Natural Remedies for Allergy Relief By Dr Tomah Phillips
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hile the spring and summer bring sunshine and warm weather, they also bring months of suffering for millions of Canadians with seasonal allergies. The itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing can be so debilitating that many people don’t even want to be outside. There are many over the counter medications for allergies, but these are not always effective and often come with side effects such as drowsiness. Consider these natural remedies to help prevent and relieve allergic symptoms this year. Understanding Allergies
Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affect more than one in six Canadians. The most common symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion. Allergy symptoms are caused by an overactive immune response. It is not the pollen or ragweed that is causing your runny nose, but rather your immune system overreacting to these otherwise benign substances. When you come in contact with an environmental allergen such as pollen, your body releases an immune mediator called IgE, which floats around and binds to 10 bcparent.ca • summer issue 2014
specialized white blood cells known as mast cells. Mast cells then release a number of chemicals, including histamine (hence the use of ‘anti-histamine’ medications), leading to inflammation and an attempt to rid the body of the allergen and thus creating your allergic symptoms. Natural Remedies to Prevent and Relieve Seasonal Allergies Reduce Exposure to Allergens
This does not mean completely avoiding the outdoors during the summer, but taking steps to reduce your overall exposure to allergens. A few steps include checking the weather network pollen report and being more cautious on days with high levels, changing clothes after being outdoors, regularly cleaning your home (wash sheets, dust, clean carpets, etc), and using a HEPA filter to help clean indoor air. Nasal Lavage (Neti Pot)
A great remedy for both prevention and treatment of allergic symptoms is a nasal lavage or neti pot. Using a saline (saltwater) solution to cleanse the nasal passage is particularly helpful for those with sinus congestion or sinusitis.
In a 2002 study, people suffering from chronic sinusitis were prescribed a neti pot rinse daily. The subjects had a significant reduction in sinus symptoms and reduced requirement for medications, with 93% of the participants reporting an overall improvement in quality of life. Another research study looked at the efficacy of nasal lavage in kids with allergic rhinitis, and found a significant reduction in allergic symptoms as well as a decrease in the use of antihistamines. This safe and inexpensive remedy should be performed daily for best effects. Herbal Remedies
While the pollen from trees and flowers may be the cause of your allergies, looking to nature may also be the solution. There are a number of herbs that are excellent in preventing and treating allergies, such as dried Nettle leaf (yes, the same nettle that stings!) in capsule form or as a tea, which has been shown to stabilize mast cells and decrease inflammation. Eyebright is another great herb, and is more specific for the eyes—a cold compress made from eyebright tea can be very soothing to itchy eyes. The spice Turmeric and it’s active ingredient,