The Good News and Bad News About Your Seasonal Allergies.

It’s too familiar. It feels like the coming on of the flu. Slight headache. Sinus pressure. Tiredness. And then… sneezing. There’s a good chance you’re not sick. (Good news!) It’s likely you’ve got seasonal allergies. (Bad News.)

Why is this bad news? Well, a cold will go away. Allergies like to hang on to you like a dear friend, for months on end. You can’t work or function like that - much less enjoy the beauty of the season.

So rather than buy out the local drug store’s stock of anti-histamines, we’d like to suggest you take a more natural, just as effective and much safer for the body route.

Here's what you want to do:

Eat the right foods.

Choose to eat a clean and balanced diet, full of high quality protein, fruits and vegetables. This helps to reduce may reduce hay fever symptoms and also strengthens the immune system. Drink a lot of water only, and do your best to avoid grains, dairy, excess salt, sugar, alcohol and anything other highly processed foods. Bonus helpful foods to help get rid of hay fever are garlic, ginger, onions and honey. Steep them in a tea for best results. Once it has steeped for at least 10 minutes, feel free to add ice if that would be more weather appropriate.

Herbs with superpowers.

There are several herbs that may be used to calm the sneezing, coughing, itching and congestion symptoms associated with hay fever. They work mainly by strengthening and supporting the allergen-fighting immune system. Some of these herbs are stinging nettle, gingko and quercetin.

Drink a lot of water.

Drinking adequate water will dilute your system as well as keep the mucous flowing so it doesn’t stagnate in your sinus cavities. The more dehydrated you are, the more pressure and burning you’re likely to feel.

Acupuncture helps.

Acupuncture has been shown repeatedly to effectively relieve symptoms of hay fever. Acupuncture corrects and balances the energy flow of your body (your body's electrical system) through the use of needles on the skin, specifically on facial points. This stimulates the immune system, clear congestion, any associated pain and reduce inflammation.

Steam with eucalyptus

This is an easy and relaxing option for relieving hay fever symptoms. Start a hot shower or bath and breathe in the steam.  The steam will break up the mucous and relax the uptight muscles involved.  You can enhance this option by using the acupressure mentioned while in the heat.  Also, adding essential oils like our Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray to the steam WITH the acupressure IN the steam, will give you peak relief.

Other useful tips:

There will be days where the pollen count is simply high and your safest choice will be to stay indoors. (Enter your zip code here and find out your local pollen count!)  It’s also smart to avoid going outside during more windy days or after thunderstorms. Instead of a lawn, have bricks, rocks and stone for a landscape. And as needed throughout the day, rinse your face and blow your nose to keep yourself clear from any pollen collecting there.

We at Eurospa Aromatics, we are committed to your health.  Stop by and see what else we can do to increase the quality of your life and overall health.

5 Ways To Defeat Seasonal Allergies and Feel Better Fast!

Allergies and hay fever seem to be at their peak this year and the world is feeling their misery!  There's a certain torture about the never ending sinus pressure, itchy eyes and relentless sneezing and leaving you with your arms in the air begging for relief.

Well put your arms down.  Relief is on it's way.  You're welcome to reach for the nearest OTC pills, but we'd like to suggest something a little healthier on the short and long term.  

The added bonus is how fast relief will come! 

Here are 5 ways to defeat seasonal allergies and feel better fast!

DIY ACUPRESSURE FACE MASSAGE
You can heal yourself.  It's true.  The Chinese have been working with the body's immune system for thousands of years with unexplainable results!  There are many points all over the body that when pressure is applied to them, relief and healing is found.  (it's how the ninjas were treated after rigorous kung fu training!) For allergy relief, simply see the photo below and use your index or middle fingers of each hand to apply a firm pressure to each of the points marked.  Be sure the pressure is firm enough to create slight discomfort, but not enough to hurt. You will know you are on the right spot as it will be a little tender.  Stay on each point for about 30 seconds. Please drink a lot of water after performing this on yourself. You need to dilute the toxins that have been released! 

DRINK WATER
Old news rings true.  Water is our KEY SOURCE for ridding toxins and stagnant bacteria out of our bodies.  It's THE necessary ingredient to our kidneys and livers functioning well.  Guess what? It also thins your mucous.  Want to get that mucous flowing and the anti-histamine to calm down?  Drink water.  As stated above, it will also get things diluted and expelled faster! (Additional side note?  Dehydration is one of the biggest causes behind halitosis; bad breath! During allergy season (and daily life) bacteria accumulates in our sinus passages, mouths and stomach (from the mucous) and sits there.  You can't brush or rinse these guys away, but you can dilute and flush them.) So drink up.  

WORK OUT AND SWEAT
Sorry, to bring it back to water, but it's a vehicle that moves things. When you need relief from seasonal allergies, get your blood moving.  When you exercise, you increase your circulation and begin to sweat.  Both blood and water carry the pollen and anti-histamine out of yours system faster.  Think of a stagnant river vs. a flowing river.  Which one's going to have more bugs, slime and bacteria? If it's so bad, stay indoors for your work out.  OR, get above it and hike on a mountain where it's less concentrated. Lastly, try going for a swim. It's great exercise and there's no pollen in the water! 

HOT SHOWER // STEAM ROOM
A relaxing option is to breathe in the steam.  The steam will break up the mucous and relax the uptight muscles involved.  You can enhance this option by using the acupressure mentioned while in the heat.  Also, adding essential oils like our Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray to the steam WITH the acupressure IN the steam, will give you peak relief.  Try it!  We'd love to hear how it worked out for you!

WATCH YOUR FOOD
Stay away from foods that dehydrate or add to histamine production.  Beverages with high caffeine, like coffee and black or alcoholic drinks are all dehydrating.  Beer is even worse as it's both dehydrating and the hops add to histamine production.  It's best to stay away from too many tree fruits, bananas, mushrooms, tomatoes and all breads and pastas.  I know that sounds difficult, but it won't be forever.  These foods carry their own histamine in them and will only make things worse.  Just think of it as a cleanse for a few days while you get your health and sanity back!

At Eurospa, your health is our priority.  We enjoy bringing the quality back to your life. Please stop by and let us know what else we can do to make your experience a better one!