POLLEN, POLLEN, GO AWAY.
It may be June, but cars are still tinted yellow, and we all know what that means…..POLLEN! If you’re one of the millions who suffer daily from allergies, like ME, then keep reading.
Seasonal allergies — also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis — can make you miserable. But before you settle for plastic flowers, artificial turf & staying indoors all summer, try these simple tried-and-true techniques to help keep seasonal allergies under control.
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1. Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers
Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
Remove clothes you've worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair. Steam can help clean out the nasal passages as well.
Don't hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to clothes, sheets & towels.
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2. Take extra steps when pollen counts are high
Check the internet for pollen forecasts and current pollen levels in your area.
If high pollen counts are forecasted, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.
Close doors and windows at night if possible or any other time when pollen counts are high.
Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.
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3. Keep indoor air clean
Keep windows closed & use air conditioning in your house and car.
If you have forced air heating or air conditioning in your house, use high-efficiency filters & change often.
Keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.
Clean floors often with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.
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4. Rinse your sinuses
Neti pots are fast becoming a mainstream remedy for allergies and stuffed-up sinuses. The treatment, which involves rinsing your nasal cavity with a saline solution, flushes out allergens (like pollen) and loosens mucus.
Saline solutions can be purchased ready-made or as kits to add to water. If you use a kit or home-made saline solution, use bottled water to reduce the risk of infection.
5. Try a more natural remedy
Bee Pollen, taking a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day may help your body build a tolerance to the local pollen that is running amuck on your sinuses.
Apple Cider Vinegar can help break up mucus & support lymphatic drainage. Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of ACV & some fresh lemon juice is one of the best ways to wake up every morning. At the first sign of an allergy attack, put one teaspoon of ACV in your neti pot solution for a natural “sinus flush.”
Herbs and Supplements, several have been studied to help with allergy relief, Pycnogenol, spirulina, bromelain and probiotics may be good places to start.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol is the registered trademark of Horphag Research (UK) Ltd. for a standardized extract of bark of the French maritime pine tree. It is particularly renowned for its extensive clinical research with more than 120 studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals. The flavonoids in Pycnogenol not only act as powerful antioxidants, but they also seem to help with asthma & allergies. The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels. Allergic reactions are inflammatory and cause histamine to be produced, which causes the typical symptoms such as runny nose, watering eyes, swelling of the face & anaphylaxis in extreme cases. This little plant extract could help to dampen down reactions & reduce the allergy triggers & histamine production.
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Spirulina
Spirulina is proven to greatly reduce Allergic rhinitis. This has been proven in several studies. One of which is available to view in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health which found the subjects who supplemented spirulina for a period of time saw significant reduction in allergic reactions when compared to a placebo group. Nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion and itching were all reduced during supplementation. Spirulina may inhibit histamine being released in the body and histamine is known to lead to symptoms of Allergic rhinitis.
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Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that is sometimes used to curb inflammation after sinus surgery. It may reduce swelling and improve breathing. Bromelain can provide relief from the symptoms associated with allergies because it has powerful effects in helping block inflammation and improving healing time.
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Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial “good bacteria” that live inside your GI tract & help defend you against infections, viruses, allergies and more. By boosting your immune system, probiotic supplement use has been linked to reduced risk of allergies.