Spring in Aotearoa means more sunlight, more flowers, more greenery, and unfortunately, more allergies. It is the season when pollen counts skyrocket, the winds whip everything into the air, and pets shed their winter coats. For allergy sufferers, that equals runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing fits and sometimes itchy skin. So why does this happen, and what are some natural ways to relieve allergies (apart from living in a bubble?).
Seasonal allergies (hay fever, allergic rhinitis) happen when your immune system mistakes harmless substances like pollen for dangerous invaders. Your body releases histamine, an inflammatory chemical to ‘fight’ the pollen, but instead of saving you, it makes your nose run, eyes water and sinuses swell…
Unlike life-threatening allergies, hay fever is rarely dangerous, just really, really annoying.
Allergy symptoms include:
- Rhinitis (runny) or blocked nose
- Sneezing
- Red, itchy and watery eyes
- Even itchy skin for some people
Often it feels like the winter ills and chills, just in warmer weather, which can feel very unfair.
What is an allergy?
With an allergy, the body encounters a ‘foreign body’ like pollen and mounts an immune response. Your immune system thinks the pollen will harm you, so it reacts by releasing histamine. This release increases inflammation and results in those annoying symptoms.
For those who have life-threatening allergies, this reaction can be severe, causing the throat to close up and the heart to race as the body is allergic to the substance it has been exposed to. These people require adrenaline to counteract the allergic reaction, which is why they carry EpiPens
Seasonal allergies, or hay fever symptoms, are caused by the immune system’s overreaction to the environment, and are annoying but very unlikely to be life-threatening. The good news, however, is that there are some natural ways to help relieve these types of seasonal allergies.
Natural ways to relieve allergies
Seasonal allergies can be a funny thing to work around; some years are worse than others, and some people can go a few years with no real symptoms and then be hit with terrible ones that can feel quite debilitating.
Conventionally, you can take antihistamines that stop the histamine effect within your body. You can also take antihistamine nasal sprays, but they have a short timeframe during which you are allowed to use them. This is not helpful when seasonal allergies can last for months.
Some plants that can naturally help relieve the symptoms of allergies include:
- Elderflower
- Ribwort
- Peppermint
- Nettle
Elderflower
Elderflower has been traditionally used to reduce runny noses or catarrhal deafness (that awful blocked hearing you can get from too much mucus). You could find and pick some of your own in early summer as that is when these bright white flower heads are out.
You can make elderflower tea to help with allergies. We use elderflower in our Defence Elixir.
Ribwort
can help to reduce runny noses and support healthy sinuses.
Peppermint
can help reduce excess mucus and also support healthy sinuses. If you are feeling congested try having a peppermint tea. If you're in need of something a bit stronger you could make an infusion by leaving some teabags in water overnight. Another way you can use peppermint to relieve allergies is by putting some essential oil into your diffuser at home.
Nettle
Nettle helps support healthy histamine levels. Nettle is great, especially when you are suffering with seasonal allergy issues. This plant has antiallergic properties and is rich in chlorophyll which all help to support a healthy immune system and response.
Nettle is very versatile, you can bake with it or have it as an overnight steep. In our Daily Boost Tonic we have paired the amazing nettle with vitamin C rich rosehips to help support healthy inflammation levels.
You can find nettles pretty much everywhere but do be careful! Our native nettle is very toxic - please make sure you are foraging and using only nettle (Urtica dioica or Urtica urens) before you use it! You could use nettle as a natural way to relieve your allergies. Try make a tea blend and have that daily, or as smoothie base. Or even get a tincture from a herbalist to help support symptomatic relief.
Quercetin
Another natural way to relieve allergies is the supplement quercetin. Quercetin - is a flavonoid that works like an antioxidant to reduce the inflammation you are having to the ‘foreign body’. Elderberries are one example of a food that is high in quercetin, you take elderberries daily with both our Immunity Tonic and Switchel.
Quercetin is also found in foods like:
- Apples and berries
-
Black tea (which is astringent which means drying - helpful when you have runny nose)
- Green tea
- Broccoli
If you are suffering from seasonal allergies you can increase these foods, but also consider a higher dose supplement as the amount of quercetin in these foods may not be enough to help.
3 More Ways To Naturally Relieve Allergies
- Saline nasal sprays can also help as it flushes out the pollen and dust and ideally stops the reaction setting in. You can make your own or buy them from pharmacies or health stores.
- If you have pets - vacuum a bit more. I know - that seems cruel too but it can really help reduce the environmental triggers.
- If you have really bad seasonal allergies - consider avoiding going outside in the early morning as this is when pollen is often released - same goes for really windy weather. If you can’t avoid it - you can place some balm inside the lining of your nose to stop anything from travelling up.
Seasonal allergies can be very annoying but spring is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the sun, the colours of the plants and did we mention the sun?
So hopefully this has helped you arm yourself with the knowledge on how to relieve allergies naturally - and hopefully feel more comfortable spending time outside. I say this as a fellow seasonal allergy sufferer.
Skye MacFarlane - Naturopath/Medical Herbalist for Wild Dispensary
Advice: Use as directed. Discontinue if any irritation arises. If symptoms persist see your health care professional.
