Some of us are unable to smell the beautiful spring flowers without sneezing.
But then there are others who cannot even leave their home due to allergic reactions to pollen, grasses, and pet dander. What can you do to avoid that red face, puffy eyes and streaming nose this spring?
If you are happy to take pharmaceuticals and OTC antihistamines, regardless of the side effects, then that is your prerogative. It may still be useful to read on as the complete picture may not be a simple allergic reaction and your overall health may benefit by addressing the issue as a whole. For example, I am allergic to alcohol and a holistic approach helped me to identify and now avoid the trigger, saving me from embarrassing bouts of sneezing.
WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES?
An allergy is a heightened reactivity of the immune system to foreign substances — usually foreign proteins (allergens) such as a bee sting or cat hair. The immune system is sensitised and produces specialised antibodies called IgE immunoglobulins (situated on specific white blood cells called mast cells) which are found in the lining of the respiratory system, skin and digestive tract. Anybody with a compromised immune system — even someone who’s never experienced symptoms before — can suffer from seasonal allergies. When your immune system is weak, it sees seasonal allergens as foreign bodies and launches an inflammatory response.
Many articles have been published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology about irritants and triggers such as mould, scented candles, cleaning products, animal dander, dust mites and cigarette smoke as examples of triggers that do not affect everyone — it is the hypersensitivity to them that will set off a host of symptoms.
WHY IS EVERYONE NOT SUSCEPTIBLE?
Our skin, mucous and cell membranes provide, at different levels, a physical and chemical barrier to the outside world. Many different kinds of bacteria, primarily located in the flora of our small and large intestine, are an intrinsic part of our barrier functions.
In a child, the metabolic system (which includes digestion) is least developed and the lack of mature enzyme systems, or under-developed bacterial flora, may lead to a wide range of food and chemical sensitivities and allergies. Digestive allergic sensitivity therefore typically occurs from infancy to preschool years. In addition, environmental pollution, exposure to smoking, stress, toxins, prescription medications, and other potential allergens in early life and changing nutritional patterns, undoubtedly contribute to the epidemic increase in the incidence of childhood allergies.
Excess sugar, food additives, and in most cases cow's milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat products should be avoided in young children.
UNDERLYING FOOD SENSITIVITIES
You may have an underlying food sensitivity, making your seasonal allergy symptoms worse. Cut out dairy and heavily refined carbohydrates during allergy season, and instead eat fruits, veggies and whole (gluten-free) grains. If that is not realistic, try it for a week only. On day eight, bring one food such as wheat, back into your diet. Watch over the next three days for any signs like increased mucus production, asthma-like symptoms, skin rashes, gas, bloating, heartburn, headaches, fatigue, or mood changes. A few weeks may pass before you notice a relief once the offending food has been identified.
STRESS CAN MAKE ALLERGIES WORSE
Research has discovered that stress can make your allergies worse. This is because hormones and other chemicals released during extended periods of stress, cause damage that triggers an immune response. Furthermore, the continual flow of stress hormones also causes nutrient depletion. Optimum nutrition supports the immune system.
GREEN-CLEAN YOUR HOME
Methodical cleaning of home and school environments should be implemented. Studies have shown that vacuuming with a standard vacuum cleaner actually increases the number of allergens in the air. Instead of removing them, most take microscopic allergens and redistribute them back into the air as you vacuum. What's more, most standard vacuum cleaners do not have the ability to capture allergens. I would recommend one with a certified HEPA filter AND a sealed system (available from Miéle).
Remove feather pillows and duvets and plants from the bedroom (because mould tends to grow in potting soil). Sometimes it may be necessary to replace carpeting with hardwood and limit upholstered items, wall tapestries or curtains. Buy allergen-proof cases for pillows and mattresses. Every six weeks, wash any stuffed animal toys in hot water or put them in plastic bags and freeze them overnight to kill off the dust mites.
Avoid body contact with chemical detergents, soaps and shampoos. Make sure the products you use do not contain phosphates, chlorine, or VOCs. White vinegar and lemon juice is the perfect all-purpose green cleaning agent, and baking soda, the all-natural odour absorber. Borax can remove dirt and act as an anti-fungal and disinfectant. Castile soap works well as an all-purpose cleaner in addition to being a good laundry and dish soap. Try club soda for stains, cornstarch for windows and carpet shampoo, olive oil to polish wood and vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
If you don’t feel like making your own, switch to natural cleaning products. Avoid inhalation of dust, smoke and other airborne pollutants as far as possible. An ioniser may be of great benefit to create a zone of pure air, emitting a negative ionic charge which pushes all airborne particles out of the immediate breathing zone. Please avoid phthalate-containing air fresheners, chemical bug sprays, plug-in electrical insect repellants, or electric air deodorisers. Some of these products are known carcinogens. Boil cinnamon or herbs for a fresh-smelling home, or add eucalyptus or lavender oil to water to wipe down window sills and skirting boards.
Some people find relief in a nasal rinse to flush irritants out of nasal passages. You can make your own by adding a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda to one litre of boiling water. Let the solution cool to body temperature before you put it in a neti pot to flush your nose. If the rinse burns, add a little more baking soda.
PET ALLERGIES
It is not just animal hair that can cause allergic reactions, but proteins found in their dander, dead skin flakes, urine and saliva. Cats are actually worse than dogs because their dander is lighter and clings to everything. This is why it is so important to get a good vacuum cleaner.
THE OUTDOORS
It may come as a surprise to learn that air pollution indoors is far worse than outdoors. The difference is a particular allergic reaction to pollen. You cannot stay indoors all the time, but you can get a little savvier about when to venture out. Most plants pollinate in the morning, which is why pollen counts are higher during the first part of the day. Another ideal time to get outdoors is right after a storm. Rain washes the air and can drop high pollen counts to almost zero.
One common allergen not mentioned yet is car fumes. Remember to reach for your nasal rinse as soon as you get home.
REMEDIES
Strengthen your immune system with good nutrition, plenty of sleep, and immune boosting remedies. A study published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy found that people with grass pollen allergies who took probiotics experienced fewer allergy symptoms than those who didn’t. Choose nutrients and herbs that naturally block histamine, such as nettles, quercetin and vitamin C. Curcumin, omega-3 and bromelain are all effective anti-inflammatories and may benefit allergies.
Homeopathic remedies are most helpful, and include eye drops. Various homeopathic nasal sprays are available. A popular nose spray in the US, is now available in SA, made with xylitol as the active ingredient. Give it a try!
Editor's note: The G. lucidum (reishi) mushroom has unique spores that possess anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties. Patrick Holford offers some good medicine solutions to seasonal irritants in his article Outwitting Allergies During Hay Fever Season
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