Fab & Fru Allergy Solutions

by Brandi Savitt - March 22, 2012

Natural Ways to Beat Allergies Year Round

Did someone say 85 degrees in Chicago - in March?! This heat wave sweeping the country may be a welcome reprieve from the winter blues, but it has also slammed us full court press into an early allergy season. If you're anything like me and hope to control your seasonal allergies without relying the annoyance - or expense - of allergy medications or shots, read on. We have some natural Fab & Fru solutions to help you get some relief without pricey visits to the doctor!

Neti Pot to the Rescue

If you suffer from allergies, or even a cold, nasal irrigation is an ancient ritual recommended by ear, nose, and throat surgeons to help flush out irritants in the nasal passage while helping to relieve sinus pressure. One of the most cleansing ways to irrigate your nasal passages (we know, it may sound unappealing) is by using a neti pot. Used for centuries in India, this Ayurvedic practice of cleansing the breathing passages is still a powerful secret weapon for allergy sufferers. And although pouring water in one nostril and out the other takes a little getting used to, performing this simple procedure in the morning and at night will bring you serious relief. Ceramic neti pots are sold separately for about $11 or $12 dollars, but many are also sold with a starter kit containing their own saline mixture that you mix with water. You can also make your own saline solution:

Saline Solution Recipe

  • Carefully clean and rinse a new 1-quart jar. Fill the clean jar with distilled water (do NOT use tap water unless you boil it).

  • Add one level teaspoon of non-iodized ("pickling" or pure sea salt) salt. DO NOT use table salt. Table salt has unwanted additives.

  • Add one level teaspoon of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).

  • Stir or shake before each use. Store at room temperature. After one week pour out any mixture that is left over and make a new recipe.

The Birds & the Bees

Eating local honey or bee pollen daily, year round is a sweet homeopathic trick to help your body stimulate immunity to potential allergens by introducing allergy producing antigens in small, non-threatening amounts into the system. The key is to eat RAW honey made within 50 miles of where you live. Keep in mind it could take a year or two to build up your immunity, but many swear by their little bit of honey...

Mucous Causing Foods To Avoid!

It's no surprise that when it comes to feeling your best, a healthy diet plays a MAJOR role. But it's also crucial to know which foods to avoid - the following foods actually cause mucous or deplete your immune system. If your allergies are acting up, stay away from the following:

  • All Dairy Products

  • Simple Sugar

  • Processed Foods

  • Wheat, Rye, Barley & Products containing Gluten

  • Alcohol

  • Caffeine

Herbs & Spices

Using herbs and supplements can also help treat allergy symptoms without chemicals - or a lot of costly meds. Check out these helpful sinus clearing and immune boosting tips:

  • Cooking with, drinking teas, or taking herbal supplements containing: ginger, scallion, basil, garlic, oregano, cayenne peppers, white pepper, horseradish and turmeric all help to clear your sinus passageways naturally thereby helping to relieve your allergy symptoms.

  • The enzyme bromelain - found in papaya and pineapple - helps reduce histamine release in the body. Besides eating the fruits, bromelain can be taken as a supplement.

  • Take a high quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.

  • Incorporate a quality omega 3 oil into your diet to aid cell membrane permeability.

Fab & Fru Acupuncture

While it's not always the most frugal approach, acupuncture has personally helped me tremendously with my allergies. Because allergy sufferers' immune systems are actually overstimulated by irritating factors, by stimulating points outside the body, acupuncture can help change or initiate reactions inside the body that affect the immune system, changing the body's response. If your insurance does not cover treatment, look into a local community acupuncture center near you. These local centers are nationwide and typically provide high quality care well below the hourly rate for a private session. They typically work with you,r budget by using a sliding scale per session ($15-$40). The main difference in treatment is, these centers are designed to treat multiple people at once, and you are treated in a room with other clients. Many friends around the country swear by the care they have received at these centers!

Nothing To Sneeze At

These natural solutions can really save you money - in addition to saving you from the aggravation of allergy season. So, before buying a truck load of Kleenex to get you through the season, give our holistic Fab & Fru favorites a try!

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