Easy and natural ways for managing and reducing allergy symptoms that work

Spring brings a wave of pollen from trees and grasses. While the use of over-the-counter allergy meds is okay in the short term, incorporating some easy, at-home practices can help. Also, you might benefit by adding acupuncture and specific herbal formulas to accelerate healing.

Nasal Rinse:

Combine 1 tsp of salt with 1 tsp of baking soda and mix with 1/2 cup of water. Mix well. Put a puddle of the solution in the palm of your hand. Gently inhale into each nostril, swirling the liquid around in your nose and taking small inhalations like little snuffs to gradually let the solution penetrate the back of the nose and throat. Let the water drain out of your nose, or spit it out; gargle with the remaining solution.

Follow this routine once a day.

Qi Gong To Help Sinus, Lung and Immune System

It is really remarkable how much the simple sequential movements of qi gong can contribute to healing. There are many teachers on YouTube, or you may be able to find a live class at a local community center or private studio. I’ve included two videos of specific qi gong exercises for the Lung. The first is one for allergy relief and the second is for preventing cold. The movements of qi gong really do open the respiratory pathways and facilitate oxygen flow.

Do a 10-15 minute qi gong exercise once a day.

Supplement with Vitamin C, Quercetin, and Perhaps Also Bromelain

There are always times when we need to boost our intake of antioxidants. Allergy season is one of these times. Even if you notice only a bit more coughing or trouble breathing, it is still a good idea to boost the immune system. And a good window for doing this is a month prior, and a few weeks during allergy season.

Quercetin is one of the most valuable antioxidants for allergies because it inhibits the release of histamine, a key chemical involved in allergic reactions. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, valuable for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Vitamin C thins mucus secretions and shortens the course of allergy symptoms. Combined, you get a double whammy of healing benefits especially since quercetin improves absorption of vitamin C.

While quercetin is available in some foods, boosting intake by using a supplement yields a much stronger and real therapeutic benefit. Quercetin can be obtained in diet too. It is highest in onions, and also red wine, apples, and broccoli, although not in very high concentrations (Mleek, et. al., 2016) thus supplementing during certain times of the year is a sound strategy.

Quercetin is very useful for those who suffer with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and even helps reduce analphylactic reactions associated with allergies.

Research back this up too. Quercetin restrains IgE antibody formation and balances immune system responses (Mlcek, Jurikova Skrovankova & Sochor, 2016). For kids there is a chewable form that combines with vitamin C and bromelain, another flavonoid. Ortho-Molecular products makes a good one –for kids and for adults.

To order quercetin and other herbs and supplements, including those cited below please visit my Fullscript store. Prices are very competitive and discounts apply on first orders and refills.

Take quercetin together with Vitamin C. Take 2 capsules/day for 1 month up to 6 weeks.

Make Soup and Use a Lot of Garlic

Garlic really is a superfood. In addition to being especially rich in sulfur, iodine, selenium, many B vitamins, vitamin C and amino acids, garlic also contains some quercetin as well. The high amounts of antioxidants and essential healing oils in garlic is a big part of what helps boost the immune system during allergy flare-ups –so it is able to fight off histamines better, reducing the severity of allergy symptoms.

Veggie Garlicky Soup and Stock

Adapted from Jeanne Rose’s Herbal Guide to Food

Ingredients

• Olive Oil
• 5 garlic cloves
• 2 large leeks, sliced
• 5 carrots, sliced
• 1 golden potato, diced
• 3 stalks celery
• 1 T. Italian herbs
• 1 T. salt, celery salt or kelp
• Sprinkle of parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 cup good burgundy wine
• 3 cups water

In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil and then add garlic, potato, leeks, carrots, celery, herbs, and salt. Saute for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add wine and bring to low boil. Add water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Eat as a soup with a light sprinkle of parmesan cheese. This is delicious medicine to clear plugged sinuses. For an extra boost for opening the nose, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Optional: Use a hand blender or stand blender to puree about half of the mixture. Add back to soup pot and mix well.

