March showers bring April flowers!
Ah-Choo - The Allergy Edition
I know the saying is April showers bring May flowers, but as usual, we are ahead of that here in the Valley of the Sun. April is here, and the state is in full bloom. I was blessed to drive to Tucson two weekends ago to share Ayurveda with the beautiful souls at The Yoga Pod. I was blown away while driving by the beauty of the desert after all the recent rain we have enjoyed. As I drove, my eyes feasted on a green carpet on the desert floor covered with swaths of purple and yellow flowers.
At the same time, I am having several conversations with students and clients suffering from allergies due to the pollen in the air. If the immune system is weak, it cannot respond, and a person can experience uncomfortable symptoms of an allergy reaction. Runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes. In addition, an exaggerated immune response can lead to symptoms in the lungs presenting as Asthma or bronchitis and on the skin in the forms of hives and eczema. Sometimes we can be genetically predisposed to allergies. However, from an Ayurveda perspective, it is believed the primary cause of allergies in the body is due to accumulation of toxins and low immunity.
When we strengthen our agni/digestive fire, it becomes strong and balanced. Our body will not express an aggressive response to something it is not used to, such as pollen, but will instead remove it in a healthy way.
There are some simple diet and lifestyle protocols that, when implemented, can be very beneficial. Both honey and turmeric are great additions during allergy season. My friends at Banyan Botanicals just created a new turmeric honey blend. Adding a 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric honey to some warm (not hot) water in the morning to scrape toxins from the body and support strong digestion during allergy season. As both Turmeric and honey can be heated, if you have a heat imbalance adding the honey to some warm peppermint tea would be a good option.
Triphala helps treat allergies as it is cleansing for the tissues of the body and also toxins, plus it keeps the digestive tract clean. Taking 1/2-1 teaspoon in warm water before bed is helpful.
Before you head out the door, take some time to lubricate your nostrils with nasya oil. This will deter pollen, dust, and pollution from entering your sinuses and wreaking havoc. A nice rinse with the Neti pot at the end of the day can clean the sinuses and be a true allergy lifesaver.
Scraping your tongue first thing in the morning will wake up your internal organs and help stimulate your taste buds and digestion. Take time to observe any changes in your tongue before you scrape. The tongue can be a mirror to all the body's organs; thus, a daily look at the tongue before scraping gives you a clue to your general health.
Feed your microbiome with fresh seasonal foods and sip warm water or herbal tea. The Ayurvedic standard is CCF (cumin, coriander, and fennel). I offer a blend called Green Goddess, an antihistamine blend, and if the allergies evolve into illness, I invite you to try this month's spotlight tea Immunitea. A wellness tea to boost overall immunity.
Lastly, managing stress is a wonderful way to support your immune system and allergy management. When stressed, your body releases hormones and other chemicals, including histamine, the powerful chemical that leads to allergy symptoms. While stress doesn't actually cause allergies, it can make an allergic reaction worse by increasing the histamine in your bloodstream. I invite you to take some time each day for some conscious rest in the form of yoga nidra or even laying with your legs up the wall for 15-20 minutes.
If you have any questions or would like some support in managing your allergies this season, feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment.