Spring is here—seasonal allergies, too! - Health and Wellness Nashville

While growing up in Southeast Missouri, we always experienced extreme seasonal climates. Hot and humid in the summers, gorgeously cool and crisp in the fall, cold and often frozen in the winter, until the month of March rolled in with fewer cold spells and occasional 60-degree days. Spring was always my favorite season as my siblings and I could finally leave the house after the long winter, without bundling up in layers of clothing, coats, hats, and often earmuffs.

Spring is still a favored time for me as it is the season for renewal. We see boundless examples of nature’s renewal, whether it be trees budding, flowers blooming, birds chirping, bees pollinating, and even the earth softening from the frozen winter, allowing new life to emerge.

Unfortunately, as nature does its job of regeneration, for many it is the beginning of seasonal allergies. As flowers, plants, and even grass bloom, pollen levels rise, leaving allergy sufferers under the weather, often.

Springtime allergies

Allergies, also called allergic rhinitis or hay fever, can easily cause sneezing, congestion, runny noses, itchy eyes, and unnerving sinus pressure. However, experts say if allergies are addressed early on, one can better mitigate their irritation. For instance, pollen counts in Nashville typically peak in April. Given that it is early March, there is ample time to prepare for the increase in airborne allergens.

One tip is to eat local honey. By consuming honey produced near your home, you are ingesting tiny amounts of local pollen, which can potentially help your body build tolerance to those specific allergens.

Nasal rinses (saline solution) daily can also help with allergies by physically flushing allergens from your nasal passages. Whether it be pollen, dust, or even pet dander, effectively diluting any allergens in your nose will help reduce irritation that can often trigger allergic symptoms. Saline spray also can help thin mucus, making it easier to clear congestion.

Simple steps to reduce seasonal allergy triggers

According to Mayo Clinic, simple steps to reduce seasonal allergy triggers include:

Staying indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
Remove clothes you have worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Do not hang laundry outside, pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
Wear a face mask if you do outside chores.

Further, Quercetin is one of the best kept secrets when it comes to managing seasonal allergies and one of the most important bioflavonoids present in at least twenty plant pigments. Considered a natural herb, the compound is found in onions, grapes, cherries, broccoli, and citrus fruits.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Quercetin is also a polyphenol flavonoid rich in antioxidants. It has anti-allergic functions known for inhibiting the production of histamine; the primary chemical known to trigger allergic reactions. Quercetin also boasts anti-inflammatory properties which reduce inflammation in the nasal passages and airways.

Further, as most Americans have been prescribed an overabundance of prescription medications throughout their years, Quercetin is also known to help protect against tissue injury induced by drug toxicities. A formula titled Immune Defense Shield is a personal favorite of mine and loaded with Quercetin to help suppress allergic reactions, while helping the body maintain DNA integrity to ensure proper cell function.

For more information on that product, along with Clean Slate to help detox, and Natural Barrier Support to protect the immune system against infection and inflammation caused by seasonal allergies, go to www.therootbrands.com/purelivingroot.

In closing, for me, Spring is always a simple reminder that change is imminent. The season exemplifies that life is a cyclical process, bringing sunshine, light, warmth, and an abundance of positive energy after the winter months.

I hope you have a happy and healthy Spring 2025.