Seasonal Allergies

Published on Fri Apr 6, 2018 - 2 min read

Published by:

Bryan Bradford

Ditch the side effects and get better results with natural remedies this allergy season

Itchy? Sneezy? Wheezy? Hard to breathe easy? Yes, spring is in bloom and unfortunately for 1 in 5 Americans so are our allergies¹. Spring should be a fun time of year where we celebrate the dawn of warm weather, but it can be a miserable time for people with allergies. Pollen is the most common allergy trigger with tree pollens being highest in spring, grasses in summer, and weeds in the fall².

An allergy occurs when a foreign substance enters the body, and the immune system marks it for elimination by producing the chemical histamine which causes watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and swelling in our sinuses³. These reactions are how our body eliminates allergens. We usually want this to happen with actual toxins, but with seasonal allergies, the immune system has become hypersensitive to substances that pose no real threat⁴.

Fortunately; research shows us there are a multitude of natural remedies that can help lower immune hypersensitivity and reduce allergy symptoms⁵. Here are some of our most effective remedies:

Nettles are the number one anti-allergy herb. Nettle has been used for hundreds of years for everything from high blood pressure to seasonal allergies. Recent research shows that nettles contain a histamine-like compound that binds to our body’s histamine receptors and prevents real histamine from interacting with them, preventing inflammatory reactions much like modern medications but without the side effects⁶.
Butterbur is a less well-known anti-allergy herb but one of the most powerful. In one study of 580 patients 90% experienced significant allergy relief in just one week⁷. In other studies directly comparing butterbur to Allegra and Zyrtec butterbur was found to be equally effective without side effects^8,9. Butterbur blocks inflammatory compounds like leukotrienes which are produced along with histamine by overactive immune cells^10,11.
Quercetin, Bromelain, and Vitamin C are a classic trio when it comes to seasonal allergy relief. Quercetin is an antioxidant that stabilizes the immune system and downregulates the production of actual histamine receptors¹². Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that not only helps quercetin absorption but reduces swelling in sinuses and lungs¹³. Vitamin C helps with detoxification of histamine. In one study vitamin c alone dropped histamine levels by 40%¹⁴!
One of the most overlooked areas for seasonal allergy relief is diet. A lot of healthy foods like tomatoes, spinach, citrus fruits and others cause histamine production¹⁵. Further, specific foods such as wheat¹⁶, sugar¹⁷, and dairy¹⁸ can be inflammatory and keep our immune system on high alert. Reducing the body’s dietary histamine load and eliminating inflammatory foods can dramatically reduce seasonal allergies¹⁹.
Hidden environmental allergen exposure is often the culprit in pesky allergies that don’t seem to respond to other treatments²⁰. Consider dust-proofing your bedroom by installing a HEPA filtered air purifier. Regularly dusting, changing airconditioning filters, and covering mattresses and pillows with plastic can also reduce exposure. Be sure to check for hidden mold in bathrooms and living areas as well^21,22.

Whether you suffer from seasonal or ongoing allergies, we hope these natural remedies can help you enjoy the spring season.

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Tags: allergies, allergy prevention

Published By:

Bryan Bradford

Bryan Bradford is the lead nutrition specialist, Certified Health Coach and Chief Nutrition Officer and one of the founding family members of Sunflower Shoppe.

Seasonal Allergies

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