After one of the longest, coldest winters we’ve endured, the desire to throw open the windows and enjoy Mother Nature is strong. For some of you, the satisfaction is fleeting because those beautifully blooming flowers and trees are the source of great discomfort. Congestion, fogginess, itchy eyes, mucus, coughing, etc. prevent you from feeling your best. At a time when everything is growing and blossoming and sprouting forth, where is all your energy?
WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?
Allergies are an exaggerated immune response to a pathogen. Pollen, dust, and mold are released into the air in the spring. If our immune system is compromised, it goes into overdrive to fight these irritants.
In Chinese Medicine, each organ correlates to a season. Spring is the season that belongs to Liver and Gall Bladder. These organs are responsible for maintaining the smooth flow of qi, for detoxification, and for building up our “wei” qi or defensive qi. If we have additional heat in our Liver as the temperature is warming up, that heat will rise and lead to inflammation in the upper portion of the body. Our Liver then becomes tired from trying to vent so much heat. With this relative weakness, our defensive qi will not be strong enough to defend from allergens.
Some people suffer from allergies their whole lives because they’re predisposed. We’re all born with different strengths and weaknesses, so some of us have sensitive livers and lungs. We promise there’s hope, though!
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
ACUPUNCTURE
• Many of you have seen firsthand the immediate relief acupuncture and gua sha or cupping can provide for your allergies or for colds. Acupuncture strengthens the lungs (our body’s first defense from pathogens) and clears heat from the upper body, while cleansing and smoothing the Liver and Gall Bladder.
DIET
• Eliminate toxic buildup and heat producing foods. Avoid all the good stuff…alcohol, dairy, wheat, sugar, processed, and spicy foods. This step is the hardest, but will provide the most permanent relief.
• Eat a lot of apples, pears, and kiwi to tonify your Lungs.
• Berries are wonderful to nourish the Liver and Gall Bladder. Mulberries are especially good, they clear wind which carries the pathogens in.
• Local honey will boost your immunity to local pollen.
• Small legumes, such as lentils, aduki beans, and split peas will help detoxify the Liver. Shoots and stalks, like asparagus and sprouts, will ascend energy to the head and clear it out.
• Lemons and limes will consolidate fluid and are great if you have runny nose and eyes or post nasal drip.
• Eat the above foods in very high amounts to overwhelm your system and indicate that they’re not just for hunger, but for therapeutic purposes.
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
It’s important when taking supplements of any kind to take breaks so the body doesn’t become dependent on them. If you’re suffering from allergies, take high doses of these in the beginning of the season, but take a few days in a row when you don’t take anything at all. Three to six weeks on, then one week off is a nice approach. These are some of my favorites I swear by:
• Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in certain fruits and works as a natural antihistamine. The effectiveness will be increased if you take it with bromelain, a pancreatic enzyme.
• Vitamin C is our go-to immune system enhancer.
• Olive leaf extract is sold in capsule form and is a natural antimicrobial that targets the sinuses. It’s fantastic for congestion.
• Dandelion and Milk thistle are two herbs that detoxify and soothe the liver. It’s great for everyone to take in the spring. Ideally, dandelion in the morning will move the bowels and milk thistle at night will calm the liver and help with sleep.
• Astragalus is especially helpful if your lungs are involved in your symptoms. If you experience a cough, asthma, or tightness of the chest, take some astragalus extract.
• Colloidal Silver is used as a natural antibiotic and immune system enhancer.
• Homeopathy can be fantastic for some patients. I love the Boiron combo packages “Cold Calm” or “Sinusalia.”
EXERCISE
• Sweating will open the pores and detoxify body. Cardiovascular exercises tonify the lungs, and muscle-building exercises will tonify the liver and gall bladder.
• Qi Gong is a Chinese form of therapeutic exercise that actually works out the organs. If you can’t find a local practitioner, do some research on YouTube for lung and liver qi gong exercises.