If allergy symptoms center around
the eyes, causing itching, burning, redness and tears, then homeopathic Euphrasia is a better choice. If night- time post-nasal drainage leads to coughing upon waking, Euphrasia can help, as well. Pulsatilla helps people whose allergies are worse when they enter a warm room or feel congested when they lie down at night.
Homeopathic remedies generally are available for less than $10. If symp- toms don’t improve in three days, stop and try a different homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic practitioner Dr. Greg Meyer, in Phoenix, Arizona, says that many of his patients benefit from taking herbs and other natural supplements, and one of the most effective for hay fever is Urtica dioica (stinging nettles). Studies reported in Planta Medica: Journal of Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research, showed that after one week, nearly two-thirds of the par- ticipants taking two 300 milligram (mg) capsules of freeze-dried nettles experi- enced decreased sneezing and itching. Dr. Andrew Weil, of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson, recommends taking 250 mg of freeze- dried nettles extract every two to four hours until symptoms subside. Quercitin is another useful herb. By preventing release of histamine, it also works to lessen the sneezing and itching that accompany allergies. Take 400 mg twice a day before meals. Diana Danna, an integrative nurse practitioner in Staten Island, New York, suggests the age-old remedy of a neti pot to relieve congested nasal passage- ways. It may take a bit of practice, but she’s seen how rinsing the sinuses with a warm saltwater solution can reduce congestion and make breathing easier. An over-the-counter squeeze bottle can substitute for a neti pot, as can NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Danna suggests rinsing twice a day for best results.
Simple dietary modifications often yield promising results, as well. Stick to non-mucous-producing foods and eat more foods that give a boost to the body’s natural immune system. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables and raw nuts and seeds fit both categories, as do lean proteins like fresh fish and organic
natural awakenings April 2012 51
meats. Drinking plenty of clean water flushes the system and thins secretions. Foods that tend to cause the most prob- lems for allergy sufferers include dairy products, fried and processed foods and refined sugars and flours.
Adding essential fatty acids to a diet has benefits beyond allergy relief. In my own practice, I’ve seen how pa- tients that take one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil or three grams of fish oil during the spring months breathe more easily when outdoors. They also delight
in healthier looking skin, shinier hair and harder nails.
Trying these approaches may well turn spring into a favorite time of year for everyone.
Lauri Grossman, a doctor of chiropractic and certified classical homeopath, practices in Manhattan, NY. She also chairs the American Medical College of Homeopathy’s department of humanism, in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more at
amcofh.org and
HomeopathyCafe.com.
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