Natural Allergy Relief

Allergies. Ugh. Thoughts of itching nose and face, headaches, swollen and sore throat fill my mind at the very mention of the word. Drug free, natural remedies held the answer for me. 

 

In my early twenties, I had such severe allergies, they’d morph into sinus infections four or five times a year. It was bad. My GP and the two ENT‘s I visited had no advice for me beyond the prescriptions they wrote for allergy meds and antibiotics. Their inability to educate me pushed me to start asking questions. These questions were the catalyst that led me to my current passion for organic living and a gentler approach to everyday maladies.

My philosophy for healing has certainly changed over the years from going for the “big guns” (pharmaceutical) to learning to nourish myself through live changes, whether physical or otherwise.

As I have studied options other than those we have come to expect from allopathic medicine (what you’re likely to receive when going to an M.D.). Rather than taking pharmaceuticals every time I experience a malady these days, I look for ways to nourish my body with food, sleep and connection with people who love me. While there is certainly a place for drugs, in my experience, listening to my body and spirit and making healing life choices have yielded far more powerful and life changing results than popping pills.

Without further ado, here’s what’s I did. I made changes over time, so don’t feel you have to do it all at once.

1. Eliminate chemical cleaners from the house.
Yes, I mean no bleach.Vinegar, baking soda and good old hot soap and water work great for cleaning.

2. Remove fabrics that harbor dust from the house –
like carpet, un-washable drapes and pillow covers, goose down pillows and comforters. We have tile and wood in our house and all my fabrics are washable.

3.  Pay careful attention to soaps/fragrances and makeup that touch the skin. 
We use unscented laundry soap and shampoo. I wear minimal makeup and the ingredients in it are edible – like olive oil and fruit extracts.

4. Eliminate foods like citrus, dairy, wheat, sugar and caffeine during allergy season
and then add them back in one at a time over a few weeks time to see if any of them seem to exacerbate symptoms. My big triggers were dairy and citrus and I don’t consume either during my worst allergy times.

5. Try homeopathic remedies.
My Naturopathic doctor prescribed one for me that looked like pollen and it worked! I took a little under my tongue daily for about a month. I couldn’t believe the difference it made – nearly immediately.

6. Try local raw honey.
Honey contains local pollens that help build the body’s immunity to allergens. Plus, it tastes delicious!

7. Try Nettle (Urtica Dioca) infusion
(a strong tea) and my symptoms definitely subside if I drink it regularly. While one can buy herbs in capsule form, my personal preference is to make a tea, infusion or tincture with them. It’s an acquired taste. Rob says it tastes “earthy” but I’ve grown to love it. I add peppermint to mine.

8. Flush daily with a netipot.
Keep your sinuses moist and “dusted”.

*As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor.  I’m simply sharing common sense choices I have made for myself & my family. I have taken the time to research any health decisions I make and have consulted with my local herbalist or doc when appropriate. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal, prescription or off the shelf at a local drugstore.*

That said, the reason I love herbs is that they are usually far more gentle on our bodies than over the counter prescriptions and remind our bodies how they are supposed to work!

Try some of these and breathe the air without fear of sneezing!!!

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