As the season shifts from winter to spring, it brings with it many wonderful changes to our environment. Warmer weather, longer days, the reawakening of flowers and plants, the return of migrating birds and butterflies. But as nature comes back to life, trees, grasses, and weeds start to release pollen and outdoor molds start releasing spores which, for many, leads to seasonal respiratory challenges.
The high levels of pollen floating in the air (and sometimes coating any available surface) cause our body to release histamine, a natural defense against unfamiliar substances. It’s these elevated histamine levels that cause the pesky symptoms we dread come spring, like sneezing, and itchy nose, eyes or throat. For some, these symptoms may be mild to downright maddening. When pollen proliferates, finding natural ways to help promote a balanced immune response to seasonal changes can make symptoms more bearable.
NATURAL SUPPORT FOR SEASONAL IMMUNE HEALTH
The best natural way to fight pollen symptoms is avoiding the particles that cause them. But unless you want to stop walking Fido or enjoying the great outdoors in any other way, that can be extremely difficult (and frankly unhealthy).
Commonly used products might help quickly, but they often come with unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness. Fortunately, there are other natural ways to uphold seasonal immune health that you can add to your go-to spring toolbelt:
NETI POT
Our nasal passages are full of nooks and crannies where dust and pollen can collect. Our bodies’ way of flushing them out is behind the runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes that spring brings. Use of a neti pot is a safe and effective form of sinus irrigation that hails from the Indian Ayurvedic tradition. It’s a great way to help clear nasal passageways of irritants, and can go a long way in providing temporary relief for seasonal symptoms.
LOCAL HONEY
Who knew that little honey bees could be some of our best seasonal allies? That’s because bees living in our local area go from flower to flower collecting the very pollen that may be causing our seasonal suffering. Eating local raw honey, therefore, can help support a more friendly immune reaction to local pollen. A bonus is that honey is delicious and contains enzymes and minerals that support overall immune health.
BEE POLLEN
Much like local honey, local bee pollen offers a way to introduce flower pollen into our immune systems. This bee food, made of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, and wax, is also great for supporting our overall health. It’s packed with nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and immune-loving antioxidants. So sprinkle some on your yogurt or smoothie bowl, toss in your salad, or just take it by the spoonful. You can find local bee pollen at your nearby health food store, herbal supplements shop, or neighborhood farmers market.
PROBIOTICS
The gut contains 70 to 80 percent of the cells that make up our immune system. Therefore, imbalances in our immune system are directly correlated to imbalances in our gut microbiome, or the microorganisms that live inside our digestive tract. These imbalances can cause us to have stronger reactions to pollen, mold, or dust. Introducing probiotics, or “good bacteria,” into our diet can help bring balance to the digestive and immune systems. A good source of probiotics can be found in fermented foods such as pickles, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, or with a probiotic supplement.
VITAMIN C
Best known for its popularity during fall and winter, vitamin C also helps foster healthy histamine levels during the spring season. Pure Radiance C® is made with 11 wild and organic fruits and berries, like camu camu and acerola cherries. Unlike most vitamin C supplements, Pure Radiance C is made only from fruit, meaning it also contains valuable flavonoid cofactors. These polyphenols - that also provide much of fruit’s flavor and color - have been shown to enhance vitamin C’s effectiveness for healthy histamine support.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
More than just an ingredient in your salad dressing, apple cider vinegar is an age-old, natural spring remedy that is commonly recommended by traditional practitioners. The theory is that it helps promote healthy mucous production and refresh the lymphatic system. Just add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot or cold water, with a bit of honey and/or a squirt of lemon if you’d like.
STAY HYDRATED
Staying hydrated is important for every aspect of our health and is especially important during pollen season. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and can prompt the body to produce higher histamine levels, which can make seasonal symptoms worse. So keep your water bottle handy, and be sure to keep drinking all day.
SUPPORT YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, RIGHT NOW & YEAR ROUND
If spring sneaks up on you, and you’re looking for right-now support for pollen’s punch, your immune system might need an extra support. Reach for Rapid Rescue® for nine of our favorite organic herbs and botanicals that nourish respiratory and immune health. Then, stay ahead of the calendar by keeping your immune response in ready-mode with the mushroom and algae allies in Immune Health™, nourishing your immune system no matter what season it is.
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