While there's no universal solution to prevent seasonal discomfort, there are ways to strengthen your immune system and help guard yourself against pollens, molds, and other environmental irritants.

Boost your immunity

Bee-venom therapy (BVT): Research indicates that bee venom's effectiveness in relieving allergies may be due to its ability to boost the immune system. In BVT, live bees are allowed to inject their venom, by stinging, into various trigger points on the body. (Some doctors inject the venom just beneath the skin with a syringe.)

Stinging nettle leaves: For a different kind of "stinging" therapy, try one to three 300-milligram capsules per day of freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves.

Grapefruit seed extract: Helps maintain your natural immune defenses. In capsule/tablet form: 100 milligrams daily; liquid: 3 to 4 drops per 8 ounces of water.

Aged garlic extract: Helps maintain immune system function. Recommended dose: 350 mg daily.

Purify the air you breathe

Eliminate pollen and other airborne allergens from your home by using an air purifier. Thanks to our current environment, it has become impossible to breathe clean, pure air every minute of the day while living a normal life. We don't need or want to live in a totally sterile environment, but there is technology now available to help cleanse the air in our homes of pathogens, allergens, and toxic fumes. I recommend you make the investment in a good purifier. Click here to read more about the one I recommend.

Balance your essential fatty acids

Maintaining a healthy balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids will decrease your risk of suffering from seasonal discomfort.

A healthy ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is four to one (4:1). Today, that ratio is typically anywhere from 20:1 to 25:1, thanks to a number of factors such as more omega-6-rich vegetable oils in our diets with less omega-3-rich foods like eggs.

Consuming more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids can trigger inflammation in the respiratory and throat tissues.

To correct your fatty acid ratio, you can easily supplement your diet with omega-3 fatty acids by regularly including flax and flax oil in your diet. Just be aware that it takes a little while for the ratio to balance properly.

Try psyllium husk powder

In addition to a multivitamin program that promotes immune system health (with 2,000 mg of vitamin C, which has been shown to lower histamine levels), I recommend psyllium husk powder.

Taking 3 tablespoons a day of psyllium husk powder during allergy season (June through mid-September) can be effective in helping to alleviate seasonal discomfort. Psyllium husk powder can be purchased at health food stores or through the mail and Internet.

Related Health Concerns

When it comes to diminishing seasonal discomfort, I've also talked about the need for balancing the thyroid and adrenal glands, and the necessity of maintaining proper digestive function.

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