Ahh, spring. Flowers are in full bloom, giving trees and neighborhoods an array of color. Leaves are starting to grow back on previously bare branches. The sun’s warm and golden rays give life to each new day and the bees are busy pollinating from flower to flower.

However beautiful this season may be, when winter leaves and springtime hits, many are also plagued with a plethora of health issues that accompany the change of season. Unfortunately, the air is also saturated with pollen particles from plants releasing their grains into the atmosphere, and when you breathe in the air, you might suffer from itchy, burning eyes and constant sniffles.

Why do you tend to wheeze, sniffle, and cough more during this season?

When you breathe in pollen, the immune system can mistakenly perceive it to be an invader. The immune system then accelerates its activity in order to protect the body from this harmless allergen, releasing histamines into the blood. Histamines cause the body to overreact with an annoying runny nose and uncomfortable itchy eyes.

You might even be experiencing a greater magnitude of these recurring issues during this season. Scientists see a link between greater Co2 levels and an increase of pollen. Due to climate change, there’s been more carbon dioxide being released into the air. Carbon dioxide causes plants to grow, and in turn it also produces more pollen as well. It’s no surprise that you may be more uncomfortable than usual , but you are not the only one.

Over 58 million Americans suffer from these seasonal changes every year In addition, 56 million people also experience respiratory problems like wheezing and shortness of breath; because of these high numbers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has deemed it a national problem.

Fight the Sniffles

No matter where you are in the spectrum, there are natural and effective solutions that can help minimize your discomfort and boost your immune system.

First, it is extremely important that your Natural Killer (NK) Cells be strong and ready for seasonal changes. NK Cells will coordinate and direct the overall response your immune system has to you inhaling the allergens in the air. NK Cells will tell your immune system when there is something in your body that must be destroyed immediately or when to “stand-down” or “relax”, because the allergen that just entered your body does not require a total immune response. One of the best, natural ways to enhance your own NK Cell activity, quickly, is by taking ImmPower AHCC. AHCC stands for “Active Hexose Correlated Compound.”

Probiotics

There has been more research over the past years on how probiotics can benefit your health and boost your immune system, which can help reduce your runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, and more. When there is an absence of good bacteria in the gut, it causes the immune system to be more inefficient. Scientists have found a link between the presence of good bacteria in the stomach with reduced seasonal issues. Eating and drinking fermented foods and taking fermented mushroom supplements like ImmPower-AHCC will also aid in increasing healthy bacteria in the body.

Herbal Treatments

A good option to help relieve your symptoms is to drink tea with nettle leaf or eat capsules containing dried nettle. Nettle is a natural antihistamine, which can block the body from producing the histamine that causes the symptoms you might be suffering from during these seasons. Instead of taking over-the-counter drugs, the nettle leaf gives you an effective and natural remedy to your constant sniffles. If you want faster, more efficient relief from your symptoms, capsules provide a higher concentration of the leaf.

Butterbur, another herb, has also been used to help people who have shortness of breath, hay fever, migraines, constant cough, insomnia, anxiety, and other symptoms. However, if you are considering butterbur, use only those that are certified “PA- free.” Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are chemicals which are present within some butterbur preparations and can cause damage to the liver.

For runny nose relief, use saline nasal spray or saline rinse. Saline spray can help clear the pollen in your nose and your nasal passageways. In addition, studies have shown that doing a saline rinse in the nose on a regular basis could lessen postnasal drip and flush out bacteria in nose, making breathing much easier.

Springtime can be enjoyable when you take the appropriate steps! Take that first step in strengthening your body’s immune system naturally, and then go out there and have some fun!

“7 Natural Remedies for Allergy Relief.” Wellness Mama. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. .

Furrie, Elizabeth. “Probiotics and Allergy.” Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 64 (2005): 465–469. Department of Immunology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. .

Koch, Wendy. “Climate Change Linked to More Pollen, Allergies, Asthma.” USA Today 31 May 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. .

Yang, Gui, Zhi-Qiang Liu, and Ping-Chang Yang. “Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis with Probiotics: An Alternative Approach.” North American Journal of Medical Sciences 5.8 (2013): 465–468. PMC. Web. 28 Apr. <2015.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784923/>