatever you encounter.

• Probiotics are extremely important for overall health. They are the good bacteria that live in your gut and they help with digestion, immune and brain function. When the flora in your gut is out of balance due to a poor diet or antibiotic use it can lead to or increase allergy symptoms.

• Detoxification is an important tool for improving your health. When your system is taxed by toxins from your food or your environment it can’t readily respond to possible allergens. There are quite a few products on the market that help with detoxifying your gut, liver and other organs and they can help you improve or in some cases eliminate your allergies.

• Food Allergies are often an underlying cause in seasonal allergies and they can be tricky to figure out. If you are sensitive to a food you are eating every day the symptoms of that may manifest as mild to major fatigue and suppressed immune function. When you immune system is suppressed it will react to allergens more and in a more extreme way. Think of it this way, if your immune system is busy dealing with a food you eat all the time it won’t have the energy to spare when the ragweed kicks in. Talk to your natural health practitioner about getting tested for food sensitivities through Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing) or a blood test. Diet changes can make a big difference in allergic response to any kind of allergen.

• Exercise is very important for your overall health and wellness. Mild to moderate exercise increases your immune system as well as all the other benefits of heart health and weight loss.

• Inflammation can be a chronic health problem and lead to more extreme allergic responses. If your body is already inflamed an allergic reaction that would have been mild can present as severe. There are healthier diets geared towards reducing inflammation you can research. (Hint: the typical American fast food diet is NOT one of them) as well as many natural health products made especially to help get the inflammation down.

These are just a few of the things you can look at and try when you are dealing with allergies. You can try them individually or in combination to find your perfect health balance.