Leeks are similar to onions. Leeks also contain quercetin, and have the ability to help shed cold viruses. The use of wine lifts and moves blood to the exterior, in this case, the head and face. Even though it is cooked off in this recipe, it improves circulation and accelerates absorption of key nutraceuticals of the ingredients of this soup.

Eat one to two bowls of soup to boost nutritional healing during allergy season.

Choose An Herbal Remedy To Take Along With Quercetin

I believe that herbs offer the best in symptom management and prevention of allergies. The list below provides my picks of blends that are best overall. Each of these is comprised of a synergistic blend of herbs that are designed for the best in allergy relief. The first two are for symptom relief, and I’ve also listed a formula for prevention.

Clear Air by Health Concerns – A premiere allergy formula for symptom relief that contains Rz. cynanchi and Sm. Persica to stop cough. Rz. cyanchi also resolves phlegm, and reduces wheeze due to failure of Lung qi to descend. It also contains marshmallow root, licorice root, and turmeric that assists in clearing heat (inflammation). This formula opens up the airways quickly, arrests cough and wheeze, and strengthens the lung.

Xanthium Relieve Surface by Health Concerns – A blend of anti-infectious herbs that helps clear up a sinus infection using antibacterial herbs. This is for scenarios whereby allergies lead to thick, yellow mucus and signs of infection like fever, more severe or productive cough, and plugged nose.

Jade Windscreen by Treasures of the East – The best strategy for managing and reducing allergies is to act preventatively. A formula that boosts immune strength while also clearing the nasal passages is the ticket. Astragalus root is the main ingredient in this formula; astragalus is the best immune system herb I have ever studied and prescribed. It boosts immune responses to viruses and bacteria, eases headaches, improves cardiac strength, reduces stress, and promotes wound healing. It is also very protective of the kidneys- a function that has been extensively researched in Japan.

If you would like to order any of these, please visit my Fullscript dispensary. Once you create an account, use the search function to locate these items in the catalog.

Take Clear Air 3 capsules, 2-3x/day for 2 weeks for cough, wheeze, panting, or during episodes of asthma or bronchitis. Safe to take along with antibiotics and other meds.

Take Xanthium Relieve Surface capsules, 3/day for 2 weeks for sinus infection, yellow profuse phlegm and sinus pain. Discontinue when phlegm resolves as this formula is a bit drying.

Take Jade Windscreen as an alternative to, or at the same time as Quercetin and Vitamin C to curb allergic response and reduce allergy symptoms. Take 3 capsules, 2x/day for 4-6 weeks, prior to and during the first few weeks of allergy season.

Acupuncture

Even one or two acupuncture sessions can go a long way towards allergy relief.  Treatments help open the nose, strengthen the Wei Qi (immune response), clear phlegm, and combat infection. Since acupuncture moves Qi and Blood, it accelerates and boosts circulation to the deeper layers of the sinus cavities which kickstarts a healing response. Acupuncture triggers better immune function; studies show it regulates the HPA axis and reduces IgE expression.

Book weekly acupuncture for 3-4 weeks to relieve sinus congestion, open the nose, reduce allergy symptoms and boost immunity.

More Help Needed Please

For chronic allergy and respiratory illness, I recommend booking an herbal consultation in order to receive a more individualized analysis of your health history. Expecially when symptoms are stubborn and do not resolve within a week or more, a specific formula may be needed to loosen phlegm, resolve stubborn infection, and heal deeper sinus inflammation. Visit the Appointments Page to learn more about telehealth herbal consultations, or contact me for more information.

Breathe! Wishing you calm passageways as we move from Spring to Summer season!

REFERENCES

Mlcek J, Jurikova T, Skrovankova S, & Sochor J (2016). Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5):623. doi: 10.3390/molecules21050623. PMID: 27187333; PMCID: PMC6273625.