Some will experience severe fatigue that could even affect their sleep. Allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergies and hay fever are synonyms to describe the reaction to outdoor allergens such as pollens, grasses, birch, ragweed, etc.
See how, with naturopathy, you can reduce and even avoid this infamous hay fever.
I face spring well rested
Quality sleep is essential to enter hay fever season. If you wake up many times during the night or if you wake up tired in the morning, changes to your lifestyle are needed.
A few tips to improve your sleep
- In the evening, eat foods rich in tryptophan such as bananas, dates, figs, milk, tuna, turkey, whole grains and yogurt. Ingesting tryptophan will increase your serotonin level (an important neurotransmitter that induces sleep).
- Avoid sleep inhibitors: caffeine, chocolate, cola and alcohol (alcohol disturbs the level of serotonin and tryptophan, two essential neurotransmitters involved in sleep).
- Practice a relaxation technique such as reading, hot baths, meditation or directed relaxation.
- Exercise moderately: 20 minutes are enough to see the benefits.
- Consume sedative plants: passionflower, hops, valerian, skullcap, chamomile, lemon balm or catmint.
Spring detox
In naturopathy, we believe that a weakened liver can lead to several health problems such as seasonal allergies. A congested or tired liver will not fight allergies as well. A good spring detox will help reduce the symptoms of hay fever.
Here are a few easy and simple tips to eliminate toxins:
- Take 2 tablespoons of organic lemon juice in a cup of warm water on an empty stomach in the morning;
- Place a hot-water bag on the liver (right side) 10 to 20 minutes before bedtime;
- Ground 1 teaspoon of thistle seeds in a coffee grinder and add to your diet (cereals, applesauce, oatmeal or yogurt);
- Eat a salad daily: arugula, artichoke, chicory, endives, spinach, dandelion and radicchio;
- Eat a cup of crucifers every day: Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and collards;
- Drink two cups of this infusion every day: boil 2 slices of fresh ginger for a few minutes. Infuse for 5 minutes: peppermint, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds and liquorice root (cut in small pieces).
I optimize my diet
A healthy diet, rich in enzymes, vitamins and minerals will help revitalize a tired body and give it more nutrients to fight hay fever.
Here are a few simple tips.
- Drink quality water either filtered in a home filter (Brita, Ovo pure), by reversed osmosis, or spring water with less than 100 ppm (Eska).
- Increase your servings of fish to 2 to 3 per week and your vegetables to 4 to 5 cups per day.
- Choose whole grain rich in nutrients. Try quinoa, buckwheat and millet.
- Eat legumes, rich in fibres and nutrients and add them to your meals.
- Add good fats like olive oil and nuts and oilseeds such as: flaxseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, etc. Fatty acids are precursors of prostaglandins, the E1 that inhibit inflammation and are usually weak in allergic persons.
- Eat yogurts (that help rebuild the intestinal flora and inhibits the production of histamine) and goat cheese (easier to digest and assimilate in your body).
Sugar must be used sparingly (sugar leads to high insulin secretion, tiring the liver, pancreas and defense mechanisms of the body).
