Spring means one thing to Karen*
Time to stock up on tissues. The 42-year old, mother of three has suffered from seasonal allergies since she was nine. Years of skipping allergy shots, and staying indoors led to years of taking antihistamines that have finally taken their toll. She’s decided that taking so many may not be good for her and she no longer wants to feel “medicated” and only resorts to medication when her raw, runny nose and red, ‘hay fever’, watery eyes are unbearable. Three years ago, one of her teenaged daughters also developed allergies. Too active - and conscious of her appearance - to put up with sniffles, Veronica takes a daily antihistamine through spring and summer, the way others pop a daily vitamin. Karen hopes that Veronica will soon outgrow this seasonal nuisance. Neither Karen nor her daughter has found an effective way to manage their seasonal allergies. But they’re not sure what else to do. As it turns out, there’s a lot they and other allergy sufferers can do to put some “spring” back into their seasons. Seasonal Signs
Sneezing, inflammation of the nose and mucous membranes of the eyes, itching of the nose, roof of the mouth, eyes, and throat gradually or abruptly followed by tearing, sneezing, and clear, watery nasal discharge are triggered by inhaled allergens. Headaches and irritability may also occur. However, fever, cough, sore throat, wheezing and headache are more likely to mean you have a cold. People allergic to pet dander, dust mites or indoor molds usually experience allergy symptoms year round although symptoms may flare up in cold weather when more time is spent indoors close to the culprits. It’s not uncommon for allergies and asthma to go hand-in-hand, so if you or your child experience allergy symptoms as well as chest-focused symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest or shortness of breath, see a physician. Prevention first
Avoid, or at least minimize, your exposure to things that irritate your nose. In late spring, it’s likely to be tree pollens, during the summer, grass pollens, and late summer and fall, weed pollens. Short of undergoing allergy tests, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly which tree or plant causes you to sniffle, but try these measures to reduce your contact with most outdoor allergy triggers. 6 easy steps to relief. 6 Easy steps to relief - Keep grass short, and the garden weeded; hire a student to do the gardening
- Keep outdoor shoes and jackets clean-store away from your living space
- Shower and wash hair in the evening. Pollens cling to hair, hair sheds pollens onto pillows, you spend one-third of your time with your face on or near a pillow - need we say more?
- Clean and change bed linens often, as mentioned. And don’t hang them outside to dry!
- Enjoy air conditioning
- Schedule outdoor activities later in the day, after 3pm, after most morning-released pollens have settled.
To ensure indoor relief - vacuum and dust often; trade plushy, pollen-grabbing carpets and drapes for hardwood, tile and blinds. Nutritional sniffle fighters
After preparing your environment, Ian Lloyd, a Victoria, B.C. pharmacist and chartered herbalist suggests you prepare your body to fight allergies. Try these natural, safe, economical and easy steps: - Research shows Vitamin C has antihistamine properties and
helps the body resist infection - Drink lots of water to lubricate bodily functions, including those that secrete substances that move attacking allergens out of nose and eyes.
- Flush your nose with saline nasal sprays, to soothe sore nasal membranes and flush out irritating allergens
- And for eyes, a benign saline drop (often marketed as artificial tears) will cool and flush itchy eyes.
|  | Food effects
People with seasonal allergies are likely to have food allergies. Keep a food journal – itemize what you eat and the physical or mental reactions up to 4 hours after eating. An inexpensive and effective way to isolate food allergens. Common culprits are melons, bananas, nuts, dairy, and wheat products. A hypoallergenic diet can help people with asthma and allergic rhinitis, but the effect of such a diet on hay fever symptoms has not been studied. People with hay fever who are interested in exploring the possible effects of a food allergy avoidance program should talk with a doctor. Discovering and eliminating food allergens is likely to improve overall health even if it has no effect on hay fever symptoms. “Hot stuff” that works
Good news! There are some foods that may help to relieve allergy symptoms. Hot stuff such as horseradish and cayenne pepper does what you’d expect; clears up congestion in nose, eyes and chest and speeds the flow of mucous to carry allergens out of the body. Garlic, well-known for its blood-thinning properties, is also being touted as a natural decongestant. Stress can’t cause hay fever, but if your body is worn out from dealing with stress, it won’t fight off allergies effectively. Get plenty of sleep during allergy season, and, on days when symptoms are particularly tough, take some recovery time. Ask your Pharmacist
Over the counter medications relieve the symptoms but not the cause. Go to our column “Ask your Pharmacist” on page 4 for the latest updates. Homeopathic solutions
Many a seasonal sneezer has relied on homeopathic allergy solutions. A common ingredient in homeopathic allergy remedies to target symptoms is allium cepa, an herb in the onion family. Other homeopathic products are taken as a preventative measure before allergy symptoms appear. One such product, marketed by Dolisos, is formulated with minute quantities of Canadian tree, grass and ragweed pollens. For those who’d rather go the non-medicinal route, the following herbal and plant-based treatments although not scientifically proven effective are often recommended for allergies: - Nettle Leaf is reported to improve symptoms
- Quercetin, (a type of plant known as a flavonoid) appears to work in a similar way to the common allergy drug cromolyn
- Grape seed and pine bark are anecdotally reported to be effective
- Research with the herb butterbur suggests that it may effectively reduce some allergy symptoms.
Lloyd suggests trying an herbal supplement specially formulated for allergies; most contain antioxidants and flavonoids along with vitamin C. A number of allergy sufferers rely on annual vaccines to prevent or reduce seasonal symptoms - 80% of these sufferers respond successfully. And luckily children protected by vaccines tend to outgrow their reoccurring allergies. Though there’s no cure for seasonal allergies, the good news is, there’s no shortage of things you can try to help you enjoy, not dread, the changing seasons. *not her real name H&L |
Send To Friend
Print
