Achoo!

About half way through winter most of us start looking forward to more sunshine and the blooming flowers that come along with spring. What many of us don’t look forward to as much are the itchy eyes and frequent sneezing that come along too.

These symptoms, which can also involve unpleasantries, such as a constantly runny nose, fatigue, congestion and itchy skin, are most often referred to as seasonal allergies, hay fever or allergic rhinitis.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, somewhere between 40 and 60 million Americans suffer from allergies. The associated symptoms are the result of the body’s sensitivity to something in the environment, which is often plant and tree pollen in the spring, early fall and summer, when the pollen is abundant.

While most of us are familiar with over-the-counter medicines that can be taken to quell these symptoms, many people may not realize that there are also natural things that can be done at home to lessen their extremity, frequency and even potentially get rid of them altogether.

Individuals who experience seasonal allergies may also suffer from perennial, or year-round, allergies, which only heighten their seasonal sensitivities. Things such as dust mites, pet dander, mold and food allergies can be contributors.

Dr. Emma Baker, N.D. of Baker Family Naturopathic in Bend, suggests that taking a holistic approach to rule out underlying causes in a person’s diet and lifestyle habits is a good place to start. Skin and blood tests can also be done to pinpoint what specifically a person may be reacting to, which then allows the patient to begin taking action to reduce their exposure.

“Everyone is a bit different, so I would recommend that a patient come in so we can set up a plan that will work best for them,” said Baker.

Baker also suggests that people who know they suffer from allergies could even look ahead and plan for the upcoming allergy season during the winter.

Dr. Azure Karli, N.D. of Bend Naturopathic Clinic, agrees.

“Taking preventative actions can be very beneficial,” said Karli. “First off, I usually recommend small lifestyle changes like rinsing off before bed and avoiding sleeping with pets.”

Baker adds that regularly cleaning linens and carpets in your home to remove dust mites and dander are good practices as well.

“Even changing clothes immediately when you have been outside for awhile can be helpful,” said Dr. Adam Williams of Bend Memorial Clinic. “Using a neti pot to keep your nasal passages clear is another option. This is an easy treatment that can be purchased along with a solution and instructions at many drug and health food stores.”

Diet can also play a part in the extremity of allergy symptoms each season. If a person is allergic to a certain food, milk for instance, and they don’t know it, then their body might be more sensitive to other irritants they are exposed to.

“Elimination diets can be a helpful way of figuring out if something in your diet is causing a problem,” said Baker. “If you notice that perhaps you feel itchy after eating dairy, maybe it is a good time of year to take a closer look and tighten up on that.”

Honey has been touted as a natural remedy for treating allergy symptoms and even has a reputation for its potential to help decrease their severity.

While both Baker and Karli noted that although they are unaware of any scientific studies that support this idea, they each have had patients report great results, and suggest that there is no harm in giving it a try.

The theory is that eating local honey can help the body build up a tolerance to local pollen strains in the area before allergy season hits. This decreases sensitivity to it when it is being blown through the air more frequently in the springtime or other high-allergy seasons. The key is that it needs to be truly local honey. Meaning honey from Portland won’t do the trick for people living in Central Oregon.

However, Williams noted that seasonal allergies are most often caused by pollens that are transported through the air rather than pollens that are carried by bees and therefore local honey might not offer as much relief as those who suffer may hope for.

Whether or not honey increases the body’s ability to handle seasonal allergies, it is a great option for soothing a dry, itchy throat and offers other nutritional benefits as well.

Even something as simple as keeping an eye on the weather forecast can be extremely beneficial during allergy season. Williams suggests staying inside as much as possible on high pollen or windy days, as pollen and other irritants will be moving through the air and the likelihood of contact with the allergen is much greater. In fact, if a person is specifically allergic to pollen, then rainy days can help ease symptoms as the rain itself keeps pollens grounded.

“It is great to try new things out, but if nothing else seems to be helping ease your symptoms, the single most effective treatment you can find is an anti-inflammatory nasal spray,” advised Williams. “The next step, if your symptoms just aren’t going away or if you experience discomfort for more than a few months, would be to visit an allergist to determine what you are specifically allergic to.”

Williams explains that allergy tests are painless and can help to pinpoint exactly what is causing your body to react. This will allow you to avoid that irritant directly and make changes to your lifestyle to accommodate that as needed.

“The most important thing to remember is that everyone is different,” said Baker. “Things that work for one person may not work for another.”

So, try a few things at home and visit a specialist to find out what works for you. Whatever approach you take, just make sure that your allergies don’t get in the way of your outdoor adventures this spring.