Restoring the Temple – Spring Fever

Ah, Spring. The newly formed flowers, the trees bursting with buds, the smell of freshly mowed grass. The sneezing, the post-nasal drip, the itching and watery eyes. In the United States, where we have four seasons, allergy season starts in the spring and can extend through the fall. In those regions where the only seasons are Wet and Hot, allergies may know no season. Certainly, the unfortunate among us also can have year-round allergies. Respiratory allergies, also called allergic rhinitis, cause 10 million trips to the doctor every year in America and are big business for pharmaceutical companies. Allergic rhinitis is caused by either environmental pollutants, such as smoke or fumes, or by seasonal conditions, including increased dust, pollens, and spores. Allergies have worsened in recent years; a trend that experts attribute to the massive growth of the petrochemical industry since World War 11. Many of the more than 50,000 chemical products produced worldwide cannot be properly broken down by the body, causing toxin accumulation.

Respiratory allergies, also called allergic rhinitis, are a response by the immune system to agents it perceives as dangerous. In some people, the immune system misreads the signals and responds to substances that are benign but that are perceived as harmful. These immune reactions involve an interaction between an allergen (the substance that induces the allergy) and a specific antibody that the immune system made. The intensity of an allergic reaction varies: the more antibodies present, the stronger the reaction. People can develop an allergy they have never had before after repeated exposure to something. An example of this is the latex allergy which has caused severe reactions in medical workers.

Why can some people relax in a field of daisies while others succumb to a sneezing fit when their coworker has a single rose on their desk? A famous poet once wrote, “Any nose / May ravage with impunity a rose.” For some, any rose may ravage a nose! Although there is a hereditary factor, other causes may exacerbate the condition. These causes may include excess mucous, waste accumulation, adrenal exhaustion, hypoglycemia, free radical damage, and stress. Excess mucous works against us by providing an environment which traps and harbors allergens and irritants and also provides a home in which bacteria can grow, causing a sinus infection which can be a complication of allergic rhinitis. The other causes work by lowering our defenses, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the immune system.

Over-the-counter allergy medications can sometimes make a person feel better temporarily, but they have side effects which can include severe drying of the mucous membranes, drowsiness, hyperactivity or agitation and should not be used by people who have high blood pressure. These medications can have a rebound effect—the more you use, the more you need. The medications that come in the form of nasal sprays or drops are addictive and can lead to mucous membrane damage. Some people who have severe allergies, have to use steroid medications to get relief, but these medications should not be used for long periods, because they can worsen the situation by suppressing the immune system and impeding allergen elimination. “Medicine deranges nature’s fine machinery, and breaks down the constitution. It kills, but never cures.” Healthful Living, 244.

The most beneficial factors in treating environmental allergies are avoiding the source, changing to a therapeutic diet, and keeping the “internal environment” cleansed. When possible, start treatment before the allergy season hits. For those whose allergies know no seasons, treatment can be started at any time. Begin with a three to seven day cleanse. A cleanse will prepare the body by helping to remove excess mucous which will release allergens and allow the next portions of the treatment to have optimal effect.

Make sure to drink lots of pure water. Water thins secretions and helps move foreign substances and toxins out of the body easier and more quickly.

Lifestyle Changes

As always, following the laws of health is an essential part of any treatment. Make sure you are getting adequate exercise. Couple exercise with deep breathing to increase oxygen saturation in your red blood cells. Exercise indoors on dry, windy days when pollen counts are higher. Weeds pollinate at sunrise and sunset as air currents turn over, and grasses pollinate between 6 and 10 a.m., so you may find that outdoor activities are best done in the early afternoon. If you have access to the Internet, there are several sites that have pollen counts for many regions. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org) has a link to a national (U.S.) pollen count. Knowing the pollen count on a given day can help you decide on when and where to schedule outdoor activities.

Equally important to exercise is taking the time to rest and to get sufficient sleep. We know that stress can make us susceptible to illness, so it comes as no surprise that it is also a significant immune suppressor and can aggravate allergies. In The Place of Herbs in Rational Therapy, page four, Ellen White suggests the use of hops tea as a sleep aid. Relaxation is an activity that we all often wish for. Even David said; “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalms 55:6. We concur!

If possible, invest in an air filtration unit. Turning on the air conditioning will also help filter out allergens indoors. You may want to drive with the windows up and the air conditioning on for the same reason. If you live in an area with high humidity, it will help to use a dehumidifier if you can. Wall to wall carpet makes a great home for dust mites, dust, and dander, so if you have trouble with allergies, you may want to consider using area rugs instead. It is, of course, essential not to smoke, but take care to also avoid second-hand smoke.

Supplements

There are several supplements that are useful for allergic rhinitis prevention and maintenance. Some of the herbs include bee pollen and royal jelly (best when from bees in your particular region, if you can get it); gingko biloba, which helps to inactivate allergens; evening primrose oil; nettles, and eyebright. Quercitin, bromelain, CoQ10, vitamin C (preferably ester C), and B complex are also useful for allergy sufferers.

We must do our best to help ourselves on this earth, even though we will be bombarded continually by microscopic invaders. “But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when He giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety . . . ye shall rejoice before the lord your God” Deuteronomy 12:10. I look forward to lying in those heavenly daisy fields, don’t you?