Small Steps to Wellness

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Be Proactive: To keep allergies under control, supplement with 600 mg of quercetin twice daily between meals, suggests Randy Horwitz, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. An antioxidant, quercetin helps stop cells from releasing histamine, a chemical that sets off symptoms in response to allergic triggers. It can take four to six weeks for quercetin to work, so ideally you should start supplementing about six weeks before allergy season. That said, it can still help if taken later. Also try nettle leaf; take 500 mg two to three times daily.

Use a Rinse: Cleansing your nasal passages regularly helps keep them clear and washes away potentially irritating allergens, which can thwart allergic reactions. If also can help relieve allergy symptoms. Use a neti pot, a traditional Indian vessel with a spout that pours directly into your nose; rinse morning and night with 1/4 teaspoon of salt mixed with 1 cup of warm water.

Rethink Your Diet: Nasal symptoms from seasonal allergies are mainly due to an inflammation of your nasal membranes. Following an anti-inflammatory diet of foods rich in antioxidants (brightly colored fruits and vegetables) and omega-3s (fish such as salmon and herring, ground flaxseeds, walnuts) can go a long way to stamping out symptoms. Indeed, several studies show that kids with diets high in certain fruits, vegetables, and fish are less likely to experience allergy symptoms such as wheezing. Cut back on milk and milk products, which contain proteins that may increase mucus production – the last thing a runny nose needs.

Try Hypnosis: Several studies suggest that using hypnosis – a trancelike technique that leaves you more open to suggestion – can deliver allergy relief. A report from Switzerland’s University Hospital Basel, for instance, found that allergy sufferers who were taught self-hypnosis saw significant improvements in symptoms and well-being over the course of a year. You can encourage your immune system to “unlearn” its usual response to allergens and keep symptoms at bay.

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