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5 Ayurvedic Ways to Deal with Spring Seasonal Allergies
Spring is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts, but for some of us, it also brings dreaded seasonal allergies. Don't let those sniffles and sneezes hold you back from enjoying the beauty of nature! Let's explore 5 Ayurvedic remedies that will help you achieve a harmonious balance between your body and the environment, so you can bask in the beauty of spring without any worries. Get ready for a holistic path to wellness that will have you feeling your best in no time!
Spring always gives a welcome respite from the long, chilly winter. However, Spring allergies can wreak havoc on our bodies, causing unpleasant symptoms such as coughing, a runny or congested nose, an itchy throat, and eyes. But don't worry; there are ways to combat these pesky allergies and enjoy the beauty of the season without any discomfort.
Essentially, Ayurveda focuses on the underlying cause of spring disorders instead of specific symptoms in order to achieve a balance between the body and the natural environment to promote overall health and wellness.
In this article, we will explore 5 Ayurvedic ways to deal with spring seasonal allergies.Â
What is Spring Seasonal Allergy?
As per Ayurveda, spring seasonal allergies are caused by an imbalance in the doshas, particularly the Kapha dosha. During the spring season, the accumulated Kapha, which has developed owing to excessive cold from late winter, begins to liquefy. This causes Agni imbalance and metabolic changes in micro digestion, leading to increased sensitivity to allergens and pollens.
This is due to the fact that Kapha is connected with traits like heaviness, coldness, and moisture, all of which are abundant during the spring season.
According to Ayurveda, the symptoms of spring seasonal allergies can be alleviated by balancing the Kapha dosha through natural therapies and lifestyle adjustments.
Causes of Spring Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are excessively sensitive immunological reactions to something harmless. Pollen from trees and grass, as well as mold spores from fungi, make their way to your mucous membranes. Your body responds to these intruders in the same manner as it would to infectious organisms.Â
Here are a few causes that may lead to springtime seasonal allergies.
- Pollen: Dormant trees like birch, cedar, oak, hickory, walnut, grasses, and weeds revive in late winter and early spring and start to release pollen into the air, making tree pollen a trigger for allergy symptoms.Â
- Mold: Mold flourishes in moist indoor and outdoor conditions (for example, rotted logs, leaf heaps, restrooms, and basements). Mold, unlike pollen, does not perish with the first winter; instead, it ceases to develop and remains dormant until the weather gets warmer. Just in time for the arrival of spring.
- Dust mites: Dust mites, or dust mite waste, are a common indoor allergen that may be found in many areas around the house, including carpets, beds, furniture, and toys.
- Run in the families: Seasonal allergies often get transmitted to generations. If both of your siblings or parents possess seasonal allergies, you are more likely to have them as well.
- Poor digestion: When digestion is poor, toxins can build up in the body, causing an imbalance in the doshas.
- Eating heavy and cold meals: Heavy, cold, and damp foods can irritate the Kapha dosha, resulting in congestion and other allergic symptoms.
- Stress: Stress can weaken the immune system and make the body more vulnerable to allergies and other health problems.
Symptoms of Spring Seasonal Allergy
According to Ayurveda, spring seasonal allergies can lead to several unpleasant symptoms.
These symptoms may include;
- Congestion
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy and watery eyes and nose
- Sore throat
- Repeated sneezing
- Heaviness and excessive mucus in the head and sinuses
- Sluggishness
- Lethargy
- Postnasal drainage
- Coughing
Allergies can be influenced by several factors beyond just the body's digestive fire, or Agni. Ayurveda also takes into consideration the specific plant allergen that triggers irritation and the amount of exposure to it. A personalized approach to treating allergies based on these factors can help achieve optimal wellness.
Fortunately, there are various practices for strengthening Agni and reducing allergy exposure. Following are five ways that can help alleviate your spring allergy symptoms.
5 Effective Ways to Deal with Spring Seasonal Allergies
By modifying your food habits and lifestyle in accordance with the seasons, we can fight allergy symptoms as soon as they appear.
