Allergies: This Is a New Decade

I'm a healthy person. This wasn't supposed to happen to me. I suddenly had the most extreme allergy to cedar pollen. I woke up one day, looked in the mirror and saw another person, someone who couldn't stop sneezing and wiping her nose.

With my new airborne allergies, I felt terrible. But did I feel terrible enough to miss work? No. I went to work. Since the allergies often went on for weeks, I'd have lost my job if I stayed home, a place infinitely more comfortable than my workplace to be constantly blowing my nose. I had not yet discovered the nutritional supplements for allergies that later cleared up my allergies.

At work, my coworkers cringed as I walked by, because they thought I was contagious, because my appearance was so dramatically altered. My runny nose, sneezing, red and watery eyes, cough, headache, and fatigue made me look very sick and in pain. But of course, I wasn't contagious. My new allergy doctor said so.

The doctor began prescribing a series of prescription drugs and shots. They'd work for a while sometimes. I asked about the side effects of the prescription drugs. My doctor tried to reassure me, but when I read the list the pharmacist gave me, I knew these weren't treatments I wanted to do forever. I even asked the pharmacist about vitamins or other nutritional supplements that might help, but she didn't know. I took my prescriptions; anyone who's been in a similar situation would do the same. The drugs made me feel better during cedar season, but soon my allergies would return.

Then I discovered from my new health practitioner what nutritional supplements, vitamins and herbs might help my allergies. I took them, and my allergies went away, just like that. I told all my friends and I heard similar stories from them about the same nutritional supplements that I take.

I use the nutritional supplements for allergies seasonally, starting a couple of months before cedar season. I take the Vitamin C and zinc year-round. Here are the nutritional supplements I take specifically for my airborne allergies:

1. 1. Quercetin. This bioflavonoid, found in apple peel and other fruits, is used as a nutritional supplement for its natural antihistamine and anti-allergy effect. Also, it enhances the action of Vitamin C.
2. 2. Stinging nettle leaf. It's used to reduce the severity of hay fever symptoms, as a natural antihistamine, and to reduce inflammation.
3. 3. Vitamin C. This vitamin is a natural antihistamine and immune system regulator.
4. 4. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). This nutritional supplement is used to help reduce inflammation. It is commonly used for pain that is accompanied by inflammation, such as arthritis and backache.
5. 5. Flaxseed (pill form). This herb reduces inflammation.
6. 6. Zinc. This mineral supports the immune system and maintains the health of the sinus and nasal tissues.

We live in a new decade where there is widespread knowledge about nutritional supplements used for allergies. I felt lucky to discover that certain readily available herbs, vitamins and minerals can be highly effective against this common ailment. When I told my doctor about the amazing results of using nutritional supplements, he said either I was on the right track, or that possibly my body was no longer allergic to cedar. Yiippppeeeee!