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Seasonal Allergies: Are You Ready?

By on April 2, 2023
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By Andrea Donsky, RHN | Naturallysavvy.com

Although spring is a favorite time of year for many people, one thing has the ability to put a damper on it: seasonal allergies. Don’t worry: we have some suggestions to help you sail through the sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny nose so you can best enjoy this wonderful time of year.

What are seasonal allergies?

Also referred to as hay fever, seasonal allergies (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) is a condition that typically occurs when pollen is released from weeds, grasses, and trees, and mold spores are plentiful in the air. For many people, these allergens trigger allergic symptoms.

You might think of seasonal allergies as a face-off with histamines. These are the proteins that cause the congestion, swelling, and related symptoms associated with an allergic reaction. Your body releases histamines naturally when you experience inflammation, infection, or injury, and the histamines aid in the healing process. However, when the body isn’t able to clear away histamine or it is present in high levels, then you can experience an allergic response and symptoms that go along with it.

Read about 10 easy ways to relieve seasonal allergies

Help prevent allergic symptoms with food

The use of natural remedies can go a long way toward relieving seasonal allergy symptoms, but did you know your food choices can help as well? Certain foods increase the release of histamine in the body, which in turn can worsen your allergy symptoms. Those foods include nightshades (e.g., tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, eggplant), fermented foods and beverages (including wine), artificial flavors and colors, food preservatives, citrus fruit, bananas, pineapples, and strawberries.

If you are histamine intolerant, you have an increased sensitivity to histamines. This can be caused by consuming too many high-histamine foods as well as genetics, chronic stress, or the presence of various issues such as kidney or liver problems or an impaired gut lining. Symptoms of histamine intolerance include rashes, headaches, nasal congestion, and dizziness.

Be kind to your liver

The liver works very hard to process the chemicals and other toxins that enter the body. When the liver is overworked, which can happen quite easily because of poor dietary habits, lack of sleep, stress, and exposure to environmental toxins, a histamine response can be triggered. To help prevent this, be kind to your liver. Eat as many whole foods as possible while limiting or eliminating processed items. Bitter foods such as dandelion greens and tea, kale, and arugula can help with liver detox and digestion. Make cruciferous veggies a part of your daily fare, and be sure to get your B vitamins, especially B6, found in chickpeas, liver, tuna, and salmon.

Read about natural treatments for allergies (and how to avoid Benadryl)

Exercise

When you are physically active, you stimulate your lymphatic system, which helps eliminate toxins and other waste from the body. This in turn supports liver function and immune response so you better manage allergy symptoms.

Choose healing natural supplements

A variety of healing natural supplements may help manage seasonal allergy symptoms, and without the unwanted side effects associated with medications.

Quercetin: This polyphenol is found in onions, berries, broccoli, grapes, and tea. Experts have found that it has anti-allergic properties and an ability to suppress inflammation, both of which mean it “can be effectively utilized in the treatment of…allergic rhinitis.”

Probiotics: If you thought probiotics were good only for your gut health, think again. Numerous research studies, including one from the University of Florida, show that probiotics may reduce symptoms of seasonal allergies. The study names Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifodobacterium bifidum G9-1, and B. longum MM-2 as the effective bacteria. Other research has named others as being effective, including L. acidophilus and B. lactis.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an important immune system supporter, and helping with allergy symptoms is big on the list! It has natural antihistamine abilities and helps reduce inflammation and swelling associated with an allergic reaction.

Black cumin seed: This seed, which is also known as nigella sativa, contains more than 100 active substances. Among them is thymoquinone, which is believed to be responsible for the seed’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antihistamine activity.

Nettles: Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) is a common plant that some use to reduce allergy symptoms. Research suggests stinging nettle may interfere with the allergy process by hindering histamine production and the inflammation that accompanies it.

Bottom line

You don’t need to be sidelined by seasonal allergy symptoms. Take some lifestyle and natural steps to manage and get relief from sneezing, runny nose, and eyes, and other symptoms of allergies this season.

[Editor’s Note: New Roots Herbal has products that can help alleviate allergies. Please visit their website to learn more.]

Sources

Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients 2017 Nov; 9(11):1211

Dennis-Wall JC et al. Probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) improve rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life in individuals with seasonal allergies: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2017 Mar; 105(3):758-67

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. Consider nigella sativa for asthma and allergies.

Mlcek J et al. Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules 2016 May; 21(5):623

Roschek B et al. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research 2009 Jul; 23(7):920-26.

What are the benefits and uses of stinging nettle? Medical News Today 2019 May 22

Yang G et al. Treatment of allergic rhinitis with probiotics: an alternative approach. North American Journal of Medical Sciences 2013 Aug; 5(8): 465-68

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