This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

How to Beat Season Allergies Naturally

It's getting to be that time of year again here in Connecticut -- allergy season! Here are some tips for beating allergies this and every spring without relying on pill-popping.

It's getting to be that time of year again here in Connecticut -- allergy season! -- and for some allergy symptoms are starting earlier than ever.

Here are some tips for beating allergies this and every spring without relying on pill-popping:

  • Avoid histamine containing foods - these are foods that have been aged and fermented: beer, alcohol, cheeses, pickles, sausage, etc.
  • Eat more anti-inflammatory foods - fresh produce, fish and nuts (And less sugar, grains, and processed foods)
  • Drink more water! - research shows that staying well hydrated helps relieve allergy symptoms
  • Drink Green Tea - the antioxidants in green tea block histamine production and reduce inflammation
  • If you must pop pills - Vitamin C and Quercetin are potent natural antihistamines
  • Get adjusted regularly - a proper functioning nervous system is essential to conquering allergies.

You may be thinking, how can chiropractic help allergies?

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Well, your body's lack of ability to properly adapt to the changing environment is what we label as a seasonal allergy. After all, everyone breathes the same ragweed pollen, yet everyone does not have seasonal allergies.

The difference is not the pollen, the difference is how our bodies react to the pollen. An allergic response happens when the body's immune system overreacts to allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander, etc. The response is that the body overproduces neutralizing chemicals such as histamines to correct the problem.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chiropractic care aims to have your nervous system functioning at an optimal level by removing irritation and misalignments of the spine -- so that the body will not overreact to foreign substances (like pollen). Traditional allergy treatments only deal with the symptom without addressing the cause. Anyone who has taken allergy medication knows that it will work for a period of time and then its effect will gradually begin to decrease.

*From personal experience: My allergies in the springtime were nearly debilitating, and I went the standard pharmaceutical route: prescription antihistamines, eyedrops, you name it… nothing helped. And then, I went to Chiropractic School, started getting adjusted on a regular basis, and I haven't touched a Claritin or Allegra pill since.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?