Winter Allergies

As the weather reaches its lowest temperatures of the year, we can finally say goodbye to outdoor pollen and many plant allergies. However, as we move indoors more often, year-round, or “perennial” allergies can rear their ugly head. These indoor allergies include mold, dust mites, pet dander, and even your Christmas tree (5).

But before you go throwing out your beautiful Douglas Fir, there are a few things you can do before bringing it into the house:

• Shake the tree down to get rid of dust mites
• Hose down live trees with water to remove mold spores
• Use a mask when retrieving ornaments and décor from storage to protect yourself from dust

Spring Allergies

Trees begin to blossom, layers of clothing go into storage, and sunshine greets us in the early mornings again. What feels like a fresh start also triggers one of the biggest outdoor allergies—tree pollen! This infamous allergen is intensified by the spring breeze, as the wind carries the pollen through the air.

Cedar trees can release pollen as early as January in the South, but most other people won’t feel its effects until February, with March and April being peak months thanks to trees such as willow, pine, and mulberry.

Other allergens such as grass and weed pollen can also trigger unwanted allergy symptoms as early as March.

Summer Allergies

When summertime rolls around, everyone wants to enjoy it worry-free—without allergy flare-ups. The hot weather is perfect for swimming, camping, and outdoor entertainment, but the humidity also creates an ideal environment for mold, which can trigger allergies.

From July through early fall, many people may experience allergy symptoms related to fungus spores growing on grass, grains, or outdoor logs. Additionally, many plants are still pollinating during the summer. The most common allergy trigger this time of year is grass pollen.

Who Can Experience Allergies?

Allergies have become the fifth most common chronic illness in the country that often requires allergy medications. In the US, 30% of adults and 40% of children suffer from some kind of allergy (6). As the immune system itself is still shrouded in some mystery and intrigue, the cause and mechanics of allergies are still relatively unknown.

Genetics do appear to play a role, but genetic predispositions aren’t a guarantee of anything. The environment and lifestyle that a person maintains can affect whether or not those genetic tendencies are carried out (7).

We do see that childhood is a precarious time for health influence—if you are going to develop allergies, it will likely begin in childhood. A review of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) showed peak occurrences falling in childhood (8).

While it’s not unheard of to develop allergies later in life, these observations underscore the importance of helping our children to be healthy from the start.

Mainstream Allergy Treatments

There are many ways to try to remedy unwanted allergies. The treatment you choose (or have recommended to you by a specialist) will depend on the type of allergy and the severity of the symptoms.

Mainstream treatments include:

• Anti-histamines: over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat overall allergy symptoms
• Nasal sprays & decongestants: topical nasal antihistamines used to treat symptoms such as an itchy and/or runny nose
• Allergy shots: regular injections to stop or reduce allergy attacks

Potential Risks of Mainstream Allergy Treatments

The health benefits of allergy treatments are clear—you feel and function better. For some severe cases, that is enough to outweigh most potential risks and side effects. Since allergies are an immune response that produces histamines, antihistamines are medications that block the production and release of histamines in the body.

While over-the-counter and natural antihistamines are generally safe to use, they are well known for causing tiredness, sleepiness, fatigue, and even a cloudy mind. So while they are effective, the side effects can negatively affect your day.

Nasal sprays, while also effective, have been known to cause rebound congestion (8.1) when you stop taking the product. This is a sensation that makes you feel as though you need to continue taking it to maintain clear nasal passages.

When allergies progress to the point where immunotherapy via allergy shots is required, it’s easy to feel like little else can be done.

Still, being aware of the risks involved is important. Your healthcare provider should keep you in the room for 30-40 minutes after the injection to monitor you for a rare but possible anaphylactic reaction. Systemic reactions are also possible, with potential long-term effects (8.2).

Second- and third-generation antihistamines aren’t as strongly associated with severe side effects but are still a concern, as they are sometimes abused recreationally (8.3).

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

We have listed easy tips around foods, lifestyle, and natural supplements you can take to prevent allergies.

If none of those sound like viable options for you, fortunately, there are many quick and easy ways to rid yourself of pesky allergy symptoms through natural allergy treatment and home remedies.

These include

• In the summer: Take a shower and wash your hair after working or playing outdoors.
• In the spring and summer: Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.
• Wear protective clothing when mowing the lawn or gardening.
• Keep indoor allergies at bay by vacuuming frequently using a machine with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.
• Stay in tune with the pollen forecasts and current pollen levels. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has an allergen tracker (9).
• Use HEPA filters in the air heating and air conditioning of your house and keep them well-maintained.

In addition to the remedies above, follow these additional steps for fighting allergies naturally.

Beta Glucan

Beta glucan is a natural compound found in plant sources. Glucan, specifically beta-1,3D glucan, has been associated with a range of health benefits. Cells in the immune system can recognize and respond to beta-1,3D glucan, leading to modifications in immune system responses.

In turn, the body will strengthen the immune system's response to beta glucan and can then increase the production of white blood cells. Beta glucan can be found in cereals such as oats and barley as well as certain types of mushrooms such as reishi, maitake, and shiitake.

Alternatively, using a quality natural supplement of beta glucan on a daily basis is a great way to get the exact amount your body needs.

Vitamin C

Taking vitamin C can help fight seasonal allergies. Healthcare practitioners suggest a minimum of 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C on a daily basis.

Alternatively, eat foods that are high in vitamin C, such as:

• Lemons
• Strawberries
• Papaya
• Oranges
• Brussels sprouts

Local Honey

Eating local honey every day can help your body get used to the pollen in your area and reduce allergy symptoms. Furthermore, honey has enzymes that can boost your immune system and provide relief from allergies.

Neti Pot

A neti pot is a unique container designed to rinse and clear mucus from your nasal passages. This form of treatment is part of what is called nasal irrigation.

Not only is a neti pot effective for nasal allergies, but it can also be used to combat sinus problems.

You can make your own saltwater solution to cleanse each nostril.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus oil is made from the oval-shaped leaves found on the eucalyptus tree. People who believe in natural remedies recommend using eucalyptus oil as an antimicrobial agent by adding it to every laundry load during allergy season.

Quercetin

Quercetin is an antioxidant that is believed to help stabilize the release of histamines and control allergy symptoms. It is also known to reduce proteins and inflammatory cells.

You can find it in foods like broccoli, cauliflower, green tea, and citrus fruits.

Probiotics

Probiotics are known as good bacteria that live in your gut and can protect you against infections, viruses, and allergies. Not only are probiotics being used to promote gut health, but they are also effective in natural allergy relief.

Natural Allergy Relief in Supplement Form

A natural supplement is an effective way to ensure that your body receives the correct amount of nutrients every day.

In addition to following general wellness and natural remedies to fight allergies, we suggest using a trusted natural supplement.

Beta Glucan for Natural Allergy Relief

This supplement uses beta glucan to beat allergy symptoms in a holistic way. In fact, it has been proven to reduce allergy symptoms caused by ragweed (10) (the biggest fall allergy) as well as cedar pollen (11) (a big spring culprit).

Beta glucan is a substance found in the fiber within the cell walls of yeast, bacteria, and other plants. Beta glucan helps support a healthy and robust immune system. And think about it: a strong immune system is going to be able to fight off allergic reactions on its own—without firing off histamines to do so (goodbye itchy eyes and runny nose!). Beta glucan is safe for both children (12) and adults.

While there’s no one perfect cure for allergies, there are plenty of natural ways to keep allergy symptoms at bay from spring to summer to fall to winter.