May 6, 2014
By Anna Varriano
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Ever heard the song called “While Strolling Through The Park One Day”? It’s a real oldie (from 1884!) and starts off with these lyrics:
“While strolling through the park one day,
In the merry merry month of May,
I was taken by surprise,
By a pair of roguish eyes,
I was scared but I didn’t run away!”
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it likely won’t be a pair of roguish eyes you see in the park that take you by surprise and scare you, but rather your own bloodshot, red, runny, and itchy eyes that are staring back at you from the mirror after your stroll in the park!
Itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny nose – if your or someone you know has ever suffered from seasonal allergies (aka hayfever), you know how debilitating they can be. Here are 5 tips that can help relieve the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.
1 – Limit your exposure to pollen.
You can do this in a number of ways:
- Keep your windows closed. Sure, opening a window brings a nice spring breeze into your home…and it also brings in pollen that will settle everywhere. Keep your indoor air ‘fresh’ by running the fan on your heating/cooling system and replacing the filter often (make sure the filter is designed to deal with pollen!)
- Leave the pollen at the door. If you’ve spent some time outdoors, pollen will be on you and your clothes when you go back inside your home. Leave your shoes at the door, throw your clothes in the wash, and change in to fresh ones
- Be aware of pollen counts (which are generally highest in the morning and after dusk) and avoid outdoor activities or exercises that exert your breathing when pollen counts are high. Most weather channels/websites list pollen counts during hayfever season. Click here for an example.
- Wear a mask. I was in Japan a few years ago and noticed that many people were walking around wearing what looked like surgical masks. I soon learned that it was the height of allergy season, and rather than take drugs to mask the symptoms, many preferred to wear the masks which were specially designed to effectively block pollen. I’m guessing you might get some funny looks standing at a bus stop in Ottawa wearing a mask…or you could be a trend setter!
2) Mind your nose.
Homeopathic nasal sprays, salt-based nasal sprays, and nasal rinses such as a netti pot, will help to wash pollen out of the nasal cavity and keep its mucous membranes hydrated and soothed.
3) Homeopathic remedies.
Allium cepa and Euphrasia officinalis are two homeopathic remedies that offer relief from runny, itchy eyes. Allium cepa is made from red onion (think about what happens to your eyes when you chop red onions!) and Euphrasia officionalis is made from the flowering plant Euphrasia (commonly referred to as Eyebright). These remedies will help to modulate or balance the body’s response to allergens. You can also make Eyebright tea, let it cool, and use the tea as a rinse, compress, or bath for eye-related irritations. Drinking the tea can also help to decrease inflammation of the nasal cavity’s mucus membrane.
4) Change what you’re eating.
Mucus-forming foods and foods high in histamine can aggravate allergy symptoms. Check out last spring’s tip of the month to learn more about how food can add to seasonal allergy grief and how to do something about it.
5) Give HistoPlex AB a try.
This product contains a proprietary blend of herbal extracts that helps to regulate the body’s immune/allergic response to airborne (hence the ‘AB’ in the product name) allergies and sensitivities. This is the second season that I’ve carried this product and the feedback I’ve had has been great. A 45-day supply costs only $55 and for purchases made for this merry, merry month of May only, I am waiving the HST…that means it only costs $1.22 a day! This product sells quickly (I’ve had to restock already this month!), so to reserve your bottle, please email me at info@perfectresonance.com and I’ll confirm when one has been put aside for you for pick up at the Marshall Health Clinic (2605 Carling Avenue).
Here’s to the merry, merry month of May!
Yours in health,
Anna
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