By: Gretchen Fox Schempp, Wellness Manager
The beauty of midsummer is undeniable. Flowers, wild and curated, are in full bloom…. You might be eating from your garden on the daily. The roadsides are full of beauty and even some changing color around the countryside. Glorious days of windows-down drives and floats on the river…. What could possibly make these days not perfect?
Ahem – goldenrod…ragweed…grass pollen…hay…mold….
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, like over 50 million Americans, you can see why all this beauty can feel like a blooming nightmare!
Nothing makes me more bummed than having to close my windows on a breezy midsummer night because if I don’t… I’ll wake with my eyes glued together and bags the size of water balloons under them. While I simply cannot sleep with my windows open due to living amongst countless outdoor allergens, I have learned to manage my seasonal allergies so that I can enjoy the outdoors quite comfortably.
Diet and supplementation are the key to my allergy successes. Eliminating inflammatory foods such as sugar and wheat have been very helpful for me this year. In the past cutting back on dairy really helped my sinuses. All dietary suggestions aside, there are supplements that support the mucous membranes, the histimine response, and that offer anti-inflammatory support.
My new fave this year is Oregon’s Wild Harvest’s AllerAid. This certified organic and Demeter Certified Biodynamic farm in Redmond, Oregon grows and sources only the highest quality materials for their products. AllerAid is so wonderful in this time we are in. Not only does it use nettle and quercetin (like the best-selling Eclectic Institute’s aptly named Nettle Quercetin) but adds immune boosting NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) and Vitamin C.
NAC has many health benefits ranging from antioxidant production to respiratory support, thinning mucus and acting as an expectorant. Studies show that NAC also helps regulate levels of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain that is responsible for sending signals between nerve cells. Preliminary studies show promise in its ability to help decrease withdrawal symptoms in addicts, including nicotine.
With the ongoing pandemic anything supporting the respiratory system is a good thing. If you suffer from allergies it can be a hard time to decipher your symptoms from the myriad of symptoms that COVID-19 can relay. Being mindful is the lay of the land these days and we can learn a lot from that. Be aware of not only your exposure to people but to the pollens and allergens that may have you feeling a little funky.
We have a great selection of herbal and homeopathic products to support your immune and inflammatory response in relation to seasonal allergies. Stop by and talk to one of our knowledgeable wellness staff about some of these options:
Bio Allers Grass Pollen Homeopathic
Bio Allers Mold, Yeast and Dust Homeopathic
Dr. King’s Allergy and Hayfever Reliever Spray
Clear Life Safe Relief Allergy Relief Tablets
Nature’s Way Umcka Allergy and Sinus
Boiron Histamnum Hydrochloricum 30c
Eclectic Institute Nettle Quercetin
