Tips and Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Article by Arnie Gitomer

 Tips and Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Spring is very definitely here and summer is on its way.  For some people, this is great news leading to mental pictures of flowers in bloom, bees buzzing around, light, and gentle breezes.  Those who suffer from seasonal allergies, however, will have a different view on this.  Fortunately, hope and help are both at hand.  Here are some tips for seasonal allergy sufferers.

Limit your exposure
This may seem like stating the obvious but you may have been too busy suffering to think about it strategically or to consider your options for educating other people who may be able to help such as your employer/colleagues.  In all seriousness, allergies are a health and safety issue and as such it is the responsibility of both employee and employer to work together to manage them as appropriate and actually this can be fairly straightforward with a bit of preparation.  In buildings without air conditioning, fans are one of the best investments allergy sufferers or their employers can make since they keep people cool without the need to open windows and let in pollen.

Keep it clean
Pollen and other allergens are blown by the air and can easily land on your body, hair, clothes and shoes from where they are transported wherever you go, such as your home, car or office.  Regular cleaning helps keep them at bay.  Ideally, you should use environmentally-friendly cleaners since they are less harsh and hence less likely to aggravate a pre-existing allergy.  You have control over the cleaners used in your own home, but you may need to speak to your employer regarding their cleaning practices (which may be outsourced).  Cigarette smoke is another known allergy irritant, which is one of the many reasons it has been banned from so many places.  If employees are smoking near entrances you need or want to use, then you need to make your employer aware and ask them to deal with it.  This is actually a general health and safety concern rather than being unique to allergy sufferers.

Prepare your defences
You need to keep your body in as good shape as you can so it can fight off the allergy as best as it can, so you should make it a priority to eat a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables (which are plentiful in summer).  Liquids matter too.  Lay off the alcohol as much as you possibly can, but if you really must, stick to drinks with plenty of liquid to counterbalance the alcohol content, such as beer, cider and spritzers.  Ideally stay away from fizzy drinks too (particularly the sugary ones) and go easy on the caffeine.  As you've probably guessed, water is your friend, followed by other healthy drinks such as milk and fruit juices.  There are two reasons for this.  One, keeping hydrated is part of staying healthy all year round, especially in hot weather.  The other is that if you have a runny nose, you are going to lose liquid, hence you need to replace it as quickly as you can.  You may feel too low to exercise, but try if you possibly can, if you prefer to avoid gyms, you can exercise indoors, even in a small flat, or go outdoors in the early morning or late evening, when the pollen count is at its lowest.  Exercise stimulates the body and helps boost your immune system.

Go on the attack
There are two key tools when it comes to keeping pollen and other allergens at bay.  One is steam and the other is natural sinus decongestants. 

Steam, as we all know, is water vapour and water vapour can get into the tiniest parts of the body such as the lung cavities and the sinus to give them a good deep clean.  If you have access to a steam shower, then this has a whole range of added benefits, such as stimulating the immune system, but if not even the old fashioned bowl of boiling water and a towel over your head will suffice or you could opt for a steam mask, which will do the same job more elegantly. 

Natural sinus decongestants help to deal with the fact that even though your nose is running, it is also bunged up to give you a double dose of misery.  The reason we're emphasizing the benefit of using natural products is much the same as the reason we recommended using environmentally-friendly cleaners, you want a sinus decongestant which is going to help relieve your suffering rather than one which could actually make it worse.  Keep a supply of quality natural sinus decongestants in handy places so you can always access them and be ready to attack that allergy head on!

Sinus Decongest
One excellent natural sinus decongestant is the Phyto-Tech™ Sinus Decongest. The product is a fascinating blend of herbs that exerts an instantaneous, dramatic effect on the sinus area. These herbs are pungent and aromatic, producing vapours that open and dilate the sinus passageways. This facilitates breathing, drainage and helps fight microbial growth. It produces a short term intensity that is followed by a mellower, warming sensation in the sinus area. Sinus Decongest will open even the most stubborn and clogged sinus cavity. It can be used many times during the day to help maintain breathing and sinus drainage.

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A note from Don Goldberg: Sinus Decongest is available from Willner Chemists. It comes in 1 and 2 fluid ounce dropper bottles, and a convenient 1 ounce spray bottle. For more information, look up the monograph in the Phyto-Tech monograph listing, or read the following:

Who might benefit from this herbal formula?
oThose suffering from sinus infections, sinus headaches, cold and flu, congestion from allergies and environmental toxins.
oThose who snore.
oThose with congestion while flying.
It is best to inhale deeply right after taking Phyto-Tech™Sinus Decongest. The deeper one inhales, the more effecive the result.
General Dosage: Take 15-30 drops directly in mouth, or in water or juice as soon as is needed. Take 1-3 times per day and up to every 3 hours when needed.
Acute infection: Take every 30 minutes to 2 hours until relief maintains
Phyto-Tech™ Sinus Decongest contains: Horseradish Root Fresh, Spilanthes Herb Fresh, Echinacea angustifolia Root, Elderberry, Peppermint Oil, Olive Leaf, Horehound Herb, Garlic, Licorice Root, Cayenne Fruit, Boneset Herb, Osha Root Fresh, Andrographis Herb, Onion, Yarrow Herb, Goldenseal Root, Wild Cherry Bark, Water Pure Deionized, Alcohol Pure Grain, Glycerin Vegetable, Honey.
How does it work? Peppermint Oil and Fresh Organic Horseradish pulls the action up and into the sinus while the pungency of Cayenne, Garlic Onion and Horseradish increase circulation. Since the sinus cavity has poor circulation in general, this increase allows immune compounds in the blood to fight infection. The additional Immuno-Stimulating action of Echinacea, Spilanthes, Goldenseal, Elderberry, Garlic, Olive and Fresh Osha help stimulate the body to fight off microbial inundation and assist in healing. Decongesting herbs like Horehound, Licorice, Wild Cherry and Osha also help clean the lungs. Sinus Decongest helps to thin, thick and infected mucus and expectorate it out. In this way, it can help resolve an unproductive cough.  Fever managing herbs like Boneset, Yarrow, Osha, Andrographis and Peppermint also help reestablish immune homeostasis.
Complimentary Formulas:
Phyto-Tech™ Sinus Decongest is synergistic with other immune formulas to increase immune stimulation.
oCombine with Echinacea Goldenseal (Phyto-Tech™ Echina Acute Complex) or Phyto-Tech™ Oregano Oil 70 to additionally stimulate white blood cell activity.
oFor lung congestion or sore throats, combine with Phyto-Tech™ Respiratory Complex.
oFor long-term immune weakness, combine with Phyto-Tech™ Immune Complex or Phyto-Tech™ Elderberry 1:2.
oPhyto-Tech™ Respiratory Complex (to clear out lungs);
oPhyto-Tech™ Mushroom Extract Complex/Dual Extraction Blend (rebuild immunity)
oPhyto-Tech™ Sinus Allergy Blend/Chinese Herbal Formula (Chinese formula to balance constitutions)
oPhyto-Tech™ Allergy Complex (if allergies)
oPhyto-Tech™ Oregano Oil 70 (powerful anti-microbial)
oPhyto-Tech™ Echina Acute Complex (colds and Flu)
oPhyto-Tech™ Astragalus Root 1:3 (if chronic weak immunity)