5 Natural Allergy Remedies

Do you suffer from allergy season every Spring?

Are you reaching for an anti-histamine each morning to get you through your days filled with sneezing, sinus congestion and headaches?

If this sounds like you, then your immune system is shouting out for some help! With the right foods and healing remedies, we can support your immune system and provide you with some allergy relief naturally this year…

What causes allergies?
The beautiful flowers are blooming in Spring, but with these blooms comes more pollen in the air. Airborne allergens like pollen and grass, trigger an immune reaction which mainly affects the respiratory system, causing asthma for some and allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as ‘hay fever’ for many.

Hay fever affects about 10-16% of the population, and mostly begins before the age of 30. There is a genetic tendency for hay fever and seasonal allergies, with a child having a 50% chance of developing an allergy if one parent is allergic, and 75% chance if both parents are allergic.

Histamine is released as a natural immune response when we’re exposed to an allergen (i.e. pollen). The release of histamine causes an immediate inflammatory response which is your immune systems red flag. Histamine causes our blood vessels to swell or dilate so white blood cells can find and attack the infection or pathogen quickly. This reaction is what causes allergy symptoms such as redness, swelling and itchiness, and why anti-histamines are used to help supress those reactions. However they do not address the underlying cause, our immune system.

How to treat allergies
Ultimately hay fever and seasonal allergies are an IgE-mediated immune reaction to allergens, so if we address the health of your gut and modulate your immune response, then we can help prevent allergy season bringing you down every year!

Let’s look into 5 ways you can support your allergy symptoms naturally this Spring…

Quercetin
This antioxidant found in citrus fruits; berries and green vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli and cabbage; is nature’s anti-histamine. It helps reduce allergy symptoms by controlling the release of histamine in the body.

Quercetin is also a natural anti inflammatory and helps support our mucus membranes, i.e. our sinuses and airways, which is important to prevent any allergens getting inside our membranes and causing allergic reactions.

Increase foods rich in quercetin, and for those who require anti-histamine tablets, you may even try replacing those with a good quality quercetin supplement instead.

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s)
Allergic reactions like sneezing, swelling, redness, itchiness are all characterised by inflammation of the respiratory system. Omega-3 EFA’s are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, helping to relieve allergy symptoms. Foods rich in omega-3’s are cold water oil fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna; walnuts; linseeds and flaxseed oil; chia seeds. You may also benefit from taking a good quality fish oil supplement like Nordic Naturals Arctic-D Cod Liver Oil which also contains the important immune nutrient, Vitamin D!

Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is known as a common decongestant which opens up any blocked airways to help with breathing and relieve congestion. However it also has antibacterial properties to help kill any nasties and prevent sinus infections, as well as successfully killing common allergens in the home, like house mites.

Eucalyptus Oil Tips:
* Add eucalyptus oil to your essential oil burner or diffuser in the home. This is nice at nighttime while you’re sleeping to help with breathing, and reduce snoring!

* Add eucalyptus oil to your washing machine load, especially bedding and towels.

* Mix eucalyptus oil with coconut oil and rub into your chest as a natural decongestant, rather than vapo-rub products which contain nasties like petroleum.

* Use nasal sprays with essential oils like eucaplytpus. Direct nasal delivery of saline and essential oils provides rapid anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial relief, helping reduce congestion and relieving symptoms quickly.

Probiotics
With 80% of our immune system residing in our gut, let’s not underestimate the power of our gut bacteria in preventing immune reactions like allergies. There are even specific strains of probiotics which are more beneficial in preventing allergies!

Vitamin C
Good old Vitamin C is a staple when it comes to your immune system and allergies as it helps break down histamine in the body, reducing those associated allergy symptoms. Foods rich in Vitamin C: citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, berries and parsley. You may benefit by adding a Vitamin C powder to your drink bottle each day throughout Spring as a nice preventative.

Those are 5 ways you can start supporting your immune system today to control your allergy symptoms naturally! If you suffer from chronic hay fever or allergies and your immune system could do with some love, you may benefit from a comprehensive nutrition consultation and personalised program.