WELLNESS

Hayfever: Natural ways to prevent it before it starts

March 6, 2016

 

Hayfever sucks. There’s no two ways about it. Spring is around the corner and all we really want to do is run freely through a field of wildflowers am I right? Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration and I’ve just watched to many feminine hygiene commercials, but you get where I’m going with this. We want to be free to bask in the sunshine and gulp big lung-fulls of fresh fragrant spring air. Instead many of us are walking around with red rimmed teary eyes, sneezing like we’re being paid for it, and desperately searching for the nearest air-conditioned room to hermetically seal ourselves into. It’s utterly unfair. Just when we want to be outside the most, we are driven back indoors. I have always had hayfever, and all I could do was take an antihistamine. For much of my life I didn’t know that there were completely natural ways to manage hay fever that worked just as well as antihistamines, and in some cases better because they can actually change your allergic response as opposed to just suppressing the symptoms. Here are some incredibly effective natural tools to help kick your hayfever in the butt so you can run through that field of wildflowers like the champion you are.

* Quick disclaimer, I am not a doctor, nurse, naturopath, or a nutritionist. This information is not intended as medical advice but merely information I have gathered through research and personal trail and error that you can use to further your own inquiry into your health. Please consult your doctor before implementing any new foods herbs or supplements into your diet. Do not try any of these remedies if you are pregnant or nursing without consulting with your doctor first. Many herbs are not suitable for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Raw Local Honey

The first and easiest way to ease your hay fever is to add raw local honey to your daily diet. It has to be raw and unprocessed as well as local because the reason that it works is that it contains trace amounts of the pollens in your area and the theory is that it acts as a method of desensitization. Similar to getting an allergy shot where the body is exposed to very small manageable amounts over time and eventually builds up a tolerance to the allergen. This remedy has no scientific proof to back it up but many people swear by it, and I really felt that it made a difference when I added it to my diet. If anything it tastes spectacular, you only need a teaspoon or two and it’s a very simple and easy thing to incorporate into your daily diet. Do not use raw local honey if you have a bee allergy.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a natural antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables like apples and onions. It has been found to inhibit histamine. It can help reduce all the usual allergic symptoms of itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose. A quercetin supplement can be found in your local health food store. To get the antihistamine effect, you need more than can be consumed in your daily diet. Also, for this supplement to work you must take it starting a few weeks before hayfever season starts. It needs time to build up in your system and take effect. What’s awesome about quercetin is that it has other amazing benefits as well such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. It also has anti tumor properties and has been shown in studies to be effective against cancer cells. So it’s an all around winner. However, it can interfere with absorption of certain medications (particularly heart medications) so ALWAYS consult a doctor before adding any new supplement to your regime.

Stinging Nettles

Stinging nettles are an allergy POWERHOUSE. Like quercetin, stinging nettles also work to inhibit the release of histamine. In one study, 57% of patients rated nettles as effective in relieving allergies, and 48% said that nettles were more effective than their allergy medication. In order for it to work against allergies, it needs to be the FREEZE DRIED form in capsules. It has also been studied in the treatment of type II diabetes, and found to lower blood sugar. It also needs to be taken a few weeks before hay fever starts to reach its full effectiveness when pollen season hits. So now is the perfect time to start! Be aware that it can enhance blood pressure lowering drugs, and also may not be suitable for people on blood thinners, so again, talk to your doctor first! It is also not recommended for pregnancy, although some herbalists do use it in pregnancy teas, so that is a conversation to have with your doctor or a licensed herbalist.

Tumeric

Tumeric is an all around amazing spice that acts on all forms of inflammation including hayfever. Tumeric is a root in the ginger family that contains a potent antioxidant called curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit histamine and has been shown to be helpful for other types of inflammation including arthritis and Alzheimer’s. It also has anti- cancer properties that are currently being researched, and has been shown to be an effective antidepressant in animal models. It fights inflammation and aging and is a spice that should be in your daily diet. Taking a supplement of turmeric or curcumin can be a very effective way to combat allergies. Pregnant and nursing women should avoid high doses of turmeric/curcumin, but cooking with the spice is completely fine. Same goes for anyone on blood thinners as higher doses can increase the blood thinning effects.

Alkaline Diet

For some, simply switching to a more alkaline diet with an emphasis on vegetables and fruits, and a reduction in processed foods and animal products can be very effective. Reducing processed foods and adding more fruits and vegetables is something we should all do anyway, and if it helps your hayfever then that’s an extra bonus!!!

There you go. All natural ways to prevent your hayfever from taking you down this Spring. Remember to consult with your doctor, and if one or all of these are right for you, get started now in order to give the supplements some time to build up in your system. Happy Spring!

xo

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