My name is Jamie Turner and when I turned 22, I started to form a horrible case of acne. I used every cleanser and lotion I could find and I even asked my physician for a topical steroid cream to clear up the zits on my face. After six months of treatment, my physician completed a blood test that concluded that a hormone imbalance was causing my acne. I started on therapy to control the amount of estrogen my body produced. The therapy along with a good diet and exercise regimen helped to clear up my acne. I am sharing my story, because acne is not just a condition that affects teenagers. It can affect adults at any age, and it can cause a great deal of embarrassment. Don't let your acne go untreated. Read my blog instead and learn about both natural and medical treatments that can help you.
Seasonal allergies can make the gorgeous plants of spring and summer look like the harbingers of death to you; they cause your nose to somehow stuff up and run constantly at the same time, your eyes to water and puff up, and you to just feel generally out-of-sorts. But what if there was a natural way – or a couple of natural ways – to help mitigate hay fever symptoms? If you suffer from seasonal allergies but don't want to rely on medication all day, then here's what you need to know.
Vitamin C
It turns out Vitamin C, the long-heralded cure for colds and coughs, is also pretty good at tamping down your seasonal allergies. Vitamin C works together with bioflavonoids, found in most foods that are high in Vitamin C, creating both the effect of an antihistamine and that of a decongestant – two effects that are sorely needed when it comes to hay fever season. About 2,000mg of Vitamin C a day should cut your symptoms dramatically and let you go about your day without needing a full box of tissues next to you at all times.
Herbal Teas
Really, is there anything a good cup of herbal tea can't do? Different herbs will give you different effects, so know what your biggest problems are before brewing up a cup. Ginger tea (with a bit of local honey for sweetness) can loosen phlegm and work to strengthen your immune system. Green tea also helps to boost your immune system, while acting as an antihistamine at the same time. Peppermint tea is great for draining away congestion, and, as an added bonus, can also be consumed cold in order to soothe a throat swollen from coughing. Stick with these herbs, and you should be feeling better in no time.
Omega 3 and 6
There are a few delicious foods that can improve your symptoms, and they all have one nutrient in common. Indulging in foods high in omega 3 and omega 6 (such as nuts, seeds, butter, most pork products, and oily fish like salmon and mackerel) can help mitigate your allergies, as they have anti-inflammatory properties, which helps your nose and throat not to swell as much and makes breathing much easier.
While you're at it, avoid eating stone fruits, melons, apples, celery, and alcohol in excess – these consumables can actually make your hay fever symptoms worse, and destroy all the good you've done by tweaking your diet.
If things get worse and you fear that you have a sinus infection, see a local professional.
Share17 May 2016
