By: Monique Danae, HNC | April 19, 2020
We might be in the middle of a global pandemic, but this pollen doesn’t know how to “social distance”. So, I figured that I should share some allergy-fighting tips.
A lot of the immune supporting tips you’ll find here are also helpful.
GENERAL Tips
- Use nasal irrigation/Netipot with warm water to help clear your nasal passages.
- Get plenty of sleep. Aim for 7-8 hours each night.
- Limit exposure to allergens. For pollen allergies, try to go outside late morning and early afternoon when the pollen and mold have settled. Limit outside time when conditions are dry and windy.
- Limit exposure to respiratory irritants by avoiding smoking (anything), secondhand smoke, mold, dust, chemicals (ie. paint, salon products), pesticides/herbicides, and smog.
- Manage your stress and mental health with mindfulness practices and breathing exercises.
- Relieve nasal congestion with a hot foot bath
- Apply cold compresses for itching eyes
- Take a shower when you come inside the house!
- Household tips: use a dehumidifier to fight dust mites, vacuum your house and car, clean regularly, wear a mask when you clean, and use mold-proof paint.
- Pets: keep animals clean, groomed and healthy AND keep pets out of the bedroom.
NUTRITION Tips
Herbs & Oils
- Natural antihistamine: dandelion, goldenseal, quercetin, bromelain and stinging nettle.
- Relieve asthma symptoms with nettle and thyme.
- Diffuse or apply eucalyptus, peppermint, pine, oregano, rosemary and thyme. These help to open your lungs, relieve spasms, thin phlegm and fight germs.
- You can also infuse these in honey or cook with them.
- Eat horseradish to help clear the sinuses
- Open your nasal passages with hot tea (nettle, red clover) or cold compresses on your forehead and face
- Calm your mucus membranes with thyme, lavender and marjoram
- Boost your immune system with echinacea tea, capsules or drops
Foods & Fluids
- Eat a whole-food plant-based diet, drink plenty of water and limit sugary, fatty & processed foods.
- Don’t neglect intake of Vitamin A, B-complex, C, zinc & essential fatty acids
- Fight inflammation with garlic, wild yam, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, flaxseed oil and fermented foods like kimchi).
- Elderberry syrups, jams and supplements helps to ease allergy symptoms by calming inflammation and improving immune function
- Eat 1-2 tsp of local honey daily
- Eat pineapples for natural bromelain (antihistamine)
- Eat garlic, wild yam to fight inflammation
- Relieve asthma symptoms with medicinal mushrooms (chaga, reishi, etc.)
FITNESS Tips
- Exercise regularly! Physical activity helps to improve airflow through the nasal passages.
Please don’t be afraid to reach out to one of the following professionals if you have persistent concerns and individual questions regarding this topic: Primary Care Physician, Registered Dietitian, Licensed Health Care Professional, etc.
Moda Wellness 