I have an allergy to allergies

Spending a little time researching herbal allergy relief because I started feeling them creep up yesterday. Nothing too bad, nothing forcing me into bed. But I was in the garden and needed to get back in the house, then I spent a half hour trying to figure out how to get back in my house. I had locked myself out. The window to my bedroom was cracked open just enough (and locked there) to squeeze my arm in. My keys and phone were on my bed beneath the window so I needed to find a way to grab them. I tried using loppers but that wouldn't work. Finally I gave up and curled up on the swinging bench, waiting for my roommate to come home. It occured to me that my forgetful mind had forced my body to rest at the onset of allergies, so that I wouldn't have to deal with them all Monday. Could be true.

I have always had to deal with allergies in the Spring, or when I am acclimating to a new setting. My father has always gotten bad attacks forcing him to curl up in bed with pills. I stopped taking those medications about 6 years ago, and have attempted preventative care like honey and bee pollen (acting as an enzyme-rich vaccination) which one should be consuming regularly (it doesn't make good emergency medicine). It occurs to me that I don't have a good understanding of emergency allergy care. WebMD has some good information here, which I think even my dad would find credible.

In a recent British Medical Journal study, Butterbur proved to be an effective antihistamine - without the side affect of drowsiness. Doesn't that sound nice? Also taking a tonic of the anti-inflammatory Goldenseal is recommended -although there is the issue of this plant's endangered status. (Oregon Grape would be better - it occurs in more abundance, locally. And contains similar anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties).

But of course you are what you eat, and prevention is always best. In addition to local, raw honey(heating kills the enzymes, and you want their enzyme properties relevant to the pollen floating around in your neighborhood), your body will be happiest with the presence of certain nutrients. One of these is flavinoid quercetin - especially abundant in red wine. Nice. Other sources include black and green teas, capers, lovage, apples, red onion, red grapes, tomato, broccoli, leafy greens. Sounds like a recipe for a good, cleansing meal.