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By Bryce Wylde, BSc, DHMHS

There are so many things to love about spring. The warmer weather and longer days beckon us outdoors. But if you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring may cause your allergy symptoms to be in full bloom. Some people continue to experience allergy symptoms well into summer!

Airborne allergens such as pollen cause our immune cells to release histamines, which can trigger sneezing, a tickle at the back of the throat, a runny nose, and itchy, burning, watery eyes. You may also feel run down and energy deprived. The trick is taking action early while your symptoms are more easily managed.

What's making you miserable?

Most folks know they have allergies because they get them year after year. You may even be familiar with skin testing for allergies. There are also blood tests for allergies and related food sensitivities.

While knowing your triggers is helpful, 100 percent avoidance may not be possible. Being in clinical practice for more than 20 years, I've had a lot of success using safe, natural solutions that include reducing your exposure to allergens and managing those annoying symptoms.

For example, if you suffer from seasonal eye allergies, you may be tired of the stinging medications that take control of your life because of their rebound effect.

Antihistamine eye drops or artificial tears may provide temporary relief, but they don't address the problem, as well as homeopathic preparations that gently stimulate the body's natural ability to relieve symptoms.

Homeopathic preparations that contain natural active ingredients such as eyebright flower and sabadilla lily and don't contain dyes, chemical vasoconstrictors, decongestants, or steroids. Drops such as Similasan Allergy Eye Relief can be used regularly without that annoying rebound effect. Moreover, they help to activate your body's own defense mechanisms to address the underlying problem.

You can't just hide indoors

It's a common misconception that allergens are seasonal and only encountered outdoors. The air inside your home, car, and office is often more polluted. Plus, even if you don't see yellow dust, microscopic outdoor allergens can cling to your hair and clothing. Pollen can get locked into your body. It sticks to your sinuses and nasal passages and onto your skin and hair. You may be carrying them with you throughout your day.

Minimize your exposure by changing your clothes as soon as you come home. Shower off the pollen. Wash your hair. Put your pillow and pillowcase in the dryer to remove dust and pollen.

Cleanse your nasal passages: Neti pots have become very popular right now – and with good reason. Most people know that they are a safe and natural way to help your body's natural mechanism for clearing your sinuses of bacteria and allergens.

Use an air purifier to remove allergens from your home. Change your home's filter every three months, and always use a HEPA filter. If you miss being able to open your windows to let in the fresh air, replace your traditional filters with ones that filter as much as 50% more pollen.

Keep your immune system in balance

In my clinical practice, I take a particular focus on immune modulation or immune balancing. That's the key when we are talking about allergies. Allergies are an over-response of a confused immune system.

By focusing on good nutrition and taking steps to support your immune system, you may be able to say goodbye to itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and other allergy symptoms. The great thing about natural and/or homeopathic remedies, such as Similasan, is that there are also kids' formulas available, so the whole family benefits.

More strategies for supporting your immune system include:

• Eat more brightly colored foods. Colorful fruits and vegetables play important roles in balancing the immune system. Eat a half cup of every color of the rainbow every single day: red, orange, blue, green, and purple. No science supports the old adage: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples contain quercetin, an antioxidant that has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Peppers, onions, and garlic contain compounds that help thin and reduce mucus.

• Avoid refined foods. Pasta, cookies, cakes, and other things made with white flour and sugar (the other white evil) make it hard to keep your body in balance. So does drinking too much alcohol. You may also want to avoid eating too many foods made with refined, processed oils such as vegetable oil and seed oils.

• Avoid foods that may cause oral allergy syndrome, also called cross-reactivity: A lot of folks don't know that some fruits, nuts, and seeds are a no-go for allergy sufferers, no matter how healthy they may be. This is because the proteins in pollen are similar to the proteins found in these particular foods.

Tree nuts also demonstrate cross-reactivity. This causes tingling and unpleasant itching in the mouth, throat, and lips, as well as an irritated GI. Although not life-threatening, it's actually more common than peanut, milk, egg, and fish allergy, occurring in about 10% of the population.

Trees are among the first to burst open in the spring. If you have an allergy to tree pollen (especially Birch), then you likely have cross-reactivity to apples, plums, kiwis, carrots, walnuts, cashews, celery, potatoes, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and even spices such as oregano, basil, and dill. Many of these things grow on trees, and if you have tree pollen allergies, they need to be avoided.

If your allergy stems from grass pollen, you need to avoid melons, oranges, kiwis, tomatoes, and peanuts, among others. Those who suffer in the fall from ragweed allergy (mainly in the northeast of the continent) can get itchy mouths and an upset GI from bananas, melons, zucchini, and cucumbers.

• Make exercise part of your routine. Regularly getting moderate-intensity exercise will help reduce your stress while boosting your immune system. It's a winwin! Be sure to move your exercise indoors on days when allergens or smog are heavy.

• Make sleep a priority. The body does much of its repair at night, so sleep is essential to keep your immune system on full alert. That applies to your body's defenses against allergens. Aim for at least seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

• Live healthfully every single day. Compliance is critical. If you are taking supplements or essential medications, take them as recommended to get the most benefits.

If you know you have seasonal allergies, start taking better care of yourself before you're full-blown symptomatic. Making a few simple changes can help ensure you are feeling great and are able to enjoy all of the good things that spring has to offer.

Homeopath Bryce Wylde, BSc (Hons), DHMHS, is a leading health expert in functional medicine specializing in clinical nutrition and supplementation. Practicing at VennMed in Toronto, he blends the latest science and technology with traditional and ancient remedies. Wylde is co-founder of The DNA Company and founder of Communitya startup dedicated to optimizing immune health through personalized nutrition. Wylde is the author of four national best-seller books, the previous host of CTV's Wylde on Health, and a frequent guest health expert on U.S. and Canadian TV.