Contributing Writers for Wake Up World
We have all suffered from allergies at one time or another; the persistent water eyes, sneezing, and runny nose always seem to take hold. ‘Why me?’ you may ask; well, I can’t directly answer that question for you, but I believe that I can help clear up some of the confusion as to why you may be experiencing some of the symptoms related to these so called “allergies”.
Many of us have tried different things (i.e. dietary changes and natural remedies) to alleviate those darn allergies, however, in most cases these things never really work for us. Most of us will even pop a pill to mask the symptoms as the symptoms are usually unbearable, and thus taking medication is the simplest solution. The problem is really with the many things that we do or do not do which contribute to the overall root cause of the allergy rather than the symptoms we exhibit as a result of the allergy. In light of this, we must determine from a rather fundamental standpoint why we are experiencing allergies in the first place.
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The primary reason behind allergy symptoms is dehydration. Sure proper diet and lifestyle play an important part in well-being, however, the lack a water seems to be the very reason why so many of suffer from allergies. In fact, studies estimate that 75% of our population suffers many ill health effects as a result of chronic dehydration.
The Connection of Dehydration and Histamines
When trying to relieve the nagging symptoms of allergies, most people will typically reach for the over-the-counter antihistamine to alleviate the pain and suffering, but what they don’t realize is that they are only masking the symptoms, which will only make matters worse by not addressing the cause.
In Water: for Health, for Healing, for Life, author Dr. Batmanghelidj writes:
Histamine is an important neurotransmitter that primarily regulates thirst mechanism for increased water intake. It also establishes a system of water rationing for the available water in the drought-stricken body.
You see, when the body is lacking water, histamine production rapidly increases. The primary function of histamines is to make certain that the available water inside the body is preserved for vital functions. As a result, histamine production is not the absolute problem, rather it is the body’s response to the lack of water and thus, the body goes into survival mode.
Dehydration and Antibody Production
Further to being in a state of dehydration and thus over histamine production, this creates a series of events that effect many functions in the body, including the body’s inability to create antibodies. What this means is that the body has a harder time dealing with foreign invaders such as pollen and other antigens.
As a result, when pollen season is upon us our eyes, ears and throat are affected with pollen agents, and the dehydrated body lacks the proper antibodies to adequately neutralize the pollen. In light of this the tear glands work tirelessly to wash out pollen from the delicate membranes.
Both the histamine reaction and the bodies inability to create antibodies are just two of the many ways the body adapts to dehydration. This is not to say that dehydration is the only reason why we suffer from allergies, but it certainly one of the primary causes. In any event, always look to your body to provide you with the answers.
The Solution: Drink Water
In an attempt to resolve some of the dehydration you may be experimenting, the best solution to this is to drink plenty of good quality water. Ensure that your drinking one-half ounce of water per body weight daily. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you would drink 75 ounces of water which would equal close to 9.5 glasses of water. In terms of re-hydrating yourself this is the best practice. Remember to always choose water as your primary drinking liquid as most other drinks have sugar in them.
If you are an avid coffee drinker, you would already know that coffee is very dehydrating to the body. If you continue to drink coffee, I would suggest to increase your water intake to an extra couple of glasses of water daily.
As the body is only equipped to absorb 12-16 ounces of water at one time, it is preferable to drink most of your water between meals and make it a practice to sip on water during your meals so that you do not dilute the digestive acids in your stomach while eating. Further to this, make it a practice to drink 12-16 ounces of water when you get up in the morning. This will help get you kick started in the morning. As a result, you may not need that extra cup of coffee.
When drinking more water your body tends to naturally urinate more often. With increased urination, there is increased loss of sodium. It may be wise to couple your increased water intake with a couple pinches of full spectrum salt (unprocessed) such as Celtic sea salt, or Himalayan salt. In doing so, this will help maintain electrolyte balance in the body.
Other Remedies
Hay fever – A folk remedy for hay fever is to consume honey that has been produced by honeybees in the area. The idea behind this of course is to sensitize one to pollens in the area acting as a natural remedy to hay fever. When ingesting honey, always make sure that it is raw (unpasteurized). Many people have proved that a spoon of honey with some apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water is a good preventative measure against allergies.
Some herbs that may be useful when treating allergies include: chamomile, elderflower and yarrow, while herbs to boost the immune system include garlic, angelica, borage and wild yam.
All in all, make sure to build a strong immunity by keeping hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and eating the right foods (as light as possible), but most importantly, always make sure to listen to your body; always follow your instincts.
Your question: How do you do to relieve your allergy symptoms? (post your comment below)
Sources:
1. Prescription for Nutrional Healing; Phyllis A. Balch
2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies; C. Norman Shealy
3. naturalnews.com/allergy.html
About the Authors
Jordan & Kyla are passionate about health; together, they have overcome many illnesses through dietary and lifestyle changes, and the art of practicing a positive mindset daily. Kyla is currently studying to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Reiki Master, and Jordan is currently learning about traditional North American medicinal herbs, in hopes of becoming a Certified Herbalist. For more information, please visit the following sites; guidinginstincts.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or Pinterest
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