Dr. Clairborne shares 5 tips for fighting fall allergies naturally!

The Autumn is approaching and for some of us (especially here in Atlanta), fall allergy season is approaching.  If you are not prepared, the symptoms of allergies can be brutal, but here are 5 tips that will help you to minimize the effects of what's to come.

Tip # 1. Buy a Neti Pot - Any patient of mine who comes through my office with allergies, gets the recommendation for a neti pot. The Neti Pot looks like a tea pot and is purposed to be filled with a salt water solution (which can be purchased at your local pharmacy or made at home), and irrigated through your sinus cavity.  I have written a previous article on the use of a Neti pot on this blog that gives all the details. Check it out!

Tip # 2.  Cut down or eliminate dairy - It is well researched and known that dairy causes increased mucous production and inflammation in the body.  Many of my patients with allergies and asthma have greatly benefited when they decreased the amount of dairy they were eating.  Alternatives for milk include almond, hemp, and rice milk.  As for cheese, if you cannot give up cheese completely, you might consider switching to goat cheese. It's less inflammatory and more easily digested than cow's cheese.

Tip # 3. Eliminate white sugar, junk foods, and refined foods - Like dairy, foods packed with refined sugars like junk foods cause inflammation and lowered immune system in the body.  When you substitute these things with healthier options (such as fruits, dark chocolate, whole grains), you are not only helping your immune system, you are decreasing your risk of illness from other offenders such as the common cold and flu.

Tip # 4 Try Supplementing - Everyone should be taking a good multi-vitamin to supplement what they are not getting in the normal diet. However, there are a couple of great products out there that decrease the allergy response during seasons like this. Aller-Ease (which comes in an adult and children's formula) is one of the favorites among my patients and most recommended by me. It contains several herbal ingredients that act as natural anti-histamine to fight allergies. Green Vibrance is also a great supplement to take on a regular basis to keep inflammation down in the body.

Tip # 5 When all else fails, get an anti-histamine! Just because I"m a holistic doctor doesn't mean I don't know the value of traditional treatment.  If you have done all of the above, and you still are suffering from allergies, pick up some Claritin, Benadryl, or Zyrtec! If need be, you may even need to take a visit to you doctor and get some Flonase, an allergy nasal spray.  The point is utilize all of the resources that have been set forth to keep your body feeling healthy this fall!

To learn more about how to balance your life naturally, visit www.backtobasicshealing.com