Had Enough Of Seasonal Allergies? Here’s How Integrative Functional Medicine May Help

 

Autumn has arrived, bringing with it pumpkins, vibrant foliage, and brisk air. Do you have any idea what else is here? Seasonal allergies are characterized by a runny nose, watery eyes, and a lingering post-nasal drip.

Isn't it inevitable that you'll feel "sick" at this time of year?

Well, there are things you may do to reduce your allergy symptoms, if not completely remove them. We apply integrative functional medicine treatments for seasonal allergies at in2GREAT, and that might be the "key" to finally overcoming them.

What are Seasonal Allergies and How Do They Affect You?

Seasonal allergies occur when the health system of your body reacts to a foreign material, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust. Your health response might be triggered when you enter an area with particular triggers.

The allergens stimulate the creation of IgE antibodies and histamine in reaction, which is what causes your allergy symptoms. Increased inflammation in the nose and airway passageways, as well as other symptoms, result from this.

Long-term inflammation and elevated histamine levels related to the development of more chronic illnesses and disorders.

If you already have a high level of inflammation and histamine production, these allergens may send your health system into overdrive, resulting in severe allergy symptoms. This is why determining the source of your immunological problems is critical to obtaining relief and controlling, if not completely eliminating, your allergies.

Seasonal Allergy Signs and Symptoms

• Congestion
• Runny Nose is a symptom of a clogged nose.
• Mucus Overproduction
• Ear Irritation is a condition in which the ears get irritated.
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Throat Scratches
• Drip Post-Nasal
• Asthma
• Hives
• Headaches

Allergy Relief with an Integrative Functional Medicine Approach

Rather of masking allergy symptoms with over-the-counter antihistamines and allergy relief drugs, as an integrative functional medicine doctor, we want to go to the source of the problem. This is how we go about it.

Allergens Should Be Avoided

Here are some ways you may attempt to decrease your exposure in the first place, if you haven't already.

• After being outside for a long time, take a shower.
• Use a neti pot to do nasal irrigation.
• You should wash your bedding more often.
• Invest in a high-quality air filtration system.

Recognize Your Triggers

Seasonal allergies are frequently induced or aggravated by particular foods, such as dairy. Knowing what triggers your symptoms might help you manage them. Sometimes, simply removing a certain food from your diet will help you overcome your allergies.

Diet of Exclusion

You might attempt the elimination diet. This is when you remove an item from your diet for 21 days to determine whether you have a sensitivity to it, and then slowly and carefully reintroduce it to see if your symptoms return.

Testing in the lab

While the above is free, determining which foods aggravate your symptoms takes time and patience. This is why functional lab testing may be a good idea. We may briskly identify if you are sensitive to a certain food or food category with a simple blood test. To find it out, you don't have to guess and remove a variety of meals over the course of weeks or months.

This is one of our favorite tests at in2GREAT since knowing how your body reacts to different foods may assist with a variety of health problems.

Encourage Gut Health

Damage to your gut lining might cause your tight junctions to split. The lining of your gut is designed to keep the things that should be in your gut, in your gut. However, if your gut barrier becomes more porous as a result of disrupted tight junctions (think of a cheesecloth vs a chain-link fence), chemicals may leak into other regions of your body.

This is referred to as a "leaky gut," and it might lead your health system to constantly go into overdrive. When your health system detects these unfamiliar toxins, it summons the army to exterminate them.

Foreign chemicals constantly interfering with your health system might cause your health system to be constantly heightened, contributing to your severe allergy symptoms. Remember that your mast cells create histamine and enhance inflammation when your body comes into touch with an allergen or other foreign things.

Diet is the main focus.

Eating nutritious meals that promote a healthy gut and health system may assist with a variety of health concerns and ailments. These foods are largely complete, organic foods to make it simple.

You should keep your intake of the following foods to a minimum:

• Products that have been refined or processed
• Added sugars in abundance
• Preservatives or artificial substances
• Any foods to which you are allergic
• Non-organic foods include pesticides.
• Antibiotics may be found in conventionally grown meats.

Boost your consumption of

• Foods that are organic
• foods in their natural state
• Animal meals that have been raised in the wild or on grass
• Foods that are anti-inflammatory
• Flaxseed, chia seed, and wild-caught salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Foods high in quercetin. These are antihistamine in nature. Broccoli, red onions, citrus, apples, citrus, and fennel are some of the foods to avoid.
• Foods high in anthocyanins. These have the ability to stabilize the mast. Wild rice, cherries, berries, grapes, red onions, and cabbage are among the foods.

Supplements to Support the Health System and the Gut

Allergies begin in the intestines. Gut-supporting vitamins are indicated to ensure that the gut is healthy and powerful. Here are a few of our personal favorites.

• Probiotics
• Prebiotics
• HCl of betaine
• L-glutamine
• Zinc
• L-carnosine

Stress Management

Managing your stress is another method to strengthen your health system and improve your reaction to allergies. When you're under a lot of stress, both physically and emotionally, your health system weakens. During peak allergy season, if your health system is weak, you may have more severe symptoms.

Here are some strategies for dealing with stress:

• Exercising your breathing
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Exercising lightly (prolonged intense exercise can actually enhance your stress levels)
• Journaling
• Having a conversation with a friend
• Spending quality time with family and friends
  

The article "Had Enough Of Seasonal Allergies? Here’s How Integrative Functional Medicine May Help" was first seen on in2GREAT

Are you interested in knowing more about how functional medicine may help you achieve optimum health and wellness? Contact the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre at (416) 968-6961 to book an introductory appointment.