Do you love spring but dread the allergies that overtake your life at this time of the year?

 Ayurvedic approach to allergies offer information on effective allergies remedies that might bring some relive not only in Spring time. 

According to Ayurveda, an allergy is the aggravation of a  Dosha by a particular substance (the allergen). In most cases, allergic reactions are reflective of our Doshic constitutions, for example a kapha predominant constitution will present a kapha type allergy, especially when this dosha is already aggravated. 

Vata-Type Allergies

Vata types of allergies are often experienced in the digestive tract: gas, abdominal pain, intestinal colic, etc. There might also be symptoms of headache, ringing of the ears, joint pain, insomnia, and other typical signs of imbalanced Vata imbalance. Some food that aggravates Vata can also count for aggravation of allergies: beans, some animal proteins, etc. 

When vata is aggravated, it is important to slow down, keep warm, stay hydrated, and have a vata pacifying diet and life-style. To help with Vata imbalance and this type of allergies, drinking ginger, licorice teas with an added drop of ghee can often be helpful.  

Pitta-Type Allergies

Pitta types of allergies are more related to skin problems, such as hives, itching, eczema, dermatitis, etc. You might also experience heartburn, nausea, indigestion, and other symptoms affecting the GI tract. When Pitta is high, you might experience sensitivity to spicy, hot food, sour fruits, fermented foods and nightshade vegetables. A Pitta balancing diet and lifestyle will help counteract this effects of high pitta. Keep cool, eat non-spicy food, avoid overheating and Ayurveda also recommends bloodletting, blood donation. Coriander is a good blood and liver cleanser, you can either add it fresh to your food or drink its juice. Neem oil has cooling proprieties, its application relieves excess pitta. 

Kapha-Type Allergies

Kapha allergies are most likely to be experienced during the spring season when plants and trees shed their pollen into the atmosphere. When pollen is inhaled, can irritate the delicate mucous membrane causing an allergic reaction such as hay fever, colds, congestion, sinus infection, and even asthma. Other aggravated Kapha symptoms include water retention, bronchial congestion, caught, sleeping disorder and sluggish digestion. 

One way to minimize the effect of pollens is to lubricate with ghee, the nasal mucous membrane creates a barrier and preventing the direct contact with the allergen. There is also some Kaphagenic food that its best to avoid: milk and dairy, wheat, cucumber, and watermelon.  Drinking lightening and clarifying teas such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, or clove can also help to liquefy, dry, and eliminate excess kapha.

Using local honey as a sweetener helps reduce sensitivity to pollen. Trikatu is often used to pacify Kapha and follow a kapha pacifying diet and lifestyle. Ayurveda recommends a cleanse during springtime to remove excess Kapha accumulated during Winter, this also helps prevent Kapha type allergies. Intermittent fasting can be continued throughout the rest of the spring.