Style Magazine April 2020

Jamie Brinkley, ND, at Revolutions Naturopathic, further
explains why the body responds with these reactions. “Our
immune system interacts with the environment on a daily basis
assessing if something is ‘self’ or ‘other’ and ‘threat’ or ‘not a threat,’”
she says. “We get allergies when that system has decided this
particle is harmful and an inflammatory response is warranted.”
As allergy season is officially upon us, sufferers can do their
part to help remedy their symptoms. Dr. Bowdish recommends
checking local pollen counts for your specific area. “Just Google
the term ‘pollen count’ with your city name, and you should
be able to get a general idea of what pollens are most active at
that time,” he says. “Some allergy practices will also hand count
pollens throughout the season, which can be the most accurate
pollen counts since they’ll be individualized for your area rather
than based upon weather patterns.”
Troy Scribner, MD, an allergy specialist in the Department
of Allergy & Immunology at Kaiser Permanente Roseville, says
the primary treatments for allergies tend to be medication that
can be obtained easily, including oral antihistamines, such as
diphenhydramine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, and loratadine. “For
individuals who have moderate to severe symptoms or persistent
symptoms, the use of a steroid nasal spray tends to be the most
effective treatment,” he says. “Steroid nasal sprays help to prevent
the inflammation that leads to allergy symptoms and work best
when used consistently. Both the steroid nasal sprays and the
antihistamines can be used together for better results.”
Dr. Brinkley suggests eating a low-histamine diet during the
worst of your allergy season, which “includes a diet rich in fresh
meat and freshly caught fish; non-citrus fruits; eggs; glutenfree
grains, such as quinoa and rice; dairy substitutes, such as
coconut milk and almond milk; fresh vegetables (except tomatoes,
avocados, spinach, and eggplant); and cooking oils, such as olive
oil,” she says. “There are many herbs and supplements that can be
helpful during allergy season, too. My current favorite is freezedried
stinging nettle leaf.” She also suggests allergy sufferers use
a HEPA air filter in their bedroom when they sleep; shower at
night so that outdoor pollen is removed before it can deposit
into your bed; and use a daily sinus rinses or neti pot with
saline to help remove allergens from nasal passages and
keep sinuses clear.
Another way to treat allergies is with allergenspecific
immunotherapy (SIT), Dr. Bowdish says.
“Immunotherapy changes the body’s immune system
by toning down the allergic response over time and
better controlling the overactive inflammatory
pathways,” he says. “Immunotherapy can be given
either via a subcutaneous injection or with
sublingual tablets or drops. The limitation with
immunotherapy is that it takes several months
before the treatment protocol kicks in.”
If you require multiple treatments to get relief, there
may be additional treatment options, including some that are
more long-term. “Talk to your doctor to discuss a plan that will
work best for you,” Dr. Scribner says.
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