It’s allergy season and I wanted to share some thoughts about allergies with you. For those of you in Oregon, the original meaning of the word Willamette Valley meant the Valley of sickness. In the midst of the intense and gorgeous blooming of spring some people can really feel miserable.
For those of you in Arizona, I have seen many intense allergies to juniper. Make sure you are staying well hydrated as things are warming up…
The threshold theory of headaches applies to many conditions including allergies. The threshold theory is that if you add enough triggers, then the body can kick up over a threshold where there are more symptoms. So even though you may be a seasonal allergy sufferer there may be things you can do to to keep yourself below the threshold or not have it be as severe.
One is doing a food panel. I often use this one by Meridian Valley Lab: https://www.meridianvalleylab.com/services/e-95-basic-food-panel/. It looks at 95 different foods and can pinpoint immune triggers. If the list comes back with lots of foods, I explore deeper to look at the possibility of leaky gut. I can be allergic to dairy but I find that if I am not eating it, I have less seasonal allergies.
It is especially important to keep dust and pollen out of your bedroom. Dr. Dickson Thom, one of my teachers in naturopathic medicine school also spoke about having a HEPA filter in the bedroom. We spend the most time there so it is important to keep it clean and as allergen free as possible. Sometimes slipcovers for bedding will help. I also recommend washing sheets and bedding in hot water once per week.
If you are having a reaction to your pet, it may be possible that changing their food will help change their dander. I was allergic to my golden retriever Luca but when I changed his food to the Farmer’s Dog and home cooked meals, I was no longer allergic to him. A colleague of mine taught me, if you change the food, you will change the dander. That was a relief!
Other natural treatments that may help allergies may involve supplements, Chinese herbs, Western herbs and acupuncture. For some with severe allergies, medications may be necessary.
If I can support you through allergy season, please feel free to reach out.