Grass Allergies
The flowers are blooming, the trees are budding, and seasonal allergies are beginning. The first round comes for those who are blessed with an allergy to tree pollens. Those who are have grass allergies are not far behind. From the viewpoint that guides the thinking of natural healing, the pollen is not the problem as much as the body's inability to handle the pollen. This explains why some people suffer with allergies and others do not.
Grass Allergies
The ideal time to start strengthening the body and getting it ready for allergy season is in the fall. This article is for all those allergy sufferers who either did not know this or who procrastinated and are now dealing with itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, headaches and all the other symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Grass Allergies
Without getting into scientific detail, the body produces histamines as a reaction to allergens. The histamines cause many of the allergic reactions that make life so uncomfortable. The Western way of thinking is to stop the body from creating histamines - stopping the allergic reaction. Unfortunately, antihistamines have many side effects. These include but are not limited to: drowsiness, headaches, difficulty in passing urine, dry mouth, blurred vision, feeling sick or vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms.
Grass Allergies
Other side effects include high blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, depression, disturbed sleep, tremors, convulsions, blood and liver disorders, and over-excitement in children. Antihistamines can also cause irritation from creams, lotions and eye drops, as well as allergic reactions, such as swelling, rash and breathing difficulties.
First Remedy:
For those that do not like to take antihistamines there is another option. There is a product made by standard process called Antronex®. Instead of working to block the production of histamines, this product gets the liver to process the histamines out of the system. I do not know of any side effects associated with the product and my experience with it has been nothing short of miraculous. I will take anywhere from one to three pills when symptoms begin, and usually within five to 10 minutes the allergy symptoms are relieved.
Second Remedy:
As we breathe, the pollens in the air get trapped in our mucous membranes. Simply cleaning off the mucous membranes one to three times a day can provide great relief from allergy symptoms. Perhaps the easiest and most cost effective way to do this is with a device known as a Neti pot. This device looks like a small teapot and is filled with a saltwater solution. The spout of the pot is put in one nostril, and the water is allowed to run through the nasal passages and out the opposite nostril. I recommend a morning and nighttime rinse, and if symptoms are bad, one or two rinses during the day.
Third Remedy:
It cannot be stressed enough how important proper hydration is for allergy sufferers. When the mucus membranes become dehydrated they are much more likely to become irritated. The typical rule of thumb is to take your body weight, divided by two, and use that as the number of ounces of water you should drink in a day. For example, 150 pounds divided by two is 75 - the appropriate number of ounces of water you should consume. Another way to determine if you're getting enough water is to check that your urine is clear and does not have a foul odor.
The solutions discussed are great for symptomatic relief. To address the underlying causes of allergies, I recommend meeting with an acupuncturist or naturopath who has studied the subject.
No comments:
Post a Comment