Why Are You So Tired?

Springtime brings beautiful blooming flowers, trees and plants. Flagstaff winds can pick up high pollen and dust counts that aggravate allergies. Making poor dietary and lifestyle choices can increase the burden on the liver, worsening allergy symptoms. Eating a lot of fried, fatty or processed foods, foods that lack nutrients and vitality, will also increase the burden on the liver, creating more of an allergy/inflammatory response on the body. How do you know if you are showing signs of liver congestion or toxicity? You will have symptoms:

• Allergies, skin changes such as acne, eczema, wrinkly skin
• Digestive issues including 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.

1. Acupuncture

Regular tune-ups weekly 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.

2. Nettles Tea

This nutritive herb helps decrease the histamine reaction.

3. Liver Cleanse Diet

A liver cleanse diet, avoiding all of the 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 physician monitored to avoid any detox reactions.

4. Increase Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that scavenges free radicals that are developed when exposed to toxins. Increase your intake to 2-3 grams per day.

5. Quercitin

This natural antihistamine and antioxidant can be used daily to help stop a runny nose or reduce phlegm production.

6. NAC

NAC, or N-acetyl cysteine, is a powerful antioxidant that benefits detoxification systems, the liver and lung function and will decrease phlegm. It is great for sinus congestion and phlegmy coughs.

7. B-Vitamin Shots

B vitamins may not be absorbed if you have a compromised digestive system. When taken regularly, they can improve your energy, metabolism, cognition, boost the immune system and decrease stress.

8. Lemon Water

Drink lemon water 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.

9. Salves and Sprays

Put a beeswax salve with calendula or chaparral herbal salve on the nasal septum to prevent pollen from attaching. This also helps nasal dryness. Saline or homeopathic allergy nasal sprays also can be affective for allergies.

Allergy season is here. Know that you don’t have to suffer. 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.