Hello Everyone,
We are in the thick of the spring allergy season and here in Colorado, the winds are picking up and dispersing the tree pollens far and wide.  As the season progresses, grass allergies will come into play as well.  Some of you may be experiencing foggy headedness, congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and difficulty breathing.  Your immune system mistakenly recognizes the allergen as a threat and makes chemicals such as histamines that cause the symptoms such as itchy eyes. 
How do we approach this problem in a natural way?  I recommend the following steps to reduce your overall reactivity to allergens: 
1.  Do a cleanse or follow a low allergen diet.  Those with environmental allergies also often have food allergies which contribute to the total load on the immune system, resulting in increased symptoms.  I recommend following a clean diet or testing for food allergies.  I’ll be discussing a spring cleanse in my newsletter next week so stay tuned! 
2.  Take a probiotic and eat naturally fermented foods.  Your gut bacteria play a large role in the health of your immune system.  Probiotics and naturally fermented foods such as yogurt, saurkraut, kimchi and miso can help modulate your immune system to make it less reactive to your environment.  
3.  Eat foods high in Vitamin C or take a Vitamin C supplement.  Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine.  Foods rich in this nutrient include citrus fruit, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts and potatoes.  
4.  Use a saline nasal spray daily to rinse out pollen, dust and smoke particles.
5.  Use an air purifier in your home.  
6.  Try the supplement Quercetin, a safe natural anti-histamine which also has anti-inflammatory qualities.  
7.  Try Aller Dx, a Chinese herbal formula which acts rapidly to help you breathe easier.  This non-drowsy, non-stimulant formula has been a lifesaver for many of my patients.
8.  Try Southwest Allersode, a homeopathic combination specifically formulated for those allergic to plants that grow in the Southwest such as cottonwood, juniper, pinion, sage, rabbitbrush.  

Let us know if you would like more help with allergies or are interested in trying any of the items listed above.  

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Abigail