Preventing Allergies
For most people, after a long winter, the budding of trees and spring flowers can be a greatly anticipated time of year. However, for allergy sufferers, it can be an unwelcome time as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes prevail. Being proactive with your health during allergy season can vastly prevent most symptoms and make springtime a time to be outdoors.
Histamine is a neurotransmitter that is released from mast cells when the body is exhibiting an allergic reaction or immune response. Histamine dilates blood vessels and increases blood vessel permeability. This leads to visual signs in the body such as localized swelling, warmth, and redness. Histamine also irritates nerve endings that can lead to itching and pain. The bump and redness immediately following a mosquito bite is a good example of this reaction, which occurs seconds after challenge of the mast cell by an allergen. If you are a person whose body “over-reacts” to bug bites, then your body likely has a tendency towards inflammation and allergy.
Try taking a daily dose of Vitamin C. Research shows that 1-gram a day can help to reduce overall histamine levels in the body. Foods that tend to increase histamine levels in the body are strawberries, tomato, chocolate, wine, bananas and shellfish. These foods should be limited or avoided all together during allergy season. In general, dairy foods such as cheese, milk and yogurt should be avoided as well, as they have a tendency to cause generalized inflammation and can create more mucous if it already exists.
Berries such as blueberries, cherries, and raspberries as well as mango contain a good amount of bioflavonoids. These phytochemicals stabili
ze mast cells in the body and decrease overall histamine response, thus reducing inflammation.
Lastly, try using a HEPA air filter. It can reduce dust in the bedrooms and main living areas as well as eliminate circulating pollen that enters through open windows. Be sure to keep windowsills wiped down in the bedroom and sweep under the bed. Keep in mind; the bedroom should be the most dust-free room in the house as this is where you will have the most concentrated period of breathing throughout the day!
–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
As a child, I suffered greatly with asthma and allergies. I couldn’t be around animals without having a severe reaction.
When I was about 19, I fractured my spine and I was led to a chiropractor after traditional medicine decided I would be in pain for the rest of my life. I was young and felt I did not waant this pain for a lifetime!
The chiropractor I went to explained that chiropractic helped the body function better and was much more than the treatment of back pain. At the time, my only concern was the pain.
Afeer several months of regular chiropractic care, I noticed that my asthma symptoms were gone, my allergies no longer antagonizing me, my headaces were gone and my menstral cycle was regular.
When I asked my chiropractor why, he repled–the chiropractic adjustment reduces nerve system stress and allows the body to function at its best.
Shortly after, I started chiropractic college. Now, 30 years later, still practicing in our family wellness practice, I have seen numerous people get under regular care and experience similar results.
What we now know in science is that the nervous system and immune systems are directly connected and when one is not functioning correctly, the other is directly affected.
Over the years my husband and I have adjusted people of all ages and found that allergies and asthma symptoms seem to be directly afected by nerve system stress. Children are even more responsive to the gentle chiropractic adjustment and we have seen hundreds of kids improve under care.
I now head up the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association: http://www.ipca4kids.org. Get on our site and read more info about this topic–it may save your families years of struggle and expense treating these conditions with drugs. Our membership directory is extensive. i invite you to call someone in your area to further explain the benefits.
Jeanne Ohm, DC
May 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
My child has a horrible reaction to mosquito bites…they swell up into big bumps. How can I treat these for her? She really suffers. I will definitely take your suggestion for vitamin C but in the mean time, how can I help soothe the itch (and even pain from these)? Thank!
May 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Try homeopathic “Sting Stop” by Boericke and Tafel. It will stop the pain and itch of bug bites instantly.