The cause of spring allergies and how to deal with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

For some people, spring, especially during the period of warmth and flowering of various plants, is the most favorite time of the year. But for millions of allergy sufferers, spring and earlier summer is a period of exhausting sneezing, runny nose, cough, watery eyes and fog in the head. How to deal with allergy symptoms without getting pumped up with antihistamines?

Usually people with allergies try to stay at home and seal all windows. Many take antihistamines or even see a doctor and take injections. In any case, they have little joy from spring. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat your allergy symptoms, or at least make them less painful. But first you need to understand the real causes of seasonal allergies in order to know exactly what to deal with.

The real causes of seasonal allergies

Most people blame plant pollen or mold spores for their allergies, but this is not really the cause of the annoying symptoms.

Allergy symptoms arise from an overactive immune system. Your immune system produces antibodies that protect you from unwanted invaders that can lead to disease.

When you have an allergy, the immune system produces antibodies in response to pollen, dust, or pet hair, even if they are not harmful to your body.

That is, in the first place, allergens are not to blame, but the reaction of your immune system. What can be done to prevent the immune system from protesting against plant pollen as much?

Allergy Management Strategies

Here are five ways to avoid seasonal allergies without medication. Use them to keep your allergies under control this spring and prevent them from occurring in the future.

1. Minimize your exposure to the allergen

The less the allergen is, the less your immune system is worried. Here are some ways to reduce your exposure to pollen:

1. On days when there is a lot of pollen in the air, keep all windows closed to keep the allergen out of the house. Keep windows closed while driving and consider purchasing an air purifier.
2. Try to stay outdoors less during the spread of pollen, especially where there is a lot of vegetation. Trees and shrubs tend to release pollen in the morning and grasses in the morning and evening. So it is best to stay away from gardens and parks during this time. If you simply don't have a choice, shower, wash your clothes and wipe your shoes after a walk will help get rid of the pollen.
3. Remove all allergens in the bedroom so that you don't suffer from debilitating symptoms for at least eight hours. Do not let animals into the bedroom that can bring pollen on their fur, thoroughly wipe all surfaces and buy an air purifier (you can find a budget purifier for 3-5 thousand rubles, only for the bedroom).
4. In the spring, pollen is released by trees: birch, alder, hazel, oak, poplar, ash, maple. The most significant allergen is usually birch. In early summer, beware of meadow grasses, and in late summer, from August to September, allergens come from Compositae plants such as wormwood, quinoa and hemp. Try to stay away from the areas where these grasses and trees grow.

2. Salt spray

One unusual way to treat an allergic reaction is to spray the inside of your nose with a saline nasal spray. Over-the-counter saline sprays can help relieve nasal congestion without harming the body.

Antihistamines dry out the nasal passages so that micro-fissures can develop in them, which are ideal conditions for infection. Salt sprays cleanse the nasal passages of bacteria, while moisturizing helps flush out plant pollen.

The only thing is that saline sprays can be unpleasant, burn the mucous a little. If that's your case, try using baby options or a preservative-free spray.

3. Boost your immune system

Since allergies are problems of the immune system, you need to strengthen your immune system with the right foods for long-term benefits.

• Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids are very important in preventing allergies. These anti-inflammation agents are now difficult to find in natural foods, so supplements can be used.
• You can take krill oil or special supplements with astaxanthin, a carotenoid that has antioxidant properties.
• Vitamin D is another beneficial substance that can help relieve allergy symptoms and even asthma.
• Probiotics create "friendly bacteria" that help reduce allergic reactions to pollen.

A research team from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has confirmed the beneficial effects of probiotics on allergy symptoms.

As a result of a number of studies, it has been established that probiotics have a positive effect on the intestinal microflora and stimulate the immune system, which helps to fight allergies.

4. Manage symptoms without medication

If you've used an antihistamine before, you know that it quickly relieves allergy symptoms. However, he does not cure it, but simply blocks the manifestations.

Dr. William W. Berger, one of the leading American experts on allergies and asthma, claims that drugs in this group often have unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, headaches, and dry nasal mucosa.

In addition, antihistamines cause brain fog, weakness, and an inability to concentrate and react normally to events.

That being said, there are many natural allergy medications that do not cause these side effects. The University of Maryland Center for Integral Medicine recommends the following natural allergy medications that have been shown to be effective in controlling symptoms:

• Nutrients: Quercetin, Spirulina, Vitamin C
• Medicinal herbs: butterbur, nettle, astragalus
• Chinese Medicine: Biminne, a Blend of 7 Traditional Herbs
• Honey with or without pollen

Researchers from the Institute of Allergy and the Environment of South Karelia and the Allergy Department of the University of Helsinki Central Hospital conducted an experiment on the effect of honey on the course of allergies and its symptoms.

Participants in the experiment, people with pollen allergies, had to take honey with the addition of birch pollen and regular honey, without any additives.

The experiment involved forty-four patients (26 women, whose average age was 33 years) with a diagnosis of pollen allergy. From November to March, they took pollen-infused honey daily, or simply extra honey without additives.

Seventeen patients (9 women, mean age 36 years) were left as a control group. From April to May, patients recorded their allergy symptoms and medication.

As a result of the study, it turned out that patients taking honey with pollen experienced 60% fewer allergy symptoms, twice as many days without symptoms at all, and 70% fewer days with severe symptoms.

In addition, they took antihistamines half as often. The difference between participants who took honey with and without pollen was not significant, but people who chose honey with pollen were slightly less likely to take antihistamines.

So, if you sell local honey with traces of pollen unique to your area (honey from apiaries located in your area), try it as an allergy remedy.

5. Avoid cross-activity

Another way to minimize allergy symptoms is to avoid cross-reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and edible fruits and vegetables.

The theory is that your immune system recognizes and reacts to the similarities between different allergens.

For example, if you are allergic to ragweed, you should avoid bananas, and if symptoms appear from grass pollen, it is better to exclude celery from the diet.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has posted a cross-activity table on its website, here's a translation:

Thus, the main approach to allergy treatment without medication consists of two points - minimize exposure to the allergen and strengthen the immune system.

If during this season you try to fulfill five points, then there will be much less unpleasant moments with a runny nose, cough and fog in the head. Good luck this spring.