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 meats. Drinking


plenty of clean water flushes the sys- tem and thins secretions. Foods that tend to cause the most problems for allergy sufferers include dairy prod- ucts, 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, prac- tices in Manhattan, NY. She also chairs the American Medical College of Home- opathy’s department of humanism, in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more at amcofh.org and HomeopathyCafe.com.


When Allergies Seem to


Come from Nowhere by Colleen Chausse


M


ost people have sensitivities that the body can handle naturally and uneventfully. But sometimes medi- cations, processed foods, pollutants and excessive stress create a toxic overload that makes a person more susceptible to allergic reactions. Any additional stressors can set the body off and trigger a phenomenon known as the rain barrel effect, in which allergy symptoms come on suddenly or more strongly than before.


For example, someone with a historically mild cat allergy who is un- dergoing a stressful life event, eating poorly, or experiencing hormonal shifts may suddenly experience a profound allergic reaction when coming in con- tact with a cat. This rain barrel effect plays out seasonally with pollen as the trees start to burst and people begin to suffer despite a lack of symptoms at other times of the year.


The sudden onset or reappear- ance of allergy symptoms after a long period of relief can also be due to physical injury or trauma. Someone who was successfully treated for al- lergies and later endures an accident, illness, infection or surgery may once again be vulnerable to allergic symp- toms. Women who go through preg- nancy and other hormonal shifts can likewise experience sudden, dramatic allergic reactions that seem to come


from nowhere.


Sometimes what people call al- lergies are actually sensitivities that are harder to detect in blood tests. Symptoms such as brain fog, depres- sion, eczema, rashes and hives can come from environmental, chemical and seasonal triggers or from sensitivi- ties to food, medications and perfume. People whose mouths get itchy with certain raw fruits and vegetables may be suffering from oral allergy syndrome (OAS), which is often due to cross- pollination. In other words, people who have an allergy or sensitivity to birch pollen or ragweed may also have a problem with carrots or watermelon, which have similar botanical proteins. Cooking or processing the fruits and vegetables breaks down the proteins that cause OAS.


Eating well, reducing stress and introducing organic and chemical free products into the home are great ways to reduce the toxic overload that can lead to the rain barrel effect. Antihista- mines, chiropractic care, herbal sup- plements, acupuncture and neti pots can provide symptomatic allergy relief, as can a computer-driven treatment called Advanced Allergy Therapeutics. Finally, when April showers bring May flowers and some uncomfortable reac- tions, Pollen.com is a good place to turn for local information.


natural awakenings April 2012 31


Colleen D. Chausse, BS, RN, LMT, is the owner and a practitioner at Mass Allergy Relief Center, 594 Marrett Road, Ste. 19, in Lexington. For more informa- tion, call 781-274-7700 or visit Mass AllergyRelief.com. See ad on page 17.


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