Spring Allergies-A Holistic Take: Part 1

April Showers bring May Flowers, and the budding trees....and all of the beautiful pollen.

Does even the mention of pollen make your nose itch and throat scratchy, and reaching for an antihistamine? If so, you are not alone, for trying to outrun spring allergies has become more of a sport and national pastime than baseball spring training in this country. (I'm not a baseball fan, nor an avid sports follower, so you will but rarely see me conjure up a parallel like that, but the reference seemed fitting. :)

Whether you have had chronic struggles with allergies or have sudden onset adult allergies - or perhaps have grown wary of modern treatments, or are hitting dead ends with seemingly healthier approaches, or even just know someone with allergies who wants more than temporary relief and could benefit from some alternative input - then you will want to read on.

Spring/seasonal allergies weren't commonly recorded in history. It was the 17-1800s where it was more frequently observed and physicians attributed it to being an aristocratic disease-because it was common in the upper class, aka those who were not farmers, serfs, or others. Perhaps due to less physical activity, more indulgent foods, more indoor living? A discussion for another time...

Fast forward to modern time, seasonal allergies have become more and more prevalent, especially in industrialized countries in the last 50 years. This means that the science and research is abundant and growing out there on which medications provide symptomatic relief, and different ways to limit exposure to pollen. There are also a plethora of articles and books on which natural treatments and home remedies may be of assistance. BUT still, very little is still discussed by most Western trained medical professionals about how to holistically approach spring allergies. Because if we are being honest, spring allergies are so much more than your immune system not liking pollen, it often is a sign of pre-exisiting state of inflammation, disorder and dis ease within the body.

So what does it mean to approach spring allergies through a holistic lens?

To see allergies in a holistic way takes it beyond symptomatic treatment, meaning looking at WHO has the allergies and WHY rather than what pollens or allergens are provoking excess histamines.

To see allergies in a holistic way means considering everything in diet, lifestyle, and environment that could be contributing to one's allergy bucket, even seemingly healthy things which could contributing or exasberating excess histamines/poor histamine breakdown.

To see the allergies in a holistic way means considering the whole system, not focusing just on respiratory or skin, but considering Liver and Digestive Health.

To see allergies in a holistic way is to see the symptoms not as the enemy, but rather a helping friend who is isn't afraid to tell you as it is. To see that allergy symptoms are a healthy response to one's external environment, and a reflection of the state of one's internal environment.

To see allergies in a holistic way is to restore balance so one can fluidly flow through the seasons without being burdened with dis ease.

We will start this series with what would be the holistic first step to approaching seasonal allergies, which is REDUCE/REMOVE. Many of you in the functional medicine and holistic health space are familiar with this term, and it simply means removing/limiting the triggers that are contributing to what is known as the allergic load. Why is this the first step? Because if we are experiencing chronic symptoms, this is a sign of inner dysfunction, where we are unable to process everything that we are taking in, or endogenously making. This is causing buildup/backup, meaning inability to breakdown and eliminate properly. If our body is too busy on defense, it has no time to heal, let alone play offense. (again, the sports analogy, forgive me).

So when we reduce, limit, or preferably eliminate those things that are triggering the body into constant defense, fight or flight, survival mode, and provide it with the proper nourishment, this tells allows the body to feel safety, return to rest and digest mode, which allows for the most productive and deep healing to occur.

What are the triggers? Conventional medicine will tell you to avoid pollen at all costs, meaning avoiding going outside during dry days or peak times, doing garden or lawncare, washing clothes and cleaning your house frequently, using central or other a/c unit, and wear a mask when going outside. They will advise antihistamines, steroids, decongestants, nasal sprays, and possibly some allergy shots (immunotherapy). While this advice may lessen or temporarily resolve symptoms, it is only a symptomatic approach, and actually can worsen allergies and overall health. Let me explain why you may want to reconsider this approach and consider a more holistic one. Starting with the concept of avoiding nature, which is a catch 22 in a sense because holistically yes you want to avoid triggers, but at the same time avoiding nature is so detrimental to one's health to avoid natural sunlight, fresh air, and many of the other health giving of being outdoors. The data shows higher instances of allergies for those who stay indoors most of their life due to the "dirty" air that comes from air conditioning units, HVAC, humidifiers, chemicals used in laundry, cleaning products, air fresheners, higher risk of mold, dust, dander, and other aggravants. The data shows high prevalence of allergies with those who practice even the highest level of sanitation, as over cleaning one's environment only leads to super bugs, and an immune system that becomes hyper sensitive to anything and everything. The data shows that those chronically on medications like the ones listed above are more apt to have rebound symptoms, not to mention the increased risk of side effects the longer it is taken. These risks are much higher for children, elderly, and immune compromised (which is a concerningly growing number of the population).

This is why a safer approach like a holistic one, shouldn't be the alternative, it should be the first consideration and recommendation to not only avoid needing unnecessary medications and avoiding nature for more and more of the year, but to improve overall health and vitality.

When considering triggers from a holistic perspective we want to think of anything and consider everything in one's life, including "healthy" things, that could be adding to someone's allergic load, or toxic threshold. This could be high histamine foods like fermented foods, supplements like protein powders or certain probiotics, vitamins like B12, parasite cleanses, HIIT workouts, preservatives, natural flavors, skincare, home product, and food ingredients that sound natural but aren't really, like Vitamin E. Surprisingly all of those can cause increased histamine in the body, making someone who already has digestive & liver issues and high allergic load/low toxic threshold more susceptible to yes, you guessed it, seasonal/spring allergies.

The Reduce/Remove phase is probably the hardest one, first and foremost because people tend to have a hard time accepting that their healthy practice, food, or product could possibly be adding fuel to their fire. Pride comes before the fall they say... I have learned this the hard way myself a time or two. :) It also can be very challenging and frustrating when doing this elimination phase because every person varies in how long it will take for their body to restore balance where they can reintroduce these things. For some people it could be as quick as a few weeks, some a few months and some a few years. It is vital to keep in mind that the imbalance, the dis ease, the disorder, did not happen overnight, and your healing probably won't either. (I do believe in miracles, but also am a realist ;)

Coming up in part two, we will talk more about allergic load/toxic threshold, and the next phase in approaching spring allergies holistically which is Repair, and what herbal allies may bring you support throughout.

Enjoy this beautiful spring weather!

Add some greens onto your plate, some herbs like dandelion and ginger, and let your feet and hands touch the earth this week!

xx

Melanie

Intuitive Herbalist & Holistic Wellness Guide