Remedies for Allergies

 

Many Vitamins, Herbs, and Homeopathic remedies have great success in relieving allergy symptoms. We have listed a few below but it is always better to get checked for the BEST combination for you, as there literally hundreds of natural remedies!

Vitamins:

Bioflavonoids (e.g., quercetin, catechin, and hesperidin) – Bioflavonoids are natural antihistamines and strongly anti-allergenic. (Alpha Flavin)
Omega 3-6-9 Oils: Borage, Flax and Fish oil mix works best! 3 pills three times daily. (BFO or Nordic Naturals)
Multivitamin – We use Vitamin Complete or BioNutrient
Vitamin A & D – Cod Liver Oil, Cataplex A -functions as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Vitamin C – (Alka C) Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, helping to reduce nasal secretions and inflammation.
Vitamin E(cataplex E) – reduces immune allergic responses.
Zinc Liver Chelate or ZNC – boosts immune system. .
Magnesium (Lactate)–  trace mineral that reduces histamine release and inflammation of the airways and lungs.
Potassium – Helps maintain proper ph. (PTM)
Allerplex – contains vitamin A and C complexes, supports the body’s ability to handle seasonal, environmental, challenges, maintains proper pH, sinuses and lung function.
Antronex – Antihistamine, relieves itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion
Probiotics (e.g., lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus) – Probiotics are bowel microflora organisms—microscopic bacteria that normally inhabit the intestines. (Flora Synergy)

Allergies are the result of an imbalance in the immune system that causes the body to react too strongly to a stimuli. New research links the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut with reduced incidence of allergies. Evidence is even emerging that a mother’s gut bacteria during pregnancy and nursing can impact a child’s likelihood of getting allergies throughout life.

Herbals:

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) – Reduces congestion and secretions. It is good for itchy eyes, sneezing, and excess mucus.
Gingko – Contains bioflavonoids and is used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Milk thistle – Helps reduce allergic, inflammatory, and histaminic reactions and supports liver function.
Red clover – Helps build the body’s resistance to allergies.
Stinging nettles – Used as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
Yarrow – Reduces congestion and secretions.
Licorice – -ability to reduce allergic symptoms and decrease inflammation
Capsaicin – This active ingredient helps desensitize the mucosa that line the airways, thus preventing them from secreting excessive fluids and becoming inflamed when exposed to irritants.(Total Flm)
Albizia – anti-allergy properties are helpful for hayfever, asthma, sinus congestion and allergic skin conditions such as eczema and hives. It also helps to strengthen the lungs and clear mucus.
Goldenseal – has antibiotic properties and is useful in preventing secondary infection in hay fever, sinusitis, or chest congestion. It is also anti-inflammatory to the mucous membranes, and helps reduce and soothe swollen, irritated tissues
Boswellia(Frankincense) – It opens airways, reduces bronchial and sinus swelling, and helps relieve the worst of allergy symptoms.

Allertonic is a herbal remedy for allergies that you can pick up at Whole Foods. It contains nettle, eyebright and many other herbs used in allergy relief.

Homeopathics:

Aller-Chord II – contains a unique and powerful blend of nosodes, phenolics, sarcodes and polychrests intelligently combined to provide the body with the most effective means of soothing and healing reactions to common inhaled airborne allergens.
Allernest – drainage formula which works deep within the body to reduce the hypersensitive reaction, stabilize histamine levels, reduce inflammation of mucous membranes and strengthen cell walls.

Other homeopathics:

Allium cepa – Indicated for bland, non-irritating discharge from eyes; copious, watery, acrid discharge from nose; hoarseness; and feeling better in cool air and open room.
Euphrasia – Indicated for symptoms such as copious, watery, acrid discharge from eyes; non-irritating discharge from nose; dry, hard cough; much sneezing; diarrhea; and feeling worse in open air.
Natrum muriaticum – Indicated for watery or egg white-like discharges; cold sores; no sense of taste or smell; headaches; and feeling better outside.
Nux vomica – Indicated for runny nose in daytime, then dry nose at night; violent sneezing; nose feels blocked but there is watery nasal discharge through one nostril; and feeling worse outside.
Wyethia – Indicated for extreme itching in the nose and throat; throat feels swollen; back of throat is dry and burning; and sensation as if something were in nasal passages.

Essential Oils For Allergy Relief

Lavender clears congestion, builds immunity, relieves headaches, eases muscle pain, and is a natural antihistamine
Lemon helps to protect immunity, alkalize the body, and relieve excess mucous
Cypress increases circulation, helps to ease breathing and suppress coughing
Eucalyptus contains cineole that supports healthy lung function, relieves congestion, headaches, and labored breathing
Peppermint helps to ease breathing, fights infection, helps congestion, relieves headaches and opens airways instantly
Valor applied to the chest and inhaled a few times a day helps alleviate all symptoms
Dorado Azul contains eucalyptol 1.8 cineol that reduces inflammation and opens the lungs
Copaiba contains high levels of beta carophyllene and is an anti-inflammatory, expectorant and disinfectant
Raven and RC were formulated to fight respiratory conditions, relive colds, sinusitis and congestion
Breathe Again Roll On a handy inexpensive portable blend of oils to reduce allergy symtoms and congestion

Many patients find the combination of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint to work wonders! These three essential oils can create a powerful all-natural antihistamine. These three oils together can cool down body inflammation resulting from the body’s allergic response.

