For many of us, Spring allergies have sprung! An allergic reaction occurs when your body comes into contact with an allergen. Your body identifies this substance as harmful, even when it is not. When you come into contact with that allergen, it will react to it, causing allergy symptoms. Springtime allergies are most often due to tree pollen and in more humid climates, outdoor mold. Grass pollen is a big cause of summer allergies and weed pollen causes fall allergies.
Allergy symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the particular allergy. Some common symptoms include: itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; runny nose; and congestion. Here are some ways that may help with reducing allergy symptoms without using medication:
- After spending time outside, take a shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair and put on clean clothes.
- Use high-efficiency air filters and change them frequently.
- Do a deep cleaning of your home every Spring.
- Take Nettle extract. It is considered to be a natural antihistamine. Research (1) shows that taking Nettle (Urtica dioica) extract shows in vitro inhibition of several key inflammatory events that cause the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
- Take Quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant found naturally in onions, apples and other produce. Research (2) has demonstrated the antihistamine effects of quercetin.
May you enjoy abundant health,
Rick Christman, MPH
References:
1) Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis – PubMed (nih.gov)
2) Quercetin inhibits transcriptional up-regulation of histamine H1 receptor via suppressing protein kinase C-δ/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 signaling pathway in HeLa cells – PubMed (nih.gov)