9 Ways to Prevent Spring Allergies

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Erin Brockmeyer, GoLocalPDX Natural Health Expert

One of the best things about living in the Pacific Northwest is that the the rainy season's moderate winter temperatures bring about early signs of spring. The first bud break on the Magnolia trees, the first crocuses and the first blossoms on the cherry trees all arrive sometime in late January.

Despite the gray, these bursts of color make you think warm thoughts of spring. The first warm sunny day. The other first that arrives with those beautiful sights is the first sneeze of allergy season. Even though your allergies may not get truly awful until March or April, now is the time to start taking preventative measures to boost your chances of sailing through spring allergy season.

Here are 9 surefire ways to make sure you are ready to fight allergy season this year:

1. Eat raw local honey.

Naturopaths and other natural health experts swear by this one. The theory goes like this: bees that are local to where you live interact with and collect pollen that is local to where you live. Said pollen becomes a part of the honey said bees create, and voila! you build up immunity by ingesting small particles of the pollen to which you are allergic. It is the same idea as getting allergy shots (in theory). The science here is a little hit-or-miss, and you could likely find studies that show it works like a miracle and studies that show it does nothing. The benefits of raw honey are many; it is antiviral, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, so if you start taking 1/4 teaspoon/day gradually building up to 1 tsp/day starting 2-3 months prior to your big allergy season it isn’t going to hurt (unless you are diabetic or allergic to bees/honey or under one-year-old).

2. Cut out histamine containing foods.

It’s the release of histamine in response to allergens that causes you so much discomfort during an allergy attack. If you already have a deluge of histamine in your body due to your environmental allergies, eating foods high in histamine could make your symptoms worse. Fermented foods are high in histamine, so even though they have other great benefits, you may want to limit their intake when your allergies are at their peak. Here is a list of other histamine containing and histamine releasing foods.

3. Cut out dairy.

Again, natural health providers are highly likely to suggest this as a way to prevent allergy issues. The reasoning behind it is simple: dairy can thicken your mucous secretions, thus making a marvelous little nasal trap for all of the pollen in the air. You then have pollen irritating your sinuses all day and are an allergic mess by day’s end. If you notice that consuming dairy makes you snotty, this could be a good food to avoid before and during allergy season.

4. Get to know your neti pot.

This is the perfect way to follow the previous suggestion, because using a neti pot (or nasal irrigation of any kind) is all about keeping those nasal passages free and clear. Neti pots do work in a pinch if you are desperately in need, but they work best if you start before the need is great. Start using it a few times each week right now, and during allergy season use it daily. Pay attention to when your allergies are worst, and use the neti pot accordingly. For example, if you are super sneezy by the end of the day from collecting pollen all day, use your neti pot before bed. If you wake up sneezing from all those dust mites in your pillows, use your neti pot in the morning. Here are some directions for best practices when using nasal irrigation.

5. Try quercetin (up to 500 mg twice/day).

This is a natural anti-inflammatory, and it can block histamine before it starts to spread its detrimental effects. Combine this with adequate amounts of Vitamin C either via supplement or diet, as Vitamin C assists with preservation of the quercetin in your body. Start taking it about a month before allergy season hits for best effects.

6. Stock up on butterbur (50-75 mg twice/day).

This herb is a potent blocker of leukotrienes — the inflammatory chemicals produced by your body in response to an allergen. Leukotrienes deserve your thanks when you get stuffy, full of mucous, and your airways start to tighten. Butterbur can cause issues in people who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies or chrysanthemums, so avoid this herb if you are in this category. Make sure you get a supplement that is labeled as “PA-free” or “pyrrolizidine-free” in order to avoid potential liver issues.

7. Change out your air conditioner and furnace filters in the spring.

If you are in a high allergen area (pretty much anywhere in the Willamette Valley) or if you are a serious sufferer you may want to change your filters again mid-summer. Choose filters that are rated high on the MERV system. This is a system that rates how good the filters are at removing pollen and other common allergens — aim for a rating of between 8-12.

8. De-stress.

Recent studies have shown that people with allergies have more attacks when they are under high amounts of stress. Do some yoga, meditate, get some rest, take a break and let go — you might have an easier allergy season.

9. Make an appointment with your local acupuncturist.

Many people swear by acupuncture to treat and prevent seasonal allergies. There is some compelling research, but as with most acupuncture studies, there are not many that fit the western medical model (yet). More research is being done every day, however, and we know for certain that the side effects are minimal to non-existent, which beats pharmaceuticals. In addition, if you choose an acupuncturist who also practices Chinese herbal medicine, s/he will be able to make a custom formula for your allergies that will likely be a potent way of preventing and/or treating them.

Some of the above suggestions seem easy (eat honey? YES!), while others seem daunting (no dairy? UGH!). Just think of the possible freedom they can bring you this year. When a friend asks if you want to take an impromptu late spring camping trip, you can go along. You won’t have to hole yourself up in your air conditioned office to avoid pollen. You will finally be able to look at the plum blossoms without contempt. With the help of the above recommendations you just might make it through this allergy season without being in a continual Benadryl fog, and that is worth a lot.

Erin Brockmeyer, LAc, is owner and acupuncturist at Solstice Natural Health in downtown Portland. She creates custom health plans for patients to help them tackle their most complicated health concerns, including infertility, prenatal care, fibromyalgia, thyroid conditions and chronic and acute pain conditions. Visit her website for more information and to download her free e-book 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health Today.