by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.
As blossoms open and pollen fills the air in particular as we approach springtime, you may notice your allergies already begin to flare up.
Here are a few things you can do to boost your immunity and prevent allergy season from taking over your life.
Dampness manifests in the body as a fungal terrain that can promote postnasal drip and sinus congestion by trapping pollen in your body.
Reduce Dampness
Dampness manifests in the body as a fungal terrain resulting most commonly from excessive use of antibiotics, birth control pills or corticosteroid medications, or a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates. You can therefore understand why one of the most effective ways to reduce dampness in the body is to reduce intake of sugars and carbohydrates, as well as the consumption of cold foods such as ice cream and too much salad, both of which tax the Spleen, the organ in charge of transformation of food into energy. A weak Spleen results in the production of excess dampness, which can present as fungus anywhere in your body, including the throat and sinuses.
A damp terrain is a fungal terrain. Just as chronic sinusitis is now recognized to be associated with fungus, the same fungal pathology can seep into the brain to down-regulate brain neuron function.
A damp terrain can promote postnasal drip and trap pollen in your body, creating an allergic reaction and potentially even leading to a bad cold or sinus infection. Here’s more on how dampness manifests in your body and why it presents a challenge to healing.
Consider a Liver Detox
Depending on the strength of your constitution and health overall, you may want to consider doing a Liver detox as we transition into the Spring season, which is the season that according to Chinese Medicine is most closely related to the Liver.
Normally the Metal energy, which is related to the Lungs, controls the Wood energy, which is related to the Liver. However, if this relationship is imbalanced due to either a weakness in the Metal energy, which is common during Autumn, or overactivity of the Wood energy, which is common during Spring, this can cause the Liver to insult the Lungs. This will happen especially if the liver is overheated with toxicity. One way to clear the Liver is through a liver detox.
While this would be best assessed with the guidance of a healthcare professional, especially someone well versed in Chinese Medicine, there are some signs you can evaluate on your own. You can learn more in this article.
Strengthen Your Kidneys, Lungs & Spleen to Support Your Immune System
If you tend to work hard even through the more Yin seasons of the year, you may find that your immune system becomes more compromised as we transition into the more Yang seasons of Spring and Summer.
If you rest more during Autumn and Winter, you’ll find you can more easily cultivate the energy you need to live out your goals and dreams. That’s why it’s important to take care of your Kidneys throughout the cooler months. Many of the same keys that can help you end brain fog can also help you prevent allergies.
And if you’ve forgotten or are going through a transition that’s made self-care a challenge, you can still work on strengthening your Lungs, which is primarily associated with Autumn but support your immune system year round, and supporting your Spleen Qi and Earth energy in general to boost your immunity and protect yourself from allergies and colds.
Strengthening your Earth and the organs of the Spleen and Stomach becomes even more essential during any transition or Doyo Period, the 18-day period that begins 9 days before each seasonal change.
By clearing your Liver, opening your Lungs and supporting your Earth energy, you can liberate yourself from the frustration of allergies and enjoy the beauty of each and every season, blossoms and all.
Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. is Co-Owner and Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, California. Setareh offers clinical services and transformational workshops that blend the ancient practices of Classical Chinese Medicine and Yoga. Learn more at www.setarehmoafi.com.
Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac. is the Founder and Co-Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, California, a wellness clinic that specializes in Classical Chinese Medicine & Japanese Meridian Therapy, a rare non-insertion form of Acupuncture. Salvador also teaches Qi Gong at the Dharma Studio within A Center for Natural Healing.