Have issues with allergies that just don't seem to go away? What is actually going on inside to cause these reactions?
Spring has sprung, and the pollen is out! Has this been affecting your love for plants and nature? Allergies can affect people many ways: runny nose, dry/itchy eyes, sneezes, sniffles, sleepies, and more. Using a product from each category listed below can significantly aid in controlling allergy symptoms.
What is happening inside the body to cause these reactions?
It is mostly caused by excessive amounts of inflammation. The word inflammation has become a more negative word recently, but it is a necessary process for the body to heal. For inflammation to happen, an insult occurs to the body, and its response is to bring immune cells and blood cells to the area to start the healing process. This works wonderfully to heal tissues quickly and get them functioning again. With allergies, (and many other conditions) there is an excessive inflammatory response to allergens like pollen, grasses, etc. Our goal is to minimize the inflammation to decrease the sneezing.
Natural Anti-inflammatories (specific to allergies)
- Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
- Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/purpurea)
- Fish oil
- Goldenrod (Solidago Canadensis)
Once specific process that triggers an allergic reaction is mast cell degranulation. Certain immune cells when provoked will release granules from their cell, including histamine. These molecules that are now floating around in the body lead to an exaggerated immune response. Targeting these cells specifically is a great aid in the battle against allergies.
Natural Mast Cell Stablizers:
- Quercitin
- Nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Natto: Traditional Korean style fermented soy
Once the histamine does get released, it is great to have some soldiers on board to attack. Having natural anti-histamines will help with slowing the inflammatory process as well.
Natural anti-histamines:
- Eyebright (Euphrasia stricta)
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Peppermint (Mentha spicata)
Citations:
Bartram, Thomas. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. London: Constable and Robinson. 1995. Print. 22 Jan. 2014.
Hee Soon, Shin. “Food and Natural Materials Target Mechanisms to Effectively Regulate Allergic Responses” Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. 2015. Web. PMID. 26598817
Skenderi, Gazmend. Herbal Vade Mecum, 800 Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, Lipids etc. Constituents, Properties, Uses, and Caution. Rutherford: Herbacy Press. 2003. Print.
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