Are you tired of sneezing, itching, and dealing with seasonal allergies every year? If you're looking for natural remedies to alleviate your symptoms, you're in the right place! In this blog post, we'll explore the connection between allergies and women's hormones, menstrual cycles, and gut health, and how you can use herbal remedies to find relief.
Allergies and Hormones: What's the Link?
Research suggests that there may be a connection between allergies and women's hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various bodily functions, including the immune system. Fluctuations in hormone levels, such as those that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle, can affect the immune response and potentially worsen allergy symptoms.
Estrogen, a female sex hormone, has been found to have an impact on the immune system. During certain times of the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels are higher, which can lead to increased inflammation and heightened sensitivity to allergens if estrogen is too abundant and/or is not being metabolized efficiently. This may explain why some women may experience more severe allergy symptoms during around ovulation and right before their period.
Moreover, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can also affect allergies. Some women may experience improvement in their allergy symptoms during pregnancy, while others may find that their symptoms worsen. This further supports the notion that hormones play a role in the immune response and can influence allergies.
Gut Health and Allergies: The Gut-Immune Connection
Did you know that your gut health can also influence your allergies? The gut is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiota, which play a crucial role in supporting the immune system. An imbalance in the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, can negatively impact immune function and potentially worsen allergies.
Studies have shown that a healthy gut microbiota can help regulate the immune response and reduce the risk of developing allergies. On the other hand, an imbalanced gut microbiota can lead to a weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to allergens.
Furthermore, the gut and immune system have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that the gut can influence the immune response, and vice versa. This connection is known as the gut-immune axis. An impaired gut-immune axis can disrupt the immune response and trigger allergic reactions.
Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
Now that we understand the connection between allergies and women's hormones, menstrual cycles, and gut health, let's explore some natural remedies that can help alleviate allergy symptoms:
1. Local Raw Honey: Did you know that consuming local raw honey could help reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms? Local honey contains tiny amounts of pollen from local plants, which can help your body develop immunity to the allergens over time. It's best to start taking small amounts of local raw honey several months before allergy season begins to allow your body to build up tolerance. Add a teaspoon of local raw honey to your tea, yogurt, or smoothie, and enjoy the sweet taste while potentially reducing your allergy symptoms.
2. Quercetin: Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables, such as onions, apples, berries, and broccoli, and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine, which can help reduce the release of histamines that trigger allergy symptoms. You can consume quercetin as a supplement or include quercetin-rich foods in your diet to help alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms.
3. Herbal tinctures: Including Dong quai, red raspberry, ginger to support hormone regulation and metabolism, therefore reducing potential PMS symptoms and allergies. This is my favorite herbal tincture for this.
4. Herbal Teas:Â Certain herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and stinging nettle, have natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe seasonal allergy symptoms. Chamomile tea can help relieve congestion and soothe irritated mucous membranes, while peppermint tea has a cooling effect that can reduce nasal inflammation. Stinging nettle tea can help reduce histamine production and alleviate allergy symptoms. Enjoy a cup of herbal tea in the morning and evening or when allergy symptoms flare up.
5. Steam Inhalation: Steam inhalation is a simple and effective natural remedy for seasonal allergies. Boil a pot of water and carefully lean over the pot, covering your head with a towel to create a tent. Inhale the steam deeply through your nose for a few minutes. The steam can help moisturize your nasal passages, reduce congestion, and soothe irritated mucous membranes. You can also add a few drops of essential oils such as eucalyptus or tea tree oil to the water for added benefits.
6. Reduce histamine-containing foods such as red wine, cheese, avocado, tomato, bone broth, and fermented foods (including komcuha). Additionally, reduce mast cell stimulating foods, including cow's dairy and alcohol.Â
7. Consider starting a histamine-reducing supplement. These include quercetin, magnesium, SAMe, or vitamin B6.
8. Some other suggestions are using a high quality air filter for your home. We use Winix air purifier.
Conclusion:
Seasonal allergies are incredibly common, but there are plenty of natural remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms. For all this women's natural health and wellness, follow us on Instagram and sign up for our weekly emails and texts!
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Disclosure: It's important to note that the information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of natural remedies for seasonal allergies should be approached with caution, and it's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before trying any new remedies, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medications. Every individual's health and medical history is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. The author and the website do not assume any responsibility for any potential adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information provided in this blog post.