1. Wake Up Before Sunrise
Each dosha regulates a certain period of the day in the same way it dominates a season. Kapha dominates between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. If you sleep during the Kapha period of the day, you'll typically wake up feeling heavy, hazy, and puffy as you begin to develop more of these traits. Rise before the dawn to calm Kapha when the day is more ethereal and gentle. Â
2. Drink Warm Lemon Water
After waking up, the first thing to do in the morning is to warm water and add a teaspoon of fresh organic lemon juice, mild seasonal herbs, some green tea, etc. Drinking warm water in the morning gives the entire system an easy flush while also increasing peristalsis.
Warm water has a soothing cleansing effect on the body. It clears mucosal congestion in the nose, food channels, and lungs while also supporting digestive fire and enzymes. This will help build immunity over time since it keeps tissue pathways clean. Additionally, warm water cleanses the stomach and liver, stimulating the gallbladder and lymphatic system.
3. Do Gentle Exercise and Practice Yoga and Pranayama
Exercising in the morning, when the body is in its most active state, can improve your metabolism and eliminate the sluggishness that has built up during the night. Simple yoga and stretching can stimulate your organs, respiratory system, muscles, ligaments, tendons, cardiovascular system, and lymphatic circulation. Making this procedure a habit will benefit your health and immunity throughout the year. According to studies, yoga has been shown to be a great approach to encouraging a healthy inflammatory response.
Doing pranayama will not only help on a physical level, but it will also help on a spiritual and mental level too. Besides, it will help bring calm, attention, and peace.
4. Eat Light, Warm and Cooked Food
Avoid foods and drinks that promote sluggishness during the spring. Cold beverages, heavy meals, dairy, meat, wheat, refined bread, sweets, processed foods, and artificial additives are all detrimental to digestion and suppress the Agni.Â
Instead, use hot spices like ginger, basil, cumin, black pepper, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, fenugreek, and cayenne pepper in your meals. Eat sprouts and bitter, leafy greens like a rocket (arugula), dandelion greens, mustard greens, spinach, and watercress.
5. Use a Neti Pot With Nasya Oil.Â
Jalneti, an ancient yogic nose-cleaning method, entails cleansing the nasal passages with saline water or plain warm water using a neti pot, which resembles a tiny teapot with an exceptionally long nozzle. Using a neti pot and saline solution can flush your nasal passages. This may aid in the removal of waste, pollen, and other irritants from the sinuses.Â
After that, you may add a few drops of Nasya oil or sesame oil to the nostrils to lubricate and protect the inner part of your nose. If you neglect this step, the saline solution may turn your nose excessively dry, and thus, reactive mucus may be formed in order to make up for the dryness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you calm down spring allergies?
You may alleviate the spring allergy symptoms by adopting the following natural ways.
- Minimize your exposure to allergens
- Keep your home clean
- Rinse your nasal passages with saline solution
- Avoid mowing the lawn, weed pulling, and other gardening tasks that may expose you to allergies.
2. Can spring allergies be treated by Ayurveda?
Spring allergies can be treated by:
- Rising before dawn to calm Kapha when the day is more ethereal and gentle
- Drinking a glass full of warm lemon water every day
- Practicing yoga, pranayama, and gentle exercises in the morning
- Eating light, warm, and cooked food
- Avoiding foods like cold beverages, heavy meals, dairy, meat, wheat, refined bread, sweets, processed foods, and artificial additives
- Adding spices like ginger, black pepper, garlic, fenugreek, and cayenne to your food
- Practicing jalneti with a neti pot
The Takeaway
Many people find seasonal spring allergies to be a stressful and difficult experience. However, Ayurveda provides natural remedies and lifestyle adjustments that can help ease the symptoms of these allergies. Congestion, sneezing, and other allergy symptoms can be relieved by balancing the Kapha dosha with practices such as lifestyle changes, nasal irrigation, herbal medicines, and dietary adjustments. Regular exercise and stress-relieving practices such as yoga and meditation can also help improve the immune system and lower the probability of allergies.Â
In conclusion, by incorporating these Ayurvedic practices into your daily routine, you can take control of your seasonal allergies and experience the joys of spring with a clear mind and body. Embrace the beauty of the season and enjoy all that nature has to offer, knowing that you have the tools and knowledge to manage your allergies in a natural and holistic way.
This article effectively highlights the Ayurvedic approach to tackling allergies during the spring season. The article emphasis on balancing the doshas and the recommendations for incorporating specific herbs, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle practices.