HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

Ah-ah-ah-CHOO! I come from an area of the country that suffers miserably with hay fever and other allergies in the late fall and spring. When the flowers bloom in the spring, sending billions of pollen spores into the air, people start sneezing. Their eyes itch miserably, they cough uncontrollably, and they feel exhausted.

Allergies can be truly debilitating. An inflammatory response, they can affect any part of the body, with a wide variety of symptoms. This week's column, though, is limited to the histamine response.

I have developed a nearly sure-fire natural way to dampen down your body's histamine reactions and bring you relief, without side effects.

Here it is:

Eliminate any foods or environmental exposure that are "filling your allergy bucket." In other words, don't eat dairy products if you have a sinus or bronchial condition, because milk products often form excess mucus. Wheat products can trigger sinus problems (like snoring), so eliminate those from your diet. By getting rid of common triggers, you give your immune system the opportunity to calm down.

Freeze-dried stinging nettles are an effective, mild antihistamine. Take one or two capsules whenever you have symptoms of runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing due to allergies or colds.

The homeopathic formula Allergy Relief is a combination of several homeopathic preparations that eases the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. Take one tablet under the tongue twice per day, whether or not you have symptoms, and over time, your body simply becomes less reactive. Also take one or two whenever symptoms flare; generally within a few minutes, they simply go away.

A combination of quercetin (from onions) and bromelain (from the green stem of pineapple) twice per day between meals will reduce the inflammation brought on by an allergy attack. When taken over a period of time, it also helps the body become less reactive.

And finally, if you are still struggling after all this, go for the big guns: pantothenic acid. I recommend 1,000 mg twice per day during hay fever season to eradicate hay fever symptoms even in the worse cases.

Most people report great benefit from this protocol. If it doesn't work, you might need to see a physician to work on your immune system, adrenal gland or digestive system.

— Carol is a certified lifestyle educator at the offices of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers, 939-3303. She owns the Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel, 472-4499.