The season of allergies has arrived!


The arrival of spring brings about a welcomed shift in weather, with cherry blossoms and the sunshine creating a refreshing change from the gloom of winter. However, the persistent sniffles, sneezing, and itchy eyes that accompany this season are not as enjoyable.


I have been grappling with allergies for years. Earlier, I used to always carry antihistamines as stepping out without them meant enduring a terrible brain fog and runny nose, which would spoil my entire day.


Today I live pretty much allergy free, with no more antihistamines, and no more sniffles so I want you to know that it’s possible! 


My go-to natural allergy support includes:


Vitamin C - a nutrient that helps stabilize your mast cells (allergy cells) and reduce the amount of histamine released.


NAC - a potent antioxidant and liver support that also acts as a "muco-ytic" - which means it helps break up. mucus and relieve congestion.


Quercetin - the active ingredient in various herbs and an antioxidant that acts as a natural antihistamine.


HEPA filter (High-efficiency particulate air filter) - The airborne pollutants are something I'm also actively trying to minimize during the allergy season in particular. This means I have my HEPA filter running at all times. HEPA filters significantly reduce airborne pollutants I can say without a doubt, this has made a major difference.


It's important to note that these natural remedies for my allergies didn't start working for me right away. I had significant allergies. They were far past seasonal, I was taking antihistamines daily. 


I had to work hard at bringing down my body's inflammation - this ultimately came down to exploring my gut health much deeper. Initially, I also utilized several different herbs to help complement the other things I mentioned. 


My gut health was the root cause of my chronic allergies.


I actually didn't have any digestive symptoms. My main symptom was in fact, allergies (the brain fog, and congestion, primarily). I also had mild eczema. I also had chronic low iron levels. No matter what I did (increase animal protein, supplement), my numbers never budged. 


Working with my naturopathic doctor, I did a deep dive into my medical history, did some testing, and discovered I had a pretty significant gluten intolerance. Overtimes (with many starts and stops), I removed gluten from my diet fully. I started to notice a significant reduction in my allergy symptoms and brain fog and resolved my eczema.


Now it's important to note that the point isn't to remove gluten from the diet. Rather, it's to prompt you to work with your health care provider and evaluate YOUR root cause, because likely, there's a solution for you too.


If you're interested in more specific allergy support, schedule a discovery call to learn more.


Warmly,

Dr. Ashley 

Naturopathic Doctor - Vancouver, BC

References:

  • Kakavas S, Karayiannis D, Mastora Z. The Complex Interplay between Immunonutrition, Mast Cells, and Histamine Signaling in COVID-19. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 29;13(10):3458. doi: 10.3390/nu13103458. PMID: 34684460; PMCID: PMC8537261.
  • Sadowska AM. N-Acetylcysteine mucolysis in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. 2012;6(3):127-135. doi:10.1177/1753465812437563
  • Mlcek J, Jurikova T, Skrovankova S, Sochor J. Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5):623. doi: 10.3390/molecules21050623. PMID: 27187333; PMCID: PMC6273625.