Health Tips
S
pring is finally here,
but as beautiful as
it is, it is also a big
trigger for seasonal
allergies. The biggest cause
of it is pollen. Trees, plants,
grass and weeds release
these tiny grains into the air
and we breathe them in. If
someone is allergic to pollen,
the immune system reacts to
it by releasing histamines that
cause many uncomfortable
symptoms such as a runny
nose and watery eyes. Often,
it can be confused with a bad
cold. My son Noah suffers
from them and it is sad to see
him so uncomfortable and
unfortunately, his reactions
are accompanied by asthma
and sometimes even a
headache.
AYURVEDA
Controlling Allergies
BY: ANGELI CA GAVALDON
In my frustration and
concern over constantly
giving him so much
medicine, I consulted my
good friend Christianne
Madrazo an ayurvedic health
counselor in San Diego. She
provided me with helpful tips
for dealing with seasonal
allergies.
We all know that if our immune system is strong and in balance,
we should not suffer from many health problems. Sometimes
our immune system responds too vigorously to a substance in
the environment such as pollen, animal dander, mold, or dust,
among others. As the body acts to eliminate the foreign cause
of an allergic reaction, symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal
congestion, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes occur.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, several other key factors determine
whether a person experiences an allergic reaction and how severe
that reaction will be. These include the strength of the individual’s
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digestive fire (known as
Agni), the quantity of allergen
that enters the body, and
a person’s current state of
balance/imbalance in the
doshas.
Some of her tips included
eating a diet of seasonal
foods at regular times,
not past 7 p.m., avoiding
consumption of ice cold
water, and only eating
when hungry. Additionally,
performing a saline rinse
once or twice daily can flush
out any foreign material that
has come into your body
through the nasal passages.
Pitta Allergies symptoms
occur mostly in summertime,
due to imbalance in Pitta
Dosha. These symptoms may
be rashes, headache, burning
or red eyes, as well as
inflammation in the sinuses
and airway. In addition, herbs
such as guduchi, amalaki and
neem may be helpful with
properties that support our
immune system. Ingestion of
ghee and aloe can calm the
inflammation.
Vata allergic symptoms occur more typically in the fall and
include headache, wheezing, sneezing, generalized muscle
aches, dry cough, restlessness and dry eyes. In this case, it
is important to stay hydrated and drink warm liquids, such as
ginger tea with honey.
In addition to helping with seasonal allergies, Ayurveda provides
us with the tools to learn how to make the right choices for our
unique body constitution and attain our natural state of health and
balance. Please consult your physician before undertaking any
health regimen or treatment.