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Allergy Relief Naturally

Allergies can be caused from indoor irritants to bursts of outdoor pollen. Either way, allergens can be helped so your days can be enjoyable. Natural solutions can be highly effective foe allergy relief so you do not have to be groggy or worry about the side effects of medications with your children.

Top 3 Treatments:

Curcumin

Curcumin is a component of Turmeric that is a natural anti-inflammatory and highly effective. It blocks TNF alpha, and has been used for a variety of inflammatory conditions ranging from allergies to psoriasis1. Most do not know that to absorb it must be taken with black pepper and a fat like coconut oil or olive oil. Quality curcumin supplements, like Tumero, are found in the correct combination to be absorbed, otherwise you can prepare it yourself in a smoothie or other recipe. Studies showed it takes 8 grams (2 teaspoons) of turmeric to decrease inflammation2.

Ganoderma Lucidum

Ganoderma Lucidum is found in Reishi mushrooms and a highly effective anti-inflammatory. The spores of Ganoderma lucidum works through the same mechanism as curcumin, blocking TNF alpha and inflammatory interleukins. It has been categorized as a ‘wonder herb’ that helps decrease inflammation from allergies to autoimmune conditions3.  Ganoderma Lucidum is available in supplements, teas, coffees and other drinks from Organo Gold, making it an easy daily regimen.

Remove dietary allergens:

Allergens in the ‘traditional sense’ measure an IgE response, hence inflammation, welts, or anaphylaxis. That is not a complete picture of chronic inflammation that is caused via IgG or IgA reactions. IgG and IgA are antibodies are involved in delayed hypersensitivity, meaning the inflammation is not immediate and may not increase your allergy symptoms for hours to days after consuming or being exposed to your allergen. The majority of the lymphatic and immune reactions are via what is ingested, not how high the pollen count reaches. Our current culture has more chemicals, additives, preservatives, and overconsumption of the same foods that may cause the immune system to recognize our dietary staples as foreign.  Increasing inflammation at the mucous membranes of the digestive tract increases inflammation in the rest of the mucus membranes including the sinuses, lungs, bladder, and reproductive tract. Test your IgG and IgA’s via quality labs such asCyrex Labs or follow an Allergen Elimination Diet to make a rapid change in your sinus congestion within a week or more. The top allergens to eliminate include grains, dairy, soy, and nightshades.

Help For Indoor Allergens:

Enzyme Sprays:

If dust mites are an allergen for you, enzyme sprays can help you wake up with fewer symptoms. Enzyme sprays on your bedding, curtains and carpets will break down skin cells on which dust mites feed, hence over time decreasing the dust mite count.  Norwex Mattress Cleaner is a product that does not use fragrances or chemicals that can increase allergies.

Air Filters and Vent Filters:

Cutting a piece of filter roll and placing inside the vent cover can add a layer of filtration for indoor allergens of all kinds. Even in new construction homes and with regularly changing air filters, there may be construction dust for years after a new build. This simple solution is easy and affordable method of allergy relief.

Probiotics:

Probiotics inside our bodies should be in the trillions, more than the number of cells we have to make up our entire body. The variety of strains from Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bifidobacterium, and others not only help us bread down food, make vitamins for our bodies, but also decrease allergens and provide immune support. Lactobacillus rhamnosis GG was studied to decrease allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis (eczema) in infants by 50% when given to mom in the third trimester of pregnancy. Many other probiotics studied have been helpful in eliminating allergic rhinitis such as Lactobacillus plantarum4. Alternating your probiotic supplements to cover the variety of strains needed is important for allergy relief. Make sure you have quality, live, active cultures such as Ultraflora Acute Care and Ultraflora Spectrum.

Continue to keep your probiotic culture present with using fermented foods in the diet. Kefir was shown to have a billion probiotics in a small quantity of 1 Tbls.  of kefir.  Kombucha has a smaller amount, near 1 million probiotics in an entire bottle. Fermented vegetables may vary based on been homemade to store bought.

Raw, Local Honey:

Local honey is made by bees within 100 miles of the hive, hence containing small amount of pollen local to your area. Introducing small, daily doses of raw, local honey triggers the immune system to tiny amounts of pollen you may have allergens to and over time decrease the response to the pollen. Studies have shown the benefit of honey for chronic asthma5. Propolis, found in honey comb, has a greater concentration of the pollen and is meant to be used by those with minor allergies.

Honey is not recommended for those with severe allergies, anaphylaxis or infants under 2 years of age.

Help For Seasonal Allergy Relief:

Netti Pot:

Physically washing allergens from the sinus can be gentle and non-drying if done correctly for allergy relief. Using filtered water that is warmed to luke warm or body temperature in a small amount can be used conveniently for rinsing the maxillary, lower sinuses. Use a tablespoon at a time to avoid the over-flushed feeling that rinses all of the way to the frontal (forehead) sinuses.

Cold Stones/Ice:

Applying cold stones or an ice pack across the bridge of the nose and sinuses can immediately decrease sinus pain and congestion from inflammation. Mother Nature made the best product with ice that works naturally and effectively in a short amount of time. It feels wonderful to apply cold stones to the sinuses when having a relaxing massage that aids lymphatic drainage at a time the body can really use it.

Stinging Nettles:

A favorite for infants and toddlers is Stinging Nettles and Eyebright made by Herbs for Kids. The easy to administer dropper lists the age and dose based on weight of your child. Stinging nettles leaf has been shown to be helpful for itching eyes and runny nose by acting as an anti-histamine6.

Eyebright in another plant that decreases histamine at the mucous lined areas, helping allergy suffers. It was shown to help decrease allergic symptoms at the eyes, nose and ears and throat7.

D-Hist:

D- Hist and D-Hist Jr. (chewable for kids) is a nice, non-drowsy way to naturally decrease inflammation. It uses a combination of Vitamin C, Stinging nettles, Bromelain, N-Acetyl-Cysteine and Quercetin to effectively decrease a seasonal allergy response. Along with the other anti-inflammatory products, quercetin is a flavonoid that supports a healthy histamine level. Bromelain, a natural pineapple based enzyme, is paired with quercetin for better absorption. 

  1. Br J Pharmacol.2013 Aug;169(8):1672-92. doi: 10.1111/bph.12131.

Curcumin: an orally bioavailable blocker of TNF and other pro-inflammatory biomarkers.

Aggarwal BB1Gupta SCSung B.

Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(11):2011-31.

  1. The clinical applications of curcumin: current state and the future.

Fan X1Zhang CLiu DBYan JLiang HP.

Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2014;8(2):104-17.

  1. Suppression of inflammatory and allergic responses by pharmacologically potent fungus Ganoderma lucidum.

Bhardwaj NKatyal PSharma AK1.

  1. Citrus juice fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum YIT 0132 alleviates symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Harima-Mizusawa N, Kano M, Nozaki D, Nonaka C, Miyazaki K, Enomoto T.

Benef Microbes. 2016 Nov 30;7(5):649-658. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

  1. Inhalation of honey reduces airway inflammation and histopathological changes in a rabbit model of ovalbumin-induced chronic asthma.

Kamaruzaman NA, Sulaiman SA, Kaur G, Yahaya B.

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 May 29;14:176. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-176.

  1. https://www.web.com/vitamins-and-supplements/stinging-nettle-uses-and-risks#1
  2. http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/herbal-allergy-remedies-zmaz93amztak