Blog Posts and Articles

Got nasal congestion, itchy and burning eyes, the sneezes, fatigue, headaches, runny nose, sore throat, and brain fog?

You’re not alone. Everything is abloom and while it’s wondrous to finally see green after our long, cold winter, suffering from allergies can make many want to become shut-ins.

Here is my down and dirty list for feeling better when pollen throws a hitch in your get-along:

Avoid dairy. I know, I know. But you want to feel better, don’t you? Casein, the protein fraction of dairy, is not only mucous-forming itself, but it also exacerbates the formation of existing inflammatory mucous that is clogging you up and making you feel miserable. Saying goodbye to dairy has helped many a repeated sinus infection sufferer avoid sinus surgery. Seriously.

[Fake cheeses are crap. Highbrow junk food. And nut milks in your coffee or hot cereal leave something to be desired, in my opinion. My solution? Coconut milk. Rich, delicious, and nutritious.]

Take stinging nettles and quercetin. Together. This is your anti-inflammatory, sinus-calming, feel-better-quick dream team.

Drink a lot of water. Flush flush flush.

Use a neti pot. Flush more. With this little wonder, you clean the nasal passages by pouring warm (but not hot) water into one nostril and letting it flow through the sinuses and out the other nostril, opening your head for easier breathing by eliminating irritants, pollutants, and excess mucus. Weird, you say? Well maybe, but boy does it feel good.

Add about 1/4 tsp neti salt to the water for best results. If you don’t have neti salt, choose one that contains no added iodine, anti-caking, or free-flowing agents. Follow your nasal flush up with a few drops of nasya oil, which soothes and protects those delicate nasal passages.

Want to learn a few more tips for boosting your defenses with immune-enhancing foods? Read on. (Nettles recipes included.)