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In some parts of the country, this weekend was a real kick-off to spring. The weather was beautiful and warm enough for all of those trees and spring bulbs to pop out some color. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, this means the start of itchy eyes and runny noses. Here are some tips to help you combat the sniffles and sneezing this year.
1)Rinse out your nose. Consider using a Netti pot or other similar device that rinses water up one nostril, into your sinuses and out the other. This amazing little tool removes all of that pollen, dust, and mold that has settled in for the season. If you are already somewhat inflamed, consider adding a tiny pinch of sea salt (not table salt) to reduce the redness and irritation.
2)Shower at night (or after you spend all day in the outdoors). Even doing a quick rinse off will help to remove any pollen or dust that your hair and skin has collected during the day. You will sleep much better because you won’t be rolling around in those allergens.
3)Regularly wash your sheets and blankets during allergy season. Like showering yourself off at night, this removes those allergens from the surface of your bed so you aren’t breathing it in all night long.
4) Consider running an air filter in your room. I have had multiple patients swear that because they are so sensitive during the spring, a filter in their bedroom helps reduce the load of allergens they breathe in while sleeping. If you don’t like white noise, run it for an hour or two with the door closed before you are actually ready to fall asleep.
5)Reduce your sugar and dairy intake during allergy time. Dairy doesn’t cause your body to produce more mucus but it does thicken what you already have causing you to be more congested – and who needs thicker mucus while you’re sneezing? Sugar can suppress your immune system and during this time you need all hands on deck to remove those pollen, dust, and mold spores.
Add a Comment5 Comments
The suggestion to shower at night is brilliant, and something that makes so much sense, and I've never thought about it before. My husband has horrible allergies (we also live in Texas, with its pollen and mold rodeos). I'm going to suggest this and see if it helps. Thank you!!
April 12, 2009 - 5:47amThis Comment
I recommend immune balancing supplement EpiCor. Helps reduce or mute unwanted aggressive immune response, which what an allergy reaction is. Allergies are simply your immune system over-responding to something that's really not a threat, like pollen or dust. That's why I don't agree with "needing all hands on deck" in the story above. You want all hands to take a rest and not over-respond. It's called immune balance. Aggressive immune response when needed (virus, bacteria) passive immune response when needed (allergy), and a mix of the two during immune-system challenges (stress, poor diet, etc.).
May 5, 2010 - 3:42pmThis Comment
Central Texas has a year-long allergy season! We can only deal with the primary triggers at whatever time of year. Should you see the seasonal chart, it would look to you like the Himalayas, with Everest representing our winter cedar fever.
Because temperatures go to such extremes here, and quite suddenly, we're either fighting pollen or mold, or both. Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, so airing the house out daily helps keep things in check.
April 8, 2009 - 4:40pmThis Comment
In addition to the suggestions above, those with mold and allergy concerns may want to check out the remarkable research on mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold, not to mention the health benefits, long-term protection, and simply making your home smell great.
April 8, 2009 - 1:27pmhttp://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/79544
This Comment
A great new gadget I found is a liquid ioniser. Not only does it clear the air really effectively but having locked out teh allergens you cannot disturbe them when you sit, walk around or pull the curtains. This means less critical house cleaning and hard work to keep allergens at bay. There is no need to remove carpets, curtains and furnishings to make your home an allergy free home.
April 8, 2009 - 7:36amThis Comment