Achoo! “Gesundheit”, “Salud”, “Bless You”: Seasonal Allergies

Many welcome springtime for its warming embrace, gentle rains, budding trees, and blooming flowers. However, for approximately 81 million people in the United States, spring is far from a “blessing” and is more likely seen as a curse.

Common Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Itchy eyes, nose, ears, and throat
Watery, red, or swollen eyes
Postnasal drip
Fatigue

The primary culprits for these irritating symptoms are airborne pollen grains released by trees, grasses, and weeds for reproduction.

Allergies occur when the immune system misidentifies a harmless substance, such as pollen, as a dangerous invader. To neutralize the perceived threat, our body prompts an exaggerated immune response. Histamines are chemicals your immune system produces from specific white blood cells, called Mast Cells, to expel the allergen from your body. This histamine release produces inflammation so when addressing seasonal allergies you want to tackle histamines AND inflammation.

Histamines play many vital functions in the body, most of which are meant to be protective by:

regulating response and inflammation
regulating sleep-wake cycle
regulating acid secretion
regulating neurotransmission and cognitive function
regulating appetite and satiety
modulating sexual function

How can you get histamine to work for you, not against you? Start with the GUT!

Time for a Cleanse

A cleanse is a good idea at any time but can be especially helpful in the spring to help reduce one’s allergic symptoms. Why? When your gut is less inflamed after avoiding inflammatory foods and clearing out toxins, your immune system will not be on such high alert looking for other harmless foreign invaders, such as tree pollen.

Below are a list of my favorite Cleanses*

Food-based: Conscious Cleanse and Whole 30
Supplement-based: Quicksilver Scientific “Advanced Push Catch” or Orthomolecular Product “Core Restore”. Available at Boulder Integrative Health.

The key to a successful cleanse is to add an anti-inflammatory eating plan and Organic lifestyle to these too. One week will get you some results, but it’s best to aim for four weeks when you are an allergy sufferer and really want to rebalance your gut and clear out the toxins.

Lifestyle changes to reduce allergen exposures in your body and home

Shoes off in the home
Take a shower to wash off pollen and change clothes
Rinse nose with saline washes / Nedi rinse / Neti pot
Keep windows closed
HEPA filters

Supplementation with Natural Antihistamines

Vitamin C

Vitamin C will directly lower plasma histamine concentrations. One study demonstrated that administering 2 grams of Vitamin C daily resulted in a 38 percent decrease in histamine levels. Higher IV doses have been associated with even more significant reduction. In a study of 89 people who received an IV infusion of 7.5 grams of vitamin C, blood histamine levels decreased by about 50%.

Please visit IV Boulder to schedule an IV.

20% OFF SPRING SPECIAL $128 (Value $195)

VITAMIN C IV: 10 gram IV plus FREE Vitamin D Injection

20% OFF Allergy-Related Supplements*

*Instock allergy supplements only. Offer good from 4-01-25 to 4-30-25.

Quercetin, Bromelain, and Stinging Nettles

Natural D Hist*

*Available at Boulder Integrative Health

Other potential antihistamines

Spirulina
Black Seed oil
Pycnogenol
Butterbur (especially if a headache is associated)

Immunity support

Vitamin D works by enhancing immune regulation and modulating the immune response and may reduce allergy symptoms as well.

We love pollinating bees! Sourcing local raw honey where you live is best for pollen support.

Pre and probiotics

Omega 3 by way of reducing inflammation

Medications: H1 blockers

When dealing with seasonal allergies, the newer second-generation H1-antihistamines are safer, cause less sedation, and are more efficacious than previous H1 blockers such as Benadryl and hydroxyzine. Examples of these are:

Zyrtec
Claritin
Alavert
Allegra
Clarinex

If you are struggling with airway restriction Singulair (Montelukast) is a medication that prevents and treats the symptoms of asthma and allergies by blocking leukotrienes that promote inflammation. It decreases inflammation in your airways.

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET)

NAET seeks to desensitize the body to allergens by reprogramming its response to trigger substances. The process includes allergen testing using kinesiology to identity substances that provoke a stress response in the body. NAET can help some people – used by trained acupuncturists.

Immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy, also known as desensitization or hypo-sensitization, is a medical treatment for environmental allergies and asthma. Typically administered under the direction of specialists such as ENTs or Allergists if severe.