Approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from nasal allergies. Allergic rhinits, the medical term, is also called hay fever but we’ll refer to it as nasal allergies henceforth. Symptoms include watery eyes, stuffy nose, runny nose, excessive sneezing, and itchiness of the nose and eyes. Nasal allergies are more of an indicator of internal toxicity rather than an actual condition and, it’s on the rise. In the U.S. alone, nasal allergies affect about 30% of adults and about 40% of children. Let’s look at what causes nasal allergies and which natural home remedies for allergies are available to us.
What causes nasal allergies?
The most common answer is pollen but this is not a question that can be answered that simply. There are seasonal allergies and there are perennial (year long) allergies. Seasonal allergies are typically experienced in spring, summer and/or early fall and are triggered by pollens, grass, and airborne spores. Perennial allergies are typically triggered by animal dander, mold spores, and dust mites.
The link between allergies and more serious ailments is something we’ve spotted decades ago. We truly believe that allergies are just a symptom of a more serious condition. That’s not to say that a sneeze every now and then indicates you have serious disease. Allergens can irritate the sensitive lining of the nose and cause one to sneeze of course. However, for individuals that experience seasonal or perennial nasal allergens year after year to the point that Benadryl and similar pharmaceuticals become a crutch, that’s typically an indicator of a toxic body.
A low immune system and a toxic lymphatic system typically go hand in hand with allergies. In some cases a toxic colon can be the underlying cause of a lifetime of allergies. Typically, people with damaged immune systems or very low immunity suffer from allergies all year long. We have also seen a strong correlation between allergies and a diet high in refined: carbs, sugars, and dairy products. Once people shift their diets to consuming more raw fruits and vegetables their allergy symptoms are significantly reduced. Adding a cleanse, such as the basic cleanse, has shown great results in eliminating nasal allergies all together.
How does diet affect allergies?
As mentioned above, a diet high in refined carbs, refined sugars, and refined dairy can lead to nasal allergens among other disease. Refined carbs offer little to no nutritional benefits. Carbs turn into sugars which lead to acidity and inflammation. Additionally, sugar in stifles the immune system, making you susceptible to infections and disease. The same can be said for refined sugars.
Most dairy products available today also have loads of sugar in them. Cow’s milk is naturally high in sugar and fat so it should be consumed in moderation. While we’re told to drink more milk to get a full serving of calcium, it may surprise you to know that cow’s milk leads to the production of more mucous. More mucous leads to inflammation, this is what some people may be experiencing when their body doesn’t react well to dairy. This makes them think they are lactose intolerant. If you’re worried about getting plenty of calcium consider eating a cup of almonds which has 378mg of calcium. For reference, the same measure of milk has 276mg of calcium.
Now you know that eating refined carbs, sugars and dairy leads to acidity, mucous production, and inflammation. If your body is busy trying to level it’s pH, remove mucous and reduce inflammation how do you think it’s going to react when environmental allergens and toxins are introduced? Well, it’s going to give you a really bad time.
Symptoms
Watery eyes
Runny nose
Sneezing
Stuffy nose
Problems with smell
Decreased sense of smell
Itchy nose
Itchy eyes
Soar throat
Coughing
Clogged ears
Headaches
Sensitivity under the eyes
Sensitivity of the forehead
Dark circles under the eyes
Puffiness under the eyes
Nasal allergies may manifest into food and/or skin allergies when the immune, lymphatic, and/or circulatory system are saturated with toxins. Toxic loads in any of these systems can lead to a wide range of other diseases such and asthma.Last year alone physicians, hospitals, and emergency departments received over 13.4 million visits due to nasal allergies. Nearly 17 million adults and 6.7 million children were diagnosed with hay fever in the last year.
How are allergies cured?
Treatment ranging from antihistamines to immunotherapy (allergy shots) are available. However, all of these treatment options require some sort for drug, each with it’s own list of side effects. Additionally, these treatment options don’t cure allergies, they suppress the symptoms temporarily causing one to need the drugs over the course of a lifetime.
Immunotherapy is a series of shots provided over the course of a year on average. These shots contain allergens. Each shot is specific to what the person is allergic to. The goal is to inject the person with a bit of the allergens over the course of a year, sometimes longer, until the person is desensitized to that specific allergen. It sounds like an okay route to take, especially if you’re desperate to rid yourself of allergies. However, allergy shots don’t always work even when they’re administer over the course of a year. In some cases the person will have to keep going back periodically for the rest of their life to keep their body desensitized to the allergen. There are also the side effects of the shots to consider.
What I think most individual fail to understand is that desensitizing a person to a specific allergen is like plugging a hole in a canoe with a piece of gum. Eventually that piece of gum is not going to hold. What should really be done is to examine the body as a whole. Allergens are typically a sign of deeper, more complex health issue.
Natural remedies for allergies
If you want to naturally get rid of nasal allergies start by changing your diet. It may take some time but it’ll be worth it in the long run. Cut out refined: carbs, sugars, and dairy products. Stick to healthy carbs like non-gmo whole wheat, raw sugar, and healthy dairy such as real Greek yogurt, feta or goat cheese.
Secondly, cleanse. If you’ve never a cleansed or it’s been more than 6 months since the last one, seriously consider doing a cleanse. The most well balanced cleanse for an all over healthy body is the basic cleanse. This will help clean out toxins from your intestinal system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, digestive system, and respiratory system. It also helps eliminate toxins at a cellular level for all over detoxification. Click here to learn more about the basic cleanse.
If you suffer from severe nasal allergies and even food and skin allergies, the basic cleanse is a must. In addition to that, you should strongly consider the following products: HistaBlock, Bee Pollen, and Echinacea w/Golden seal. HistaBlock and Bee Pollen support the respiratory system in times of stress. Echinacea w/Golden Seal activates and strengthens immune function. It also helps with the elimination of toxins. Cleansing the body of toxins helps naturally strengthen it in many ways. Using cleansing products such as those mentioned above will help additionally strengthen your body so that it can easily fight toxins and allergens on its own without slowing you down. Help your body, help you.
Home remedies for allergies
As mentioned above, diet is a crucial part of eliminating allergies. Adding lemon to your water is a great way to help your body detox and naturally improve immune function which can help you naturally eliminate allergies. Click here to read more about the many benefits of drinking lemon water.
Another great home remedy for allergies includes drinking apple cider vinegar. Here is the recipe:
8 ounces of water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons FRESH lemon juice (do not used bottled lemon juice), this is roughly one half of a lemon
1 tablespoon raw honey
Mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Drink 1 glass of this a day for the first 3 days. On the fourth day drink 2 glasses a day. On the seventh day drink 3 glasses a day for a minimum of 3 months. This is a general recommendation to slowly introduce the detoxification process to your body. This mix of ingredients will promote detoxing and help reduce inflammation and excess mucous. This will also help balance your body’s pH, which is important for proper immune function.
Sources:
www.acaai.org
www.mayoclinic.org
www.health.com
www.naturopathic.org
Disclaimer: Our services and information do not diagnose or prescribe for disease conditions. Individuals are encouraged to seek competent medical help when those services may be indicated. Individuals accept total responsibility for their own health care and maintenance.
