Allergy Season Ahead
It feels like Spring! The birds are singing and the ground is thawing. And the grip of Winter is weakening as a handful of warm, sunny days sneak into our week. Spring makes me excited and fills me with empowerment to do new things. So, I thought I should start a blog to share more information with patients, friends and family. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I promise to share information that will benefit you and your loved ones!
Allergies are a big topic and more people seem to suffer from allergies, whether to food or the environment. According to research, over 50 million people are affected by allergies, about 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children. Allergies can be annoying and even frustrating, but here are some easy tips that could help ease allergies.
1. Acupuncture - Acupuncture helps reduce allergies and the symptoms during an acute allergy attack. The best way to utilize acupuncture for allergies is to be treated before you start having
allergy symptoms to strengthen the immune system. For example, for spring allergies acupuncture treatments would start in winter, summer allergies treated in spring, etc. Acupuncture can treat acute symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sinus congestion, itchy eyes and skin, runny nose, etc) and chronic allergies.
2. Herbs - There are several Chinese herbal formulas, Western herbs and nutritional supplements that help allergies. Here are my favorites:
Allerplex by Standard Process is a formula used to treat seasonal/environmental allergies and respiratory function
Bi Yan Pian - Chinese herbal formula that is used for unblocking the sinuses
Fragrant Jade - Chinese herbal formula that is used to strengthen "wei qi" and open nasal passages
Stinging Nettles
Local Raw Honey
Albizia Complex by Standard Process
Boswellia Complex by Standard Process
3. Diet - Eating sugar, fried foods, dairy, grains and processed foods can weaken the digestive system, which plays a big role in our immune system. A weakened gut can lead to inflammation in the body, digestive issues (heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea), allergies and autoimmune diseases. A healthy gut and intestinal bacteria are the foundation to a healthy immune system. Consider a probiotic, bone broth soup and re-evaluating your diet if you are having chronic allergies.
4. Aromatherapy - Essential oils can reduce inflammation and help boost the immune response. These are the oils that I most commonly used for allergies:
Breathe Blend by doTerra
Peppermint
Eucalyptus
Lavender
Frankincense
Tea Tree
5. Apple Cider Vinegar - Consistent use of apple cider vinegar is important to see improvements with allergy symptoms. Drink 1T of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1T of lemon juice and 1T of raw, local honey three times a day.
6. Acupressure Points - Here are three acupressure points that are great for boosting the immune system and reducing allergy symptoms. Apply pressure or tap on the acupressure point for 30 seconds twice a day.
8. Reduce Stress - Research shows that stress is related to the health of the immune system and allergies. When we have stress our body releases stress hormones including histamine, which causes many allergy symptoms. By reducing the stress you can reduce your body's histamine reaction!! Try some acupuncture, yoga, exercise or breathing techniques to manage stress.
