When you understand what’s happening during allergy attacks, treating them naturally seems like plain common sense. First, picture a grain of pollen — it looks something like a spiny sea urchin. Now see if you can imagine this prickly invader entering your nasal passages and latching onto soft mucous membranes. These mucous membranes line our bronchial and nasal passages and contain immune cells, called mast cells, which are loaded with histamines. Receptors sit on top of these mast cells, and when an allergen trigger — such as pollen, mould or pet dander — these land on top of the receptor, it alerts the mast cells, which respond by releasing histamine and other chemicals. The histamine initiates a series of reactions designed to help the body get rid of the intruder, including sneezing, watery eyes and itching. For some people, particularly those with asthma, this reaction may also include swelling in the bronchial tubes that makes it difficult to breath.
How Natural Remedies, lifestyle changes will support long term health benefits in treating these allergic reactions compared to medications.
Most synthetic medications used to treat allergies attempt to treat the symptoms your body instigates to get rid of the allergen. But doesn’t it this make more sense to you to improve your immune and defense mechanisms to support your body in getting rid of these allergens.The herbs and homoeopathics that I use in the treatment of these allergies firstly are made directly from the plant source therefore has the ability to support your body’s immune/defense system unlike synthetic medicines which appear to block and prevent your body’s immune/defense from working not to mention it appears to lower your body’s immune/defense system thereby leading to further symptoms such as breathing difficulties, block nasal passages, infection and giving you the feeling that you are never quite well.
Self Help: Here are more things that can help head off allergies before they start, as well as some drug-free ways to treat symptoms when they do arise.
A few minor lifestyle changes also can go a long way toward keeping symptoms under control:
•Avoid using window fans to cool rooms, because they can pull pollen indoors.
•Keep windows closed when driving, using the air conditioner if necessary, to avoid allergens.
•Limit your time outdoors when ragweed pollen counts are highest — from mid-August until the first frost.
•Nasal douching: What could be simpler than rinsing away allergens with saltwater? This can take a little getting used to but it’s a bit like using nasal spray. A little douse of saltwater can rinse away those prickly pollen grains and help treat allergies and other forms of sinus congestion
Just last year, an Italian study published in the International Archives of Allergy and Immunology found that nasal flushing was a mild and effective way to treat seasonal allergies in children, and markedly reduced their use of antihistamines.
You could simply use your cupped hand or a syringe instead of a medicine glass to rinse sinuses whatever is easier for you. To flush your sinuses, mix a quarter to a half teaspoon of non- iodized table salt or sea salt into a cup of lukewarm water and pour it into a glass medicine jar or put into a syringe. (You can adjust the amount of salt, depending on what feels most comfortable.) Lean over a sink with your head slightly tilted to one side, then by tipping the water or syringing it into one nostril and allow the water to drain out the other nostril. Use about half of the solution, then repeat on the other side, tilting your head the opposite way. Gently blow out each nostril to clear them completely. You can do this once or twice a day during allergy season, especially in the morning and after spending time outdoors. This is also useful when done before bedtime to prevent snoring caused by allergies and promote optimal overnight breathing.
Quercetin -A natural plant-derived compound called a bioflavonoid, quercetin helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Quercetin also is a natural antioxidant that helps mop up molecules called free radicals that cause cell damage, which can lead to cancer. Citrus fruits – mainly lemons, limes and grapefruit, onions, red apples, parsley, green tea, tomatoes, broccoli, dark green lettuce, pineapple, and wine are naturally high in quercetin. The highest quantity of bioflavonoids/quercetin is found in the peel of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit also berries are a great source.
So to get your daily source of bioflavonoids probably the easiest ways are firstly in the morning to make a smoothie: include in a blender ½ glass of almond milk, ½ cup Bio dynamic yoghurt, ½ cup of frozen mixed berries, the peel and juice of a lemon and grapefruit – blend these ingredients then drink. This is not only good for you; it is yummy, great start to the day.
During the day you can have a salad with the dark green lettuce, spring onions, parsley and tomatoes, plus protein of your choice cooked chicken or fish, chick peas, lentils, tofu, almonds or walnuts
Snacks can include your pineapple, apples, strawberries and mangoes are also a good source.
All you have now is dinner for which you can include your broccoli steamed lightly with some raw garlic grated & ginger over on serving. You can serve your chicken or fish on a bed of sweet potato
Julie’s Herbal Formula that I is very effective for immune and allergy support some of these include: horseradish, garlic, echinacea, astragalus, ginger, stinging nettle and rose hip for its high levels of vitamin C.
Homoeopathic Histamine and Apis are extremely effective supporting the body to reduce the allergic response.
I formulate these into a sub lingual spray as studies have found this to be a gentler way to acclimate the body to pollen and other allergens. This is known as sub lingual immunotherapy and has been found highly effective having the medicines in very small doses to be highly effective for the past 20 plus years in Europe. Also if there is a particular allergen this can be formulated into this micro dose which will also assist the body in eliminating the allergen.
I have also found that room infusers are great I have a formulated an oil blend called “Breathe Easy” including the aromatic oils of Cypress, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, ginger, thyme, lime & spearmint. Our decongestant chest rub has also been found very effective for relieving chest inflammation and infection.
Empowering You to Optimal Health Julie Doherty N.D
Julie Doherty is a Fully Accredited Naturopathic & Massage Practitioner with the Australian Traditional Medicine Society Ltd.
Having completed Professional Qualifications in Naturopathic Medicine: Herbal Medicine: Homoeopathic, Nutritional Medicine: Holistic Massage Therapy: Body Work: & Natural Beauty Therapy. This has enabled Julie to follow her dream of supporting people to overcome their health issues & heal their body with the use of a combination of Naturopathic, Herbal, and Homoeopathic & Nutritional Medicines & Therapies to become well without causing further harm or complications
Julie is involved in supporting other health care professionals with treatment protocols for people who are on prescription medication, chemo therapy and other related health care procedures
Julie’s vision and passion has been & still is to assist each person to become well with the least invasive & most effective treatments. Whilst working with likeminded people.
Over the past 25 years, Julie Doherty has successfully treated & assisted people with various areas of ill health and disease from the common cold, skin ailments through to cancer.
Julie’s approach is to enable each person to have the best “Quality of life possible” whilst making your treatments effective, affordable and manageable incorporating these strategies into each person's everyday living. Respecting each person's culture and individual characteristics
Julie is a sought-after public speaker, lecturer & author providing community talks, facilitated & implementing professional related courses.
Julie is a published blogger and author who is recognized for her expert knowledge with Self Growth supporting & providing assistance with healthy life protocols.
Julie has been recognized by the Stanford Who's Who and the Continental Who's Who for her dedication and recognition of excellence as a Health Care Practitioner, Executive, Entrepreneur and Professional standards of ethics.
What makes the work of Julie Doherty stand out? The successful testimonials of her clients becoming well both-young and old, from a wide range of disease and signs of ill health: It has been commented about her humanness, her humour, her willingness to reveal so much of herself, her belief and commitment to her industry and clients, and the easy-to-understand style of her communicating and her simplistic way of explaining treatments and programs to become well. Her understanding of the interconnectedness when there is a problem with health and it is out of balance that it is never just one thing, so addressing all related causes of the health problem/problems that she addresses with you.
To complement our healthy treatment programs Julie has formulated a Skin, Hair & Body Care Range that is good for you “Just For You”, not only will it have your skin looking great, healthy & vibrant. Your skin needs to be fed good healthy nutrients the same as your body