Improve Your Allergies, Naturally!

Growing up, I was one of those weirdos who was allergic to everything. Grass, pollen, dust and countless food allergies were just a few of the things that made me sniffle, cough, swell and sneeze. So needless to say I was quite regularly suffering from some sort of reaction to my allergies. During spring I was constantly medicated which was arguably worse than the allergies themselves!  Oh the joys of childhood.

Do you suffer from allergies? You may actually have allergies and not even know it! Other than typical sneezing and sniffling symptoms; under-eye circles, dry skin, vomiting, and excessive tiredness can all be symptoms too.  I know from experience that you absolutely do not have to take an everyday allergy medicine to get relief from your irritating woes. (I am also not a doctor, so be sure to consult yours before stopping any medication or if you are experiencing any severe symptoms.) Here are some steps you can take to drastically improve your sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-headed self.

Figure out what you’re allergic to – Simple, right? Not so much.  You could have anything from airborne to food allergies. Keep a journal of the things you do and eat everyday and the conditions you are in, and keep note of when your symptoms are the worst. You should be able to narrow it down with that information. Keep in mind it could be the smallest most insignificant thing like, say… the colorant in yellow paint.  Ingredients in brands can slightly differ, so make sure you take that into consideration as well. Once you find something that you think might be causing the problem, cut it out. If things drastically improve – bingo! If not, keep searching or consult an allergy doctor and see if you can take a super-fun skin prick test.

Cut out mucus causing foods – Foods that cause mucus to form are technically allergens. Extra mucus can also cause existing allergies to be MUCH worse than they already are. I can’t emphasis enough that if you have allergies, you should NOT be eating dairy. Dairy (milk, eggs, cheese) is the number one cause of excessive mucus in children and adults, and is also a huge food allergy.( There are  tons of other reasons why you should not be eating dairy, but we wont get into them here.)  Some experts say that wheat, soy and any heavily processed or refined foods can typically cause mucus in most people. Stick to basic, whole foods and you shouldn’t have a problem.

Clean – Vacuum your floor, wash your sheets, clean your clothes, and dust everything you own almost every single day. It is a lot of work, but if you have airborne allergies, it will make your life drastically better.  Keeping your sleeping area allergy-free is the best tip I can give you. Wash your sheets at least twice a week, and always take a shower before you go to bed. There is nothing worse than marinating in allergens all night.

All hail the neti pot – Yes, it is absolutely frightening, but with some practice the neti pot can become your BFF.  It works simply by pouring warm salty water through one nostril and allowing it to flow out the other, in turn cleaning out all of the funkyness that has been collecting in your nasal cavities. Delicious, no? But the effects of using a neti pot everyday are profound, and everyone who does it is hooked!

Drew from Toothpaste for Dinner shows us how to (not) irrigate our nasal passages.

Acupuncture – If you are already suffering from severe allergy symptoms, acupuncture could help alleviate your symptoms. It has been found that regular acupuncture can drastically help those suffering from allergies and sinus issues. However, this will not prevent allergies from occurring in the first place.

Get your herbs on – If you are in the throws of allergy season you can find some relief in herbs like eucalyptus, licorice root, alfalfa, red clover, and (of course) apple cider vinegar.

What works to prevent or improve your allergies? What are you allergic to?  Bring on the allergy stories, I’m so fascinated by this!