Allergies

It’s that time of year again. Allergy season. It seems that certain days are better than others. The days when it looks like it is snowing due to the large amount of cottonwood make it especially difficult for some. Cut grass from mowing the lawn can also cause one to have an allergy flare up. Not to mention that many animals are also shedding and that dander can make allergies worse as well. With all of these possible allergy triggers it’s no wonder so many seem to suffer from the occasional seasonal allergy attack. The beautiful sun shining outside may make the suffering worth it but what can one do to help combat allergies? There are many medications available but what is a more natural approach that could be used to help those who suffer from allergies?

One of these remedies is consuming raw local honey^1,2 mixed in a cup of tea or oatmeal in the morning. Although there is no true amount of what the recommended amount is, anecdotal reports have been amounts between one teaspoon and one tablespoon. It must be noted that honey should not be given to children under the age of one year as raw, unprocessed honey has a risk for botulism in infants¹. Other people may have a pollen allergy and may experience a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis or extreme difficulty breathing, after eating honey. Other forms of allergic reactions such as itching or swelling of the mouth, throat, or skin may occur after eating honey as well¹.

Finding truly “local” honey has proven a bit of a challenge for many. Asking proprietors as to where the “local” honey came from is important. Often times the local honey comes from a city miles away from where one lives. Trying local farmers markets and neighborhood grocers may be the best option for actual local honey. There are also many beekeeper clubs and reaching out to them may help one also get local honey. The reason local is important is it gives you an opportunity to build up resistance to the pollen in YOUR area.

Another natural option especially to help fight pet dander is going to a pet groomer who can help your animal with increased shedding. When going to a pet groomer make sure they are reputable and are nice to the animals. A local ASPCA clinic may be able to help with that. Vacuuming is also helpful in keeping dander and other dirt in check although annoying. With new smart devices and technologies available today there are now more options than ever in helping with vacuuming.

Boosting the immune system can also help to combat allergies. Different ways to do this will be covered in the next article.

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/honey-remedy Opens in new window
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24188941 Opens in new window