If you're one of the 50 million Americans who live with environmental allergies, you know that shifting seasons can bring a sense of dread instead of excitement.
Whether it’s the beautiful bloom of spring or the stunning changes in autumn, the physical effects of seasonal allergies can impact your quality of life, leaving you feeling drained and fatigued.
While nothing can make allergies magically disappear, there are allergen management strategies, supplements for immunity, and multi-modal care plans that can help to support nasal & respiratory comfort, maintain energy, and keep you moving even during seasonal challenges.*
What are Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies are aptly named—this is a broad term used to describe a strong immune system reaction to environmental substances like mold spores, tree or flower pollen, dust mites, or pet dander. While most people may experience a mild immune system response to a foreign substance like these, some bodies are particularly sensitive.
Some individuals truly only experience this seasonally, in spring when plants first bloom or in winter when the heat kicks on, but others can be sensitive to multiple triggers, or environmental triggers that are present year-round.
That allergen isn't just an annoyance to this sensitive immune system. It's a major threat—or so your body believes.
This sensitivity can show up in several ways, often highly specific to the individual:
Identifying Common Seasonal Allergy Signs
- Nasal Congestion and Runny Nose: Nasal tissues may swell and prompt excess mucus production to help flush out substances in the nasal passages.
- Itchy, Watery Eyes: Environmental allergens like pollen may cause blood vessels to swell in response, causing watery eyes and redness.
- Sneezing and Itchy Throat: Inhaled allergens may irritate membranes in and around the nose and throat, causing the stimulation of nerve endings and activating the sneeze reflex.
- Post-Nasal Drip: If your nasal passages aren't draining properly, excess mucus may trickle down the back of your throat, leading to an uncomfortable cough.
- Fatigue: An active immune response over many days or weeks can leave you feeling wiped out, low on energy, and struggling to focus.
The Biology of Environmental Allergies
While seasonal and environmental allergies can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and can even affect your daily life and routine, it may help to understand exactly why your body is doing what it's doing.
For that, we need to look deep at the cellular level.
When you first encounter a foreign substance like pollen, dust mites, etc., your body goes through a process of sensitization. Your immune system tags the substance as a possible threat and creates antibodies in response.
This is perfectly normal and important to your normal, everyday immune health.
However, the next time you encounter that same substance, those antibodies signal specific cells to release chemicals to try to protect you from these allergens. This leads to a targeted inflammatory response to try to protect the body and keep the allergens out. This natural response is what can lead to uncomfortable sensations like itching, sneezing, and congestion.
Cold vs. Seasonal Allergies: How to Tell the Difference
While there are quite a few physical signs common to both seasonal allergies and the common cold, they are triggered by different causes and require different means of care.
Seasonal allergies are caused by environmental allergens that your body is specifically sensitive to. They likely show up with the signs discussed earlier: sneezing, runny nose, possibly a sore throat. What affects you may not affect another in any way.
A cold or flu can affect anyone and is caused by ingesting or inhaling surface or airborne contaminants. A cold is likely to present similar signs, but with some unpleasant extras: body aches, chills, headaches, and green or yellow nasal mucus.
You also may be unlucky enough to experience both a cold and seasonal allergies simultaneously! If you have questions or concerns about your health or any symptoms you're experiencing, please consult your physician. They will be able to best help you understand your current health status and make recommendations for care.
How to Support Wellness During Seasonal Allergy Challenges*
Whether you navigate environmental allergies a few weeks out of the year or through multiple seasons, there are some ways to support your body's natural responses, manage your physical environment, and make smart choices to set yourself up for success.*
Support Your Immune & Circulatory System*
One way to support your wellness and comfort during seasonal allergy changes is by supporting your immune system from the inside out.* A strong immune system may respond more optimally to environmental challenges.*
Aller-DMG™ is formulated with quercetin, bromelain and perilla seed extract to support histamine levels in the normal ranges, as well as immune and respiratory functions.* Delicious, orange-cream-flavored chewable tablets are a tasty way to get beneficial botanicals without needing to swallow pills or capsules.
N-Acetyl Cysteine is a free-form amino acid that helps support healthy lung tissue and promotes optimal immune health and function.* Zinc & Elderberry are a powerful pair of ingredients that help to support immunity as well as the health and comfort of the nose and throat.* (Plus, our zinc-elderberry supplement is available in a satisfying, soothing lemon-flavored lozenge.)
High-quality nattokinase supplements help to support healthy circulation throughout the body, and that smooth, steady blood flow to the lungs and respiratory system supports comfortable breathing.* Some studies indicate that nattokinase may specifically support the health & comfort of sensitive or irritated nasal tissue.*
Keep a Clean Space
General tidiness supports mental health and relaxation, but committing a few hours a week to cleaning can also make seasonal allergy challenges a little more bearable.
Vacuum, dust, and mop regularly to help physically remove allergens from your home. High-quality air purifiers with True HEPA filters can help capture and remove the tiny, intrusive particles that irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
Reduce Your Exposure to Triggers
While it can be difficult to avoid environmental allergens completely, there are steps you can take to help minimize your exposure. Most modern weather apps are able to report on pollen conditions daily—dry, windy days are typically the highest risk for allergen concentration. On these days, plan to stay inside as much as possible.
If you're sensitive to your environment, it's also recommended to avoid allergen-heavy outdoor activities like mowing the lawn, weeding, and intensive gardening.
A clean, well-fitted K95 mask can help to filter out larger allergen particles, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. If you need to be out and about during high-pollen days, consider masking to help reduce your exposure.
Ask Your Doctor About Medical Management
If the above strategies aren't enough to tackle your seasonal allergy challenges, please consult your trusted healthcare practitioner.
Your physician can recommend additional support to help manage the discomfort, including nasal sprays, decongestants, or prescription or OTC antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec that can directly affect histamine levels.
Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a qualified allergist or immunologist, depending on your symptoms, if your seasonal allergy challenges are interfering with your day-to-day life.
Seasonal Allergies FAQ
Can supplements or healthy eating get rid of allergies?
Unfortunately, there is no current evidence to support that any supplement, diet, or medication can completely stop the body from reacting to allergens. Working with your healthcare practitioner to adopt some of the strategies outlined above can help support your body's immune system and ease some of the discomfort that comes with seasonal or environmental allergies.* This is why it's important to rely on multiple strategies for support.*
Does eating local honey help with seasonal allergies?
Popular theories and some anecdotal evidence suggest that eating local honey can help to bolster your immune system against the local pollen, but there are no studies that support this claim. While honey can help to soothe a sore throat and it's a great source of antioxidants, scientists do not believe that it can significantly affect the underlying immune response to wind-borne pollens like ragweed or grass.
What are the best supplements for people with seasonal allergies?
If you have a sensitive immune system and seasonal changes are a challenge, the best supplements to support wellness will be those that help support immune health with powerful botanicals, herbs, and vitamins.* Choosing a combination of supplements to support immunity and respiratory health together may be ideal for supporting comfort.* When shopping for supplements for seasonal allergy support, look for doctor-formulated products with clear labeling that tells you exactly what's in the bottle.
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