Poor dietary and lifestyle choices can increase the burden on the liver, making allergy symptoms worse.
- Allergies and skin changes including acne, eczema, wrinkly skin
- Digestive issues such as sluggishness, gas, bloating, loose stools
- Fatigue, low mood, mind fog or forgetfulness
- Weight gain
- Stress, anxiety and trouble sleeping
- Hormone imbalances
Here are a few things that can decrease the histamine response, boost your immune system and benefit or lessen the burden on the liver.
- Acupuncture with regular weekly tune-ups can help boost the lung energy (immune system), clear heat in the liver and move the Liver Qi energy to help reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent an allergic response.
- Nettles tea is a great nutritive herb that helps decrease the histamine reaction.
- A liver cleanse diet avoiding inflammatory foods can help decrease the severity of allergy symptoms. Not all cleanses are alike. If you have never done a liver cleanse diet, it is important to make sure you are monitored by a physician to avoid any detox reactions.
- Vitamin C can be increased up to 2-3 grams per day. It is a great antioxidant that scavenges free radicals that are developed when exposed to toxins.
- Quercitin is a natural antihistamine and antioxidant that can be used daily to help stop a runny nose or reduce phlegm production.
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant that benefits detoxification systems, benefits the liver and lung function and will decrease phlegm. It is great for sinus congestion and phlegmy coughs.
- B-vitamin shots can improve energy, metabolism and cognition, while decreasing stress and boosting the immune system when taken regularly. B vitamins may not be absorbed if you have a compromised digestive system.
- Lemon water can be consumed daily to cleanse the liver and alkalize the body. Lemon is a great purifier and benefits the liver and digestive functions. If you have a lot of drainage from allergies, hot water with half to a whole lemon, plus a pinch of cayenne and honey to taste, can decrease phlegm, aid a sore throat and boost the immune system.
- Beeswax salve along with calendula or chaparral herbal salve can be used on the nasal septum to prevent pollen from attaching. It also helps nasal dryness. Saline or homeopathic allergy nasal sprays can also be effective for allergies.
- Homeopathic allergy zone drops, homeopathic nosodes of environmental plants associated with AZ zone, can be taken daily to help neutralize the histamine affect to native plants that cause many people to be miserable.
Allergy season is here. Know that you don’t have to suffer and there are many ways that acupuncture and natural medicine treatments can benefit and reduce the severity of allergy symptoms. Even if your allergies appear to be more than seasonal, there are many ways we can prevent and treat them without medications. FBN
By Christina Kovalik
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020.
For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.