A l l e r g y M a n a g e m e n t
By Megan Rasmussen
Patio lunches, longer days, and
fresh blooms are always welcome
after a temperamental Tennessee
winter. Like a cold sip of iced tea,
we go back into the world with a
fresh, rested perspective of all the
years’ possibilities. But the sweet,
subtle pleasantries of this time of
year also mean our favorite allergens
are back in town.
Did you know that Tennessee’s
major cities consistently make
the Asthma and Allergy Foundation's
annual list of the 10 worst
places for spring allergy sufferers?
Our state has the perfect blend
of topography, weather patterns,
and pollen to create one of the
best environments for allergens to
flourish. This means our tired immune
system that worked so hard
to keep us healthy and protected
from the winter flu is thrown off
course by its interactions with
pollen. Tissues anyone?
It’s not like itchy eyes, sneezes,
and runny noses are foreign to
us Tennesseans, but there’s something
pretty dramatic about making
a top “worst” list for anything.
Now we all know that the warm
weather is hard to resist, so most
likely every one of us will be headed
out into the warzone. But rather
than suffer through springtime
once again, we’re going to arm
ourselves with the help of Healthy
Living.
Have you tried essential oils?
Peppermint and Lavender are a
few of the most powerful oils for
overcoming allergies. The peppermint
46 Healthy Living | Spring Issue | 2018
provides immediate relief
for congestion and can aid
in clearing phlegm. Lavender,
along with smelling incredible,
is a natural antihistamine and
anti-inflammatory while also
having powerful soothing properties
to help you relax in the
presence of springtime pollen.
Although less scientifically
sound, one of the recent trends
in fighting off allergies is to ingest
local honey. Many people
are claiming to find relief, that
by ingesting the honey you are
likely introducing your body
to small amounts of local pollen
which can help you gain a
tolerance for the pollen and as
a result, possibly experience fewer
symptoms. This is by no means the
surefire way to beat your allergies,
but honey tastes good so why not
try it out?
Here’s a more science-friendly
solution to your runny nose. Buckeye’s
anti-allergy pillow is made of
an antimicrobial treated polycotton
that prevents unwanted mold
and bacterial growth, which are
big catalysts for sneezing, headaches,
itchy eyes and respiratory
problems. Since you’re spending a
solid 7-8 hours a night (hopefully)
breathing in and out of your
pillow, make sure you are helping,
not hurting the cause.
A bit pricier of a product but
extremely effective, the 3-In-1 True
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