Irrigate your nasal pasages
3. Magnesium
If you're concerned with wheezing and asthma, try magnesium. "It's an essential mineral needed for lung mechanisms, and if your internal levels of it decline, you can become more susceptible to getting allergies and asthma," Schwartzman explains.
Known as the relaxing and calming mineral, magnesium helps to relieve bronchial constriction associated with allergies. Starting taking magnesium one to two weeks before allergies hit. Have about 400 mg of powdered magnesium a day mixed into juice or water, she recommends. (If that dose upsets your bowels, reduce your dosage by 50 to 100 mg.)
4. Acupuncture
Many studies have shown that acupuncture, an ancient form of Chinese medicine can help you to fight allergies. "If you're having an acute attack and want really immediate relief, then acupuncture is great," says Schwartzman. "It's especially good for congested sinuses and watery eyes." The placement of extremely fine needles around the nose area, for example, helps to open the sinuses to instantly relieve pressure.
Visit your naturopath or an acupuncturist for a treatment. Consider having acupuncture year-round, to improve your immunity and your body's response to allergens.
5. Nasal irrigation
When your sinuses are painfully clogged, consider rinsing them out with a saline (salt and water) solution.
"People can get amazing symptomatic relief just by clearing out the nasal passages," says Schwartzman. Nasal irrigation helps to immediately relieve pressure and congestion, as it flushes out mucus and irritants from your nasal passage.
When symptoms flare up, Schwartzman recommends doing nasal irrigation in the morning and at night. You can buy a neti pot, a teapot-like contraption designed for nasal irrigation. Using the pot, pour half the solution up one nostril (it comes out the other side), and then up the other one.
Add to your anti-allergy artillery by following a healthy, allergen-free diet. Leading up to -- and during -- your peak allergy season, avoid any known food sensitivities. Eat whole grains, such as brown rice, millet and quinoa, and a variety of fruits and veggies, having several servings of each a day.
Avoid sugar because just one teaspoon suppresses your immune system for about four hours -- you need strong immunity in order to better fight off allergens. Shy away from dairy foods and soy, as both encourage mucus production (you don't want your sinuses or lungs to become more congested!), and take 1 teaspoon of high quality fish oil daily to help decrease allergy symptoms, such as congestion and runny nose.
Arm yourself with a healthy diet and natural remedies, and you'll surely ease your allergies.
Finding it hard to breathe? Attack indoor asthma triggers that lurk in your home.
Page 2 of 2
Aileen Brabazon, CNP, is a holistic nutritionist based in Toronto. An allergy sufferer herself, she regularly finds relief in the remedies recommended here.
