The cause and cure of hay fever
Hay fever and other seasonal allergies are a sign of a disordered immune system, usually since childhood.
A disordered immune system is where it over-reacts to safe or normal environmental particles like pollen produced by grasses and other plants, or outdoor mould spores.
This happens due to a major immune stressor that has happened early on in life, preventing natural maturity and healthy function of the immune system.
This might include caesarean birth, a lack of breastfeeding, early antibiotic usage (antibiotics are also found in many animal products), environmental toxins in the mother and child’s diets (chemicals, heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides), and/or physical trauma.
What all of these things do is they alter our gut flora – the healthy bacteria in our gut that confer many health benefits, including especially to our immune system.
Don’t forget that our gut is where over 70% of our innate immune response lies. When altered early on in life, our gut flora can create immune oversensitivity to environmental particles. This in turn can lead to hay fever and other seasonal allergies, asthma, and even autoimmunity.
For example, this is how pollen makes some people react…
Pollen enters the eyes, nose and lungs. It sensitises the immune system and antibodies to pollen are produced. These antibodies attach to mast cells in the tissues.
The next time pollen enters the body, it attaches to the antibodies causing histamine and immune chemicals to be released by the mast cells. This is an allergic reaction, resulting in runny eyes and nose, itching, sneezing, congestion and asthma.
What can you do if you suffer from these kinds of allergies apart from take antihistamines, which over time can exacerbate these problems?
Calm the immune system by removing the most inflammatory foods from your diet i.e. sugar and refined carbs, gluten, dairy, alcohol and vegetables oils
Also remove processed and toxic foods like non-pastured and wild caught animal proteins, sprayed vegetables and fruits, as well as colourings, preservatives and flavourings
Feed your good gut flora with the fibre found in vegetables and fruit. Ideally, eat vegetables with every meal
Take vitamin D to reach a level of at least 90 ng/mL, but between 125-150 is described by many as optimal
Do a gut healing protocol where you eradicate opportunistic and harmful bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, heal the gut lining which is often leaky and damaged, and improve gut immunity
The supplement quercetin can help modulate an exaggerated immune response, and also protect tissues from inflammation and oxidation
Probiotics can also reduce allergy symptoms, as shown in studies. I recommend a spore-based one as they survive the digestive process and support a healthy environment where good flora can thrive
Use a healthy nasal spray like saline or xylitol to help clear and soothe nasal passages