Autumn allergies

We tend to think seasonal allergies are something connected with spring because of all the pollen in the air but we can also get symptoms in autumn because of all the spores in the air from fungi and moulds in leaf litter etc. Ragweed may also be a cause of autumn allergies. So if, like me you like walking in woodlands and are prone to allergies, you may find you have itchy eyes, sneezes, sinus congestion or even a tight chest.

Fortunately there is a great deal you can do to help ease your symptoms and make autumn a more enjoyable time for yourself. 

Firstly make sure your diet is rich in vitamin C which is a natural antihistamine – citrus fruits, kiwis, tomatoes, peppers, in fact all fruit and veg will provide you with vitamin C. 

Cruciferous vegetables have the additional benefit of helping clear blocked sinuses so include cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli etc in your diet.  Spicy food also helps clear out those blocked sinuses.

Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory  - flaxseeds are a good source.  Please see ‘Where do vegans get their omega 3 from?’

Vitamin A will help keep your mucus membranes healthy and help them deal with those spores.  Vegans can get vitamin A from carrots, fortified milks or green vegetables.

Vitamin D is also essential to help keep allergies at bay. Please see ‘Bring on the sun-Vitamin D, The Sunshine vitamin’

Some teas can help.  Nettle tea is antihistamine and is available in capsule form if you don’t like the tea. Please see 'Nettle tea-a delicious way to aid spring allergies'.

Ginger tea is anti-inflammatory.  Please see 'Superfood-Ginger'. Rooibos has bioflavonoids which act as anti-histamines, liquorice helps relieve irritation in respiratory passages (not too much as it can raise blood pressure a little – avoid if you already have blood pressure issues) and peppermint helps soothe irritated mucus membranes.

Indoors I love to use my air purifier to keep my home free of spores/pollen.  I originally bought it to remove dander from the air because at the time I had eight chinchillas (a long story – I bought two ‘males’ that turned out to be two pregnant females.  The babies were so adorable I kept them all). 

You have probably got there before me for the next tip – serrapeptase is anti-inflammatory and will help.  Please see 'Beating inflammation with serrapeptase'.

Over on the yoga blog there is also a yoga sequence to help with allergies.  Please see 'Yoga sequence for autumn allergies'.

Note – if you are suffering from allergies or have a medical condition please consult your medical practitioner.

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