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Adios Allergies!
Eight Ways to Get Through the Sneeze Season—Sniffle—Free
Self magazine, August 2003
Can’t stop sneezing? Blame sexism! Don’t laugh—landscapers
plant mostly male trees and shrubs because they don’t drop messy seeds or
fruit the way females do. But the boys continue to pump out pollen without enough
mates around to attract and trap the tiny particles, so we humans become the lucky
recipients. It’s become such a big problem that at least five U.S. cities
(including Phoenix and Las Vegas) now have laws that forbid the sale and planting
of male shrubbery, says Tom Ogren, author of Safe Sex in the Garden (Ten Speed
Press).
But lovelorn plants aren’t the only reason you’re
sneezing. Many allergy-causing weeds and trees pollinate in the late summer and
into the fall, flourishing from mid-August until the first frost. Achoo!
If you’re feeling stuffy, make sure hay fever (aka seasonal
allergies) is the culprit, not a cold. A clue that it’s a cold: thick, yellowish
mucus. “Itchy eyes, nose and throat are more common with allergies,”
says Mark O’Holleran, M.D., director of the Allergy Clinic in Portland, Oregon.
(And be aware that you could have your first attack at any age.) If it’s
allergies, a few simple strategies may clear your head.
Clean Up Your Act
Pollen, mold spores and other airborne nasties can settle on your hair and skin,
so was both frequently. (If you’re especially sneezy after being outdoors,
rinse off in the shower.) You can also hole up during peak pollen periods: early
morning and evening. Shut the windows and turn on the air conditioner to help
filter what you breathe.
Try A Natural Fix
Pick up a neti pot, a small gadget that resembles Aladdin’s lamp (look for
one at pharmacies and health food stores), and fill it with lukewarm, lightly
salted water. Cock your head to one side and slowly pour the water into the higher
nostril; breathe through your mouth as the water travels up one side and out the
other nostril. It’s not exactly attractive. But even though irrigation might
look like a gross grade school trick, allergists say it’s one of the best
ways to temporarily clear the nose of pollen particles. You can use the neti pot
two or three times a day as needed.
Spice It Up
Adding wasabi (horseradish) or cayenne pepper to your food can cause your nose
to run, flushing out allergens. If you stomach can’t stand the heat, taking
a quick whiff of wasabi paste may do the same trick. (Just don’t try this
with pepper!)
Be Picky with Petals
When you’re buying cut flowers for an allergic friend (or your sniffly self),
ask for doubles or formal doubles. Breeders created these hybridized versions
to look fuller, and in the process they ended up with pollen-free flowers. Or
pick trumpet-shaped blooms like tulips and daylilies, which store pollen deeply,
so you’re less likely to inhale it. You can also ask the florist to remove
pollen on certain flowers; he’ll just pop off the packets of pollen with
his fingers.
Stick With It
Acupuncture is often an effective treatment for allergies, although most doctors
aren’t sure why. Acupuncturists believe the therapy bolsters the immune system.
They advise getting 5 to 10 weekly sessions starting several weeks before the
onset of the sneezy season; relief may come as early as the third visit and can
last up to a year. To find a qualified acupuncturist, contact the American Academy
of Medical Acupuncture at www.medicalacupuncture.org.
Reconsider Your Rx
Most hay-fever sufferers pop over-the-counter and prescription allergy pills like
Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec, even though studies consistently find prescription
steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase, Nasacort AQ and Nasonex to be better at
soothing symptoms. Singulair, a multipurpose asthma pill, can also alleviate allergies.
An upcoming option, Xolair, is set to receive FDA approval for allergic asthma;
researchers plan to look into its effectiveness against seasonal allergies as
well.
Roll Up Your Sleeve
If your symptoms are bad enough to interfere with exercise and other daily activities,
ask your doctor if allergy shots could help ease your misery. The shots strengthen
your immunity by slowly exposing your body to the allergens. Getting the shots
is a commitment, and it doesn’t offer permanent protection: You’ll need
them weekly or biweekly for four to six months, followed by bimonthly jabs for
three to five years, possibly indefinitely. But it may be worth it if your Kleenex
consumption has deforested half of Canada.
Fight Allergies with Attitude
“Allergy sufferers are more likely to be depressed,” says Richard Firshein,
D.O., founder of the Firshein Center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City.
A recent study found that people with allergies were one and a half times more
prone to depression than those who were symptom-free. Some experts think that
there may be chemical causes to explain the connection, but it could also be that
nonstop sneezing and sniffling simply get you down. Treating your allergy symptoms
may improve your mood, which in turn can help you cope better the next time you
feel a bout with allergies coming on.
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