You can use essential oils three ways:
Topically: Add 1 drop to your cheeks, forehead and sinuses as needed. Also, apply several drops to the soles of your feet before bed.
Diffuse: Diffuse Essential Oil blend in a cold diffuser for 15 minutes every 2 hours. You can also diffuse beside your bed at night.
Inhalation: Apply 1-2 drops of each Essential Oil into the palms of your hands. After rubbing your hands together, cup them over your nose and deeply inhale 4-6
breaths. You can also place 2-3 drops on a cotton ball, secure it in a zip lock bag and take it with you. Inhale 4-6 breaths as needed.

You can get these essential oils at our online store.

Using a neti pot nightly helps to rinse out the pollen lodged in the sinus passages.

If all else fails, sometimes dietary changes can be the answer to allergy problems. In our own experience, the GAPS diet helped relieve many of the allergy symptoms we experienced, including some rather severe food allergies in one of our children.

Diet Changes
To reduce allergy symptoms, eat a moderately low-fat, high-complex-carbohydrate diet. Drink 1/2 of body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., a 150 lb person would drink 75 oz of water).

Include a lot of the following foods in the diet:
Dark green, leafy vegetables
Deep yellow and orange vegetables
Nettles, bamboo shoots, cabbage, beet tops, beets, carrots, yams
Onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne, horseradish

Eliminate the following from the diet:

Alcohol, caffeine, and dairy products
Bananas and citrus fruit
Chocolate
Food colorings (tartrazine)
Peanuts
Red meat
Sugar
Wheat

In our experience, we definitely encourage diet changes as an option, especially for severe allergies or those in need of gut healing/rebalancing.

Reduce the allergens in your home with HEPA filters. Using a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to trap the allergens circulating in your home. Get one for your vacuum cleaner, too. Without it, your vacuum will just shoot the tiny allergens back into the air — and into your nose.

Remedies for Fever

 

Calcium Lactate:

Calcium lactate can be especially helpful in making a sick child/adult more comfortable. When the body fights infection it draws calcium out of the bones to be utilized by white blood cells. The process can make you feel quite achy, so it’s easier just to give the body what it needs without it having to withdraw from “the bank.” Calcium lactate works with the fever to make it more effective, which in turn usually means it’s over more quickly, yay!

Apple Cider Vinegar

This is an old remedy used by grandmothers and great-grandmothers that is thought to “draw out” the fever – people still swear by it! Soak a couple washcloths in apple cider vinegar and place on forehead and tummy, or add a cup to a warm bath. Some people also soak a cloth in and wrap it around the soles of the patient’s feet.

Lemon Drops

You can also try dropping 10-15 fresh lemon drops on the tongue every 15 minutes to reduce the fever.

Fever Essential Oil Blends

Blends for children 3 months to 6 years old

3 drops lavender
5 drops chamomile
2 drops frankincense

or

3 drops eucalyptus
5 drops pine
2 drops frankincense

Blend for children 6-10 years old

3 drops peppermint
5 drops pine, rosemary, OR sage
2 drops frankincense

Blend for children 10-12 years old

3 drops eucalyptus
5 drops pine
2 drops frankincense

Mix the essential oils with a carrier oil(coconut, olive, grapeseed oil) and apply diluted essential oil (babies and children) on the bottom of the feet and back of the neck. You can also diffuse and inhale the oils.

For infants dilute the oils that go on forehead and back of neck. Only 1 drop in each area is probably required. Be careful baby does not touch the areas of applied oils and rub their eyes. Or place the drops on caregiver’s hands, let the oil evaporate till moisture seems to disappear then rub hands on baby’s feet.

You can order these essential oils at our online store.

 

 

Remedies for Cold and Flu 

 

• Increase fluid intake, get extra rest, and eliminate sugar and dairy from your diet.

• Vitamin C- 1,000 mg, 3 times a day

• Probiotics- Daily

• Oregano Oil- 1-2 drops sublingually, 1-5 times daily

• Vitamin D- 2,000 IU, 3 times a day

• Elderberry Syrup- 1-2 tsp, 1-2 times a day

• Garlic, Ginger and peppermint- have some fresh or encapsulated daily

• Apple Cider Vinegar- 1 tsp- 2 tbsp, 1-3 times a day

• Eucalyptus Oil- externally with a bath, massage, and/or steam inhalation

• Echinacea and Goldenseal

• Nasal Rinse

• See more on our blog at Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season