Spring Allergies

It seems everywhere I turn these days I am confronted by red, half-shut, puffy eyes and stuffed up noses. Even folks not usually bothered with spring allergies are complaining this year. Since I have never been plagued by seasonal allergies – and do not want to be – I decided a few weeks back to take things in my own hands. Here’s my successful three-prong method to keep the airwaves clear:

First off, I work all the sinus reflexology points daily, either on my hands or my feet, or sometimes even both. Throughout the day, I just grab a hand and spend a few minutes applying the press ‘n roll technique; or in the evening sometimes I work these points on my feet while relaxing on my sofa. I also hook & press the eye reflexes (some people call this technique “hook & back-up”) and work the cervical lymph node and adrenal reflexes as well.

I also work two Chinese meridian points, one on the face, the other on the hands. I generally hold each of these points for about 30 seconds at a time, aiming for three or four times a day. The points are:

• Large Intestine 4 (LI4). This is known as the “master pain elimination point”, and a well-known one to work when you have a headache. It is also used to address red painful eyes and nasal congestion. It’s located on the dorsal side (top) of both hands, in the fleshy tissue between the thumb and index finger. Do not work this point if you are pregnant.

• LI20 is located on the face, level with the bottom of your nostrils, both sides. It’s in the groove that is formed there when you smile. Great point for nasal congestion and discharge, loss of sense of smell, sneezing and itchy eyes.

The last item in my arsenal is a wonderful new product that I discovered, called Xlear. It is a saline solution combined with grapefruit seed extract and xylitol – nothing else – that is administered with a spray inhaler. Xylitol has the ability to prevent bacteria and other microbes from attaching to nasal mucous membranes; grapefruit seed extract is an excellent anti-microbial, and of course, salt cleans out the nasal passages. Non-addictive and much easier to use than a Neti pot. As a prophylactic, I use Xlear every night before heading to bed. Everyone with allergies that I have recommended this to has been more than pleased by the results.

For those of you who are currently suffering with nasal allergies you might also consider doing hot steam inhalations with essential oils of one or two of the following: cypress, eucalyptus dives, Siberian fir, rosemary ct. camphor or tea tree. You only need two or three drops total of essential oil in a hot bowl of water. Place a towel over your head and the bowl (creating a tent) and inhale for a few minutes. Do at least twice a day.

I know the conventional recommendation is to shut up your house during allergy season, but I just can’t make myself do that! It’s spring and the air is full of singing birds and warm, gentle breezes. Besides, allergy season provides a great incentive to do some work on myself every day!

Do you have any other proven natural remedies to share with our allergy-suffering friends?

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