Allergy Survival Kit: Essentials for a Happier Allergy Season
In most parts of the country, many of us are either already dry-eyed and sneezing or keeping a watchful eye out for the first signs of that yellow stuff covering the outdoor furniture. Nearly 30% of adults in the United States are moderately or severely impacted by seasonal allergies. That means…It's kind of a big deal. So let’s talk about it!
Believe it or not, there IS more you can do. Seasonal allergies are a lot more systemic than we think. They’re both a sign we should check under the hood, and on opportunity to care for the body as a whole in order to make allergy symptoms much easier over time.
Today we’ll talk through some allergy misconceptions, what tends to contribute to them, and some tips and solutions to not only get through this year’s allergy season, but to hopefully ease the burden for years to come.
So What’s REALLY the Deal With Allergies?
First off, allergies are not rooted in the sinuses. They’re more of a systemic immune system reaction. What we experience in our eyes, nose, and throat is:
because that’s where we’re being directly exposed to the foreign substances or where they’re entering the body the most, and
When you get itchy eyes, a runny nose, or a scratchy throat,those are symptoms and a result of functions happening in the body.
(Note: by “substance” we are referring to pollen, juniper, dog hair, and so forth).
Secondly, seasonal allergies can be due to a buildup of “stuff” (like toxins) in places such as the liver; if your system is clear and running smoothly, you tend to have a less severe allergic response (or none at all).
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying don’t address your sinuses and throat when they’re bothering you during allergy season! You do still want to support the “allergy response” and you deserve to be comfortable. And no one wants to see you using 6 tissues during a 30 minute Zoom call. What I’m saying is: if that’s all you do, you’re not addressing the ROOT of the issue and your allergies are likely to keep coming back just as they have been.
Ok… but where are these “roots?” The main areas to focus on are the liver, the immune system, and the adrenals. But first, step one is getting ahead of allergies.
Step # 1: Don’t Wait Until You Feel The Symptoms; Get Ahead of Them!
In an ideal world, you begin treating your allergies as something you actually want to get rid of- not just something you deal with each year when they come back.
We at least recommend you plan in advance. This means preparing the body at least a month or 2 BEFORE allergy season begins in your area. Start nourishing and supporting the body so when the plants really begin blooming and going wild, your body is much better equipped to deal with allergens.
Here are some items to add to your arsenal:
Vitamin C
Quercetin
Local Raw Honey
Bee Pollen
Focus Area #1: The Liver
One of the key areas for allergies is the liver. Did you know your liver (I’m assuming you all know where it is and you thank it for its service every day, right? 😊) has nearly 500 metabolic processes? If your liver is stagnant and backed up, unwanted things can happen in the body. Like? Allergies! The more loved, supported, and nourished your liver is, generally speaking, the more of an allergen your system can handle before it gets reactive. So, this is where you can flip a misconception- if you want to ease the ROOT of your allergies, don’t just drain your sinuses; drain your liver!
Here's a really supportive and delicious tea blend that helps support the liver:
In addition, a few other herbal liver supports are Milk Thistle, Ginger, and Nettle.
Focus Area #2: The Immune System
Given how much allergies are an immune response of the body, supporting the immune system before and during allergy season can be a game changer. Echinacea as a standalone herb can be a great preventative and medicinal herb for allergies.
Medicinal mushrooms have remarkable properties that can help with allergies (in case you’re wondering, we’re not talking about “psychedelic mushrooms”). This tonic was formulated to aid the immune system and works wonderfully to support the system before and during allergy season:
Mushroom Supreme
a powerful tonic that awakens, nourishes and tonifies the immune system, neuroendocrine system, nervous system and all main organ systems. This magical blend contains the most treasured mushrooms since ancient times. Longevity tonic and disease preventative.
Focus Area #3: Adrenals
Some of the allergic responses in the body are pretty complex and sciencey (like here). When there’s a high amount of histamine in the body, the adrenals work to lower the histamine count by releasing more cortisol. If there’s ongoing allergy exposure for an extended period of time, the adrenals eventually become fatigued and some of your general cycles and processes can get substantially thrown off.
But don’t worry, we’re here to save the day! (hopefully you already know that by now).
Something your Adrenals are going to looooove are Reishi mushrooms. You can have it in capsule form, mixed with other herbs (like in the Mushroom Supreme tonic above), and some of my practitioner friends have it in a coffee blend and can’t get enough.
But what if you can’t tolerate mushrooms? We still got you: two herbs we love for the adrenals are:
1) Ashwagandha (which can be taken at night as well as in the morning to support stressed adrenals), and 2) Licorice Root (which is good for the adrenals, the liver, and so much more. I mix it into my tea formulas, but you can also take it in tincture form).
Lastly: Thinking Beyond Herbs
Look into whether there are OTHER allergies present: pets? Foods? Often, there’s more going on than we think and it can be worth investigating.
Lifestyle makes a significant difference. When you’re having tough symptoms, it’s not just about addressing the symptoms alone; it’s about giving your body a break from dealing with extra metabolic processes so it can more easily deal with the bothersome allergic responses. This means doing things like: eating a cleaner diet, resting more, and limiting stress. Nourish it with foods that aid the liver and digestion (dark leafy greens, extra veggies, soups, and eat organic). Give your body more of the simple things to slow down and give it the opportunity to do what you’re asking it to do.
“What allergies?” Exactly. Imagine a life where allergies are just a minor inconvenience because you decided to focus your 2024 on kicking them to the curb. We believe you can do it- are you ready to truly take control of your allergies going forward?
This article is for educational purposes only. Our articles have not been evaluated by the FDA and our products are not claiming to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Tim Peters is the Founder of Mind Body Business and a Certified Herbalist. He provides 1-on-1 business coaching plus writing and copy editing for health professionals. If you want to connect or learn more about him:
Tim@mind-bodybusiness.com
www.mind-bodybusiness.com
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