A few weeks ago I moved to the fine city of Austin, Texas.  Austin has many features that I am enjoying so far: ample sunshine, great swimming holes, lots of gluten-free dining, nice people, and great music.  Not to mention that I have family here–added bonus!

Bluebonnets of Texas

One thing I’m not necessarily looking forward to about my new town is the fact that Austin is sometimes described as the allergy capital of the US.  It is notorious for its high pollen and mold counts that often last year-round.  I’m not someone who usually suffers from outdoor allergies (my allergies seem to be all food related), but I will get the occasional runny nose, or itchy eyes, now and again.  However, adjusting to new allergens can sometimes be rough, so lately I’ve been thinking about what I can do to prevent allergies and alleviate symptoms if they do occur.

Here are a few things to consider:

Pollen–You can get a natural “vaccine” to pollen and irritants by eating  raw honey or bee pollen produced by bees in your local area.  The recommendation is to eat one to two teaspoons a day to build up your immunity to the local pollens that are found in both the honey and the environment.  You should start eating bee pollen or raw honey six weeks before allergy season starts and then continue through the season.  One of my professors also recommends eating locally grown fruits and vegetables which would also contain local pollens, so plan a visit to your farmer’s market.  I visited a great one yesterday in Austin, the Hope Farmer’s Market.

Quercetin–The nutritional supplement quercetin is a great way to reduce inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passageways.  Quercetin is derived from fruits and vegetables and is a natural histamine blocker.  You can buy quercetin supplements at your local natural foods store and you can also increase your intake of apples, blueberries, broccoli, and red onions–all of which are especially high in quercetin.

Bromelain–Another helpful nutritional supplement is bromelain, which is often found in allergy formulas along with quercetin and vitamin C.  Bromelain is an enzyme extracted from pineapples and also acts as an anti-inflammatory and histamine blocker.  Keep in mind that the results might not be as instantaneous as taking a pharmaceutical decongestant.  Give it a good try and you should see results.

Neti Pot–Most people nowadays have heard of or perhaps even used a Neti pot.  Use a Neti pot once a day to clear your nasal passages of any foreign particles.  Oftentimes people have great success in fighting allergies with this method alone.  You can enhance the effectiveness of your neti pot by adding sea salt, oregano oil, or goldenseal to your warm neti pot water.  I especially like to use my neti pot when I have a sinus headache.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs–Chinese medicine is extremely effective in fighting allergic rhinitis.  The goal in Chinese medicine is the strengthen the Qi of the lung, especially the defensive Qi which protects the body from invasion of pathogenic factors (like all those little pollens and spores).  Certain acupuncture points and herbs are very helpful for strengthening the lung, so getting a treatment before allergy season hits can be helpful, or even when you are in the midst of allergic haze.  There are also many herbal medicines for allergies, one very popular one is called Bi Yan Pian (literally “nose inflammation tablets”).  As always, it is best to consult an acupuncturist or herbalist for dosage information.

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These are only a few natural remedies for fighting allergies.  What’s your favorite way to prevent or alleviate allergy symptoms?