There are many ways to treat allergies. At AAPRI, we focus on finding the root cause of allergies so we can decrease your reactivity and, consequently, your allergy symptoms. While we’re investigating those causes through testing and learning about our patients’ history and experiences, natural remedies can be helpful in reducing or soothing your allergy symptoms.
Nasal irrigation
Whether you use a neti pot, sinus rinse spray, or nasal rinsing kit, nasal irrigation is an excellent way to reduce your allergy symptoms. We like it because it’s drug-free and so simple! Allergic reactions and nasal rhinitis occur when allergens are inhaled. Symptoms are exacerbated when these allergens become trapped in the tiny hairs that line your nasal passages. With nasal irrigation, you simply remove the allergens. (Be sure to follow ALL package directions!)
Nasal irrigation can help mitigate symptoms for seasonal allergies, but it works well for indoor allergies, too. If you are allergic to cats, for example, you can irrigate for a few days after you visit Grandma with her beloved Fluffy. Rinsing out those pesky allergens can reduce your reactivity, and symptoms may be less severe or subside more quickly.
Nasal irrigation is not to be confused with nasal sprays. If you prefer nasal sprays, read our article on correct techniques to get the most out of your treatment.
Supplements for allergies
Since allergies are classed as an immunologic phenomena, you can’t go wrong boosting your immune system during allergy season. The best way to do this is through sustained lifestyle changes including whole foods, movement, better sleep, and stress reduction. But while you’re working on that, you can give your immune system a hand with supplements.
D-Hist is one of the supplements we offer. It contains flavonoids, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes and botanicals designed to provide comprehensive support for seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens. Some of our patients have also told us they had much less severe allergy seasons after using Juice Plus+ consistently!
Raw honey or bee pollen
We offer immunotherapy here at AAPRI, with allergy shots and sublingual therapies such as sublingual tablets and drops. But for less severe seasonal allergies, consuming raw honey or bee pollen has been touted recently for decreasing symptoms. Why? It’s a kind of DYI immunotherapy, where repeated exposure to tiny amounts of an allergen helps you build up a tolerance. In this case, the allergen is pollen — downing a spoonful of raw honey will NOT make you immune to bee sting allergies.
The jury’s still out on the efficacy of bee-related products for allergies, but it can’t hurt to try it out. Speaking of honey, Dr. Z will be speaking at the Bristol County Beekeepers Association in October! Stay tuned for highlights from his talk, which will cover bee sting allergies, beekeeping health and safety, and the facts about bee products.
Conclusion
These are only a few of the many natural remedies for allergies available today. As with any natural remedy, we caution you to follow package directions, and consult us first to ensure that your chosen remedy does not conflict with any treatments or medications you’re already receiving. We can schedule a consultation that includes allergy testing and treatment with a functional medicine focus, to determine the right supplements and remedies for you.
