- Seasonal allergy symptoms resemble those of the common head cold.
- A recent report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that over 20 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
- In susceptible individuals, seasonal allergies tend to occur in the spring and summer months but may also occur in the earlier parts of the fall season.
- Seasonal allergies are usually caused by mold spores or airborne pollen that initiate an immune response.
- Conventional treatment of seasonal allergies includes pharmaceutical medication and allergy shots.
- Natural seasonal allergy treatment options may include homeopathy, nutritional supplements that promote immune function, and allergen elimination/avoidance.
Seasonal allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis and hay fever, is the fifth most prevalent disease in the United States. The symptoms that seasonal allergies present are comparable to the common cold, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, sinus pressure, and sneezing.
Naturally, seasonal allergies can be quite annoying and debilitating, especially in the spring and summer months when they are most likely to occur. Despite seasonal allergies sometimes being referred to as hay fever, this condition has no association with hay or a fever; in fact, hay is rarely an allergen in humans and fever is not a symptom of seasonal allergies.
What are Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies are allergic responses to environmental factors that usually occur in a seasonal fashion. The most common culprits of seasonal allergies are airborne pollen, grasses, trees, weeds, mold spores, and dust. A recent meta-analysis found that upwards of 10% of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, and that number is predicted to increase each year that passes.1
Moreover, many people who suffer from seasonal allergies never actually seek a diagnosis for the condition and instead choose to self-medicate with over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl, which is not a long-term solution to the problem.
Dr. Springer Discusses Allergies
What Causes Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies are caused by a histamine and cytokine response to airborne substances, especially pollen – the fine powder that comes from the stamen of flowering plants. As such, seasonal allergies are sometimes called pollen allergies; however, other environmental factors can cause seasonal allergies, specifically mold spores, dust, and various plant compounds.
Since flowering plants, trees, and grass are in full bloom throughout the spring and summer months, seasonal allergies are most likely to occur between March and August. Naturally, there are some variations depending on where you live and how exposed you are to these environmental factors.
On a cellular level, seasonal allergies are the result of allergic reactions mediated by mast cells, which are a component of the immune system and present in many connective tissues throughout the body. These cells activate allergic responses by binding to a molecule called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which subsequently signals the cells to release histamine, cytokines, and other pro-inflammatory factors.
What are the Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
While mast cells are present in many parts of the body, seasonal allergies tend to aggravate the mast cells located in the nasal and sinus regions. Thus, the symptoms of seasonal allergies are the result of inflammation in these areas and mimic those of a head cold.
Common seasonal allergy symptoms include:
- Red, watery eyes that itch
- Runny nose and nasal congestion
- Sinus pressure
- Trouble breathing
- Inability to smell
These symptoms can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life when they persist, making it imperative to seek a long-term resolution if you suffer from chronic seasonal allergies.
Conventional Seasonal Allergy Treatment
The most common conventional treatments for seasonal allergies are prescription or over-the-counter medications, such as fluticasone (Flonase) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which work by blocking histamine release from mast cells. While these medications do help in the short-term, they often have side effects that make them impractical (and possibly unsafe) as a long-term solution.
The side effects of conventional medication for seasonal allergies often include drowsiness, grogginess, inability to focus, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In some cases, using a nasal spray like Flonase for seasonal allergies can result in a loss of a sense of smell, even after the drug is no longer being used.
Furthermore, some people seek immunotherapy shots for their seasonal allergies. This entails the administration of injections given every few months that contain an offending allergen in hopes of boosting immune “tolerance” to that allergen. However, this approach is not the same as natural homeopathy for seasonal allergies that we offer here at LifeWorks, which uses no allergens.
Natural Treatment Options for Seasonal Allergies
LifeWorks Wellness Center offers several targeted natural treatments for seasonal allergies which stimulate your body’s intrinsic healing properties and defense mechanisms.
In order to create an individualized action plan that gives you the most relief from seasonal allergies, we will take you through a functional evaluation to identify any pre-existing conditions that may be weakening your immune function and hindering your defenses against certain allergens. As part of this process, we can assess for allergies and nutritional deficiencies that you may have before moving forward with treatment.
We may recommend a variety of dietary supplements if any nutritional deficiencies are present. Certain nutrients that are not commonly found in the diet can help treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, such as quercetin and N-acetyl-L-cysteine.2,3
Allergy Elimination Technique
Allergy elimination technique (AET) is a treatment arising from the synergistic connection between Eastern medicine’s acupressure therapy and Western medicine’s understanding of kinesiology and biomechanics. This approach is completely painless and uses no needles or invasive tactics, but rather gentle muscle testing that allows us to assess the sensitivity of your nervous and immune systems to certain substances, and then methodically desensitizing your body to each of them.
Allergy Elimination Success
AET made a pretty significant difference in how I was feeling on a day to day basis. Overall I feel like I have more energy and am not as sensitive to certain things I used to be. The treatment itself was very relaxing and I enjoyed chatting with Sam. – A.M.
Allergy Elimination Success
My Allergy Elimination treatments will forever change my life. I have lived for 39 years completely dominated by my allergies and anaphylaxis. The “bubble” I survived in kept getting smaller and smaller before I came to LifeWorks. I was becoming allergic to life itself and not a single day went by without something entering my environment causing me to react. This has made such a huge difference to my life. Read More
Natural Treatments for Seasonal Allergies
After your initial consultation with your practitioner, you may be recommended Allergy Elimination Technique (AET) as part of your treatment program. You will meet with the AET technician who will de-sensitize you to the source of your allergies or help you to find out what they are. Treatment may also include a homeopathic remedy.
Contact Us Today about Natural Seasonal Allergies Treatments
Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a devitalizing disease that can prevent you from doing the things you enjoy most, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. We’ve given many patients relief from their seasonal allergies by using natural treatments that are custom-tailored to your precise needs.