Working out in the garden last week during a beautiful, sunny, high wind day my nose suddenly turned into a faucet, my eyes started to tear up, and I couldn’t stop sneezing. The allergy season is upon us.
So what can you do?
Keep an eye on pollen counts. The local news will announce them. Pollen is usually higher overnight and in the morning so keep windows closed and forestall outside chores on those days when the count is high, you can also get a pollen mask. You should be used to wearing masks by now.
An air cleaner can be helpful, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with HEPA filters. Limit carpet, pillows, and fabric in your bedroom, and put your pillow in the dryer for 10 minutes or so to kill dust mites. When pollen is high refrain from drying your clothes outside and change your clothes when you come in. Keep surfaces clean by wiping them down with a damp cloth.
I love my neti pot for rinsing out my nasal passages with saltwater. To be truthful I never feel like doing it but I’m motivated because once I do it feels so much better.
Don’t stress out your body by eating a lot of processed foods and sugar. Stick to antioxidant foods like berries, dark leafy greens, and cruciferous veggies.
You know the drill. Some herbs and supplements that can help are turmeric, reishi, astragalus, quercetin, Vitamins C and D, and freeze-dried nettles. I drink nettles in my teas year-round, see below for more info. For the best results, should be imbibed starting a few months ahead of the allergy season, say February here in Colorado. Freeze-dried nettles can be taken for acute phases. Fresh celery juice with ginger is another drink that helps with allergies and inflammation.