Springtime and Allergies

Do You Suffer With Allergies at Spring Time?

Spring time would have to be my most favorite time of the year. All the trees that dropped their leaves in the fall are now beautiful and green, and I am able to start getting my Summer salad garden ready to be planted. I find gardening very therapeutic, but at the same time, it tends to inflict a world of hurt on my system.

Allergies

Some plants, grasses and trees produce small amounts of pollen which are spread around by birds, bees and the wind. Grasses, such as a little tuft of grass called “Nut grass” is a huge allergy causing plant. As soon as the spring starts to roll around, my skin seems to start itching, starting from the ground up. This Nut grass has tiny little seeds on the end of the grass blades, that drives my skin nuts.

Do You Suffer With Allergies at Spring Time?

Spring time would have to be my most favorite time of the year. All the trees that dropped their leaves in the fall are now beautiful and green, and I am able to start getting my Summer salad garden ready to be planted. I find gardening very therapeutic, but at the same time, it tends to inflict a world of hurt on my system.

Allergy symptoms

• Runny, itchy, congested nose
• Irritable, itchy, watery and red eyes
• Itchy ears, throat and roof of the mouth
• Itching skin, and rashes
• Aching face and Painful Sinuses

Allergic rhinitis affects around 18% of people in Australia and predisposes people to more frequent sinus infection, which can be mild or severe. Severe sinus problems can lead more serious health conditions, like pituitary gland swelling, brain swelling, debilitation headaches, much like migraine.

A Moderate or severe allergic reaction can cause learning difficulties for both children and adults and cause frequent absenteeism from work and play.

“Allergic contact dermatitis” is the term used for a rash or irritation of the skin that occurs when allergens, substances that the immune system reacts to as foreign, touch your skin. It’s estimated that atopic dermatitis affects up to 3 percent of adults.

Contact dermatitis can be reduced with the use of Aloe Vera. If you are lucky enough to be growing a nice Aloe Vera plant, just break off a piece of Aloe and squeeze the juice in to some moisturizer. Mix and use, by massaging into the affected area.

Pollination times vary with the plant variety and its location. For example, trees pollinate in late winter and early spring. Grasses flower next, and the weed ‘Plantain’ flowers from August through to May. Grass pollen numbers are also higher in inland areas, where there are no natural barriers to wind dispersal.

In Australia pollen numbers are lower on the east coast where the prevailing winds come from the sea and where there is protection from westerly winds by the Great Dividing Range. Pollen numbers are higher on the Victorian south coast because the prevailing winds are from the north carrying pollen from the northerly grasslands. In South Australia and Western Australia, the concentration of pollen can vary according to the prevailing winds.

Tips for reducing pollen exposure

Stay indoors until after midday, if possible, to reduce your exposure to pollen, particularly in the pollen season and on windy days. Check on pollen counts daily.

• Try to avoid going out during or after thunderstorms, particularly when pollen counts are high.

• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes

• Do not mow the grass and stay inside when it is being own. If mowing is unavoidable, wear a mask or consider taking a non-drowsy antihistamine if your doctor has suggested this

• Consider planting a low allergen garden around the home

• Keep windows closed both at home and particularly when in your car (and where possible use recirculating air conditioning in your car)

• Do not picnic in parks or in the country during the pollen season

• Try to plan your holidays out of the pollen season or holiday at the seaside

• If you are sensitive to particular weeds or trees that are outside your bedroom window, have them removed.

• If landscaping at home, research plants less likely to trigger allergic rhinitis or asthma

• Shower when you arrive home, and change your clothes.

• Rinse your eyes frequently with water
• Find an antihistamine that works for you. Unfortunately not all of them do. Quite often you have to test them out before you find one that really helps you.

Herbal Remedies for Mild Spring Allergies / Hay fever

Turmeric

It may act as a decongestant, help reduce allergy symptoms, and ward off colds. (and many other ailments) Add to your meals or you can make a Great turmeric tea

A Great Turmeric and Ginger Tea Recipe

• 2 Cups Water
• 1/2 Teasp Ground Turmeric
• 1/2 Teasp Chopped Fresh Ginger
• 1/2 Teasp Ground Cinnamon (optional)
• 1 Teasp Honey
• 1 Lemon Wedge
• Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan, add turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain tea into a large glass, add honey and lemon wedge

Garlic and Onions

This is perhaps the safest and easiest way of relieving and preventing allergies. Raw garlic and onion contain high levels of quercetin. Research shows that quercetin is a natural anti-inflammatory and stabilizes cells to help stop the introduction of histamine causing inflammation. Try adding plenty of raw onions to your lunchtime salads. You can also crush two or three cloves of raw, organic garlic and swallow them each morning for allergy protection all day.

Stinging Nettle

Although this plant causes irritation when touched in the wild (hence the name) the leaves of this plant, when consumed through supplements or in tea, are one of the best choices for relieving allergy symptoms. Rich in vitamin K, quercetin, and carotene, singing nettle showed that, in human trials, more than 50 percent of those who took freeze-dried nettle extracts confirmed that they found relief from allergy symptoms. Slightly less than half of the participants stated that they found nettle to work the same, or better, than their usual antihistamine

Parsley

More than just a plate garnish or breath freshener, parsley actually arrests the secretion of histamines. Parsley can be consumed fresh, but supplements are also available. Parsley is a diuretic, so if you are on any diuretics already, e.g. Lasix (furosemide), please consult our Doctor before consuming parsley.

Licorice

Licorice root contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as licoachalcone, which will stop allergy activity at a cellular level and reduce allergic reactions. Licorice has the ability to lower inflammation of the skin. It also encourages production of cortisol levels or might enable cortisol to last longer in the body, giving it protection from inflammation, with no side effects.

I hope you can find some help here.

Enjoy your Spring Time.

Bye