Allergies are those pesky conditions that often affect us in the spring, but some people suffer from them year-around and others never at all. Types of allergies include reaction to pollen, pets, mold, medications, insects, latex, and food. You can have any combination of these allergies at certain times of your life.
Causes of Allergies
Although allergies are often harmless, they can be downright annoying and get in the way of our daily lives. Allergic reactions are caused by the immune system mistaking everyday encounters with serious bodily threats. Allergies can come and go as you age, occur seasonally, or be a lifelong affliction. Whether you have allergies or not is somewhat determined by genetics, but that risk is higher when your body is weak and run down.
Symptoms of Allergies
Depending on the substance you’re allergic to, allergy symptoms appear in different forms. These are some of the most common ones that you may recognize in yourself or a loved one.
- Sneezing
- Itching
- Watery eyes
- Hives and Rashes
- Swelling
- Chest tightness
- Redness of the skin
When Allergies become Serious
However, not all allergic reactions are harmless, and some can even be deadly. In severe cases, allergies can cause a condition called anaphylaxis, which causes your body to go into shock. Common symptoms of this condition include severe shortness of breath, being lightheaded, loss of consciousness, nausea, and vomiting.
If you notice that something in particular triggers your allergies, it’s a good idea to consult a medical professional to assess the severity of the condition and discuss your treatment options. There is also a correlation between allergies and asthma, and treating your allergies can often keep asthma conditions under control too.
Treatments for Allergies
Of course, avoiding allergens is the most important step in preventing reactions, but that’s not always possible. Prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as nasal sprays and eye drops are often recommended to allergy sufferers. Immunotherapy (injections with purified allergen extracts) and emergency epinephrine are sometimes used in severe cases.
However, these are some natural treatments for allergies to consider.
Olive Leaf Nasal Spray
Nasal spray can help with breathing difficulty, mucous blockage, a stuffy or runny nose, congestion, and the swelling of mucous membranes. Try 1-3 sprays of our Olive Leaf Nasal Spray in each nostril for temporary relief. This homeopathic remedy contains olive leaf extract, baptisia, and grapefruit seed extract without the side-effects of modern pharmaceutical drugs.
Olive Leaf Throat Spray
A great addition to a nasal spray regimen for allergy sufferers is our Olive Leaf Throat Spray, which comes in unflavored and raspberry-spearmint versions. It provides temporary relief of cold, mouth, and throat irritations that are often associated with allergies.
A Low-Fat, High Complex Carbohydrate Diet
Dr. Lisa Lewis, ND, LAc, a naturopathic physician, recommends a low-fat, high-complex-carbohydrate diet with lots of water to strengthen the adrenal, immune, and digestive systems to fight allergens on their own. These are some of the foods that you should eat to help prevent and reduce allergy symptoms.
Other Home Remedies for Allergies
These are some other home remedies worth considering for allergy sufferers.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Neti Pot with a saline solution
- Honey from a local source
- Fish oil supplements
- Acupuncture
- Turmeric
- Gingko biloba
What do you use to control your seasonal or year-long allergies? Share your experience with us in the comments below!