I love Spring. There’s this freshness, and lushness. I do know that many people feel miserable this time of the year, dealing with allergies with all kinds of symptoms. Congestion, drippy noses, and watery eyes. They tell us this is histamine at work, as a reaction to pollen in the air.
Seasonal allergies seem to be on the rise. So did our environment change or something internal? Are you struggling this Spring?
Research is showing that the cause of allergies is poor gut health. The gut affects our immune system, how it is modulated.
What Affects our Gut Health?
Our modern lifestyle affects our gut health in many ways.
Diet is the most obvious factor in gut health. Processed food uses a whole slew of chemicals, from dyes to preservatives. They also have all kinds of sugars and sweeteners, such as high fructose corn syrup. Our meat is mostly factory-farmed and high in antibiotics. Food are often fortified by synthetic vitamins, including Vitamin D which specifically worsens our health in the long run. Perhaps you have noticed a changing narrative about Vitamin D. Here’s why I no longer supplement with Vitamin D. Studies are showing that low Vitamin D and poor health are more a correlation, further obscured by the different tests used and the evidence that it is often the VDR receptors not working properly, rather than low levels of Vitamin D, being the reason. Vitamin D deficiency is apparently less common than we’ve been told.
In Earthley’s guide to seasonal allergies, another factor they mention is “being overly hygenic” which refers to overuse of hand sanitizers and antimicrobial soaps. Antiobiotics also upset the gut flora by removing both harmful and beneficial bacteria.
In the past few years, people have increased their use of sanitizers exponentially. I wonder how this has affected their gut health and if their allergies became worse. There is a difference between between clean (ie washing hands with water and soap after using the bathroom) and over-sanitizing, which kills off beneficial bacteria.
Modern day lifestyle is primarily sedentary coupled with high chronic stress. Both of these affect our digestive system in a negative way. We’ve also moved more indoors, rather than being in the sun and nature.
“If you suffer from gut issues, it’s critical you understand how the gut microbiome changes to sun exposure. Trillions of bacteria respond to sunlight hitting skin. When UVB light hits your skin, if healthy, your body makes beautiful spectrum of 20 vitamin D analogues.
Picture a rainbow running through your body.
To heal the gut, you must regulate UV light and vitamin D levels in the body. UVB light can rapidly modulate the gut microbiome because the bacteria rely on sunlight themselves. It also changes the viruses or virome that live within the gut. To heal the gut, you need to connect to full spectrum sunlight, that is stored in the liver and carried in your blood.
Quick tip? Explore your belly button to sunlight. This is where a newborn absorbs nutrients from its umbilical cord and provides a quick pathway for sunlight to the gut. How has this season affected your health?”
Tips for Allergies & Gut Health
Quantum Technology
I love using Quantum Technology. For allergies, my partner has used Allergy Relief which has been effective. You can easily leave it on your phone and laptop or print copies, increasing its strength with multiple copies. Digital C-60 is also another powerful one. C-60 is one of the most powerful antioxidants, more than 170 times more so than Vitamin C. It strengthens your immune system and neutralizes free radicals. Another antioxidant to consider is Glutathione.
I also use Genius Insight, a Quantum Biofeedback system that continues to astonish me with what it picks up in a session. I have friends and clients who are so sensitive that they can feel the difference immediately. I get regular feedback from my partner who also receives regular session to deal with some environmental factors. He too know when a remote session has started. If you are interested in checking this out, I offer sessions or you can check it out over a 7-day free trial before making the investment. It works on our phones and devices; being so portal makes it even more useful. For me, it’s a fantastic modality I’ve added for myself, friends, and family as well as for clients and because it isn’t on-body, it feels much better for me.
Liver Detox
Spring is Liver and Gallbladder season. This is a great time for a detox and other ways to support these two organs. In Chinese Medicine, the Liver is the “General”, in charge of directing the smooth movement of qi to all other organs. You can speak with your naturopath about taking herbal remedies such as milk thistles or taking homeopathic remedies.
One product that I use myself is a five-star product from Earthley, Liver Love Herbal Tincture, which comes in the original version (cane alcohol) or alcohol-free. This, along with their Lymphatic Cream, plenty of clean fluids, and movement, is great to help open the detox pathways. Another tincture to consider is their V-Detox, which leverages the power of chlorella powder, dandelion root, and other herbs to bind and remove heavy metals and other environmental toxins.
Energy-Balancing & Stress reduction
As a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, I do what we call Self-Help for removing the “dirt and grime” of daily life. It’s called Self-Help since these are holds and hand placements on the body that we can do on ourselves. If you are interested in trying Jin Shin to harmonize your Liver and Gall Bladder energy, here are some to try.
Because we are pretty good at acclimatizing, we can get used to stress levels, especially as they become less acute and more low-level chronic. This does not mean it is a healthy way to deal with stress. We can often forget the systematic effects stress has that may actually be the reason for much imbalance and unwell ness. Stress management and reduction is important for all health conditions. Do you have good tools and support for this?
About Earthley
I discovered Earthly a few years ago and had been following on social media the owner and lead herbalist, Kate Tietje, whom you may also know as Modern Alternative Mama. I started first with their Good Night Lotion, which is a source of Magnesium, Lymphatic Cream, Whipped Body Butter, Black Drawing Salve Stick, and Gut Health Oil. I have since added a few herbal tinctures, including Liver Love and Lunamore.
Since using the Good Night Lotion, I’ve been sleeping better. Most of us are deficient in Magnesium, which gets depleted quickly in times of stress. Magnesium is also depleted in our soil so it’s missing in our food. This makes this essential macro mineral important to supplement, especially since it’s involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in our body.
I also love the Black Drawing Salve Stick which is made from castor oil, activated charcoal, bentonite clay, candelilla wax, extra virgin olive oil, and lavender essential oil. I’ve applied it to bites and a potential pimple. Feels good on my skin and works quickly. This salve helps so much with itchiness from the bites! It is black so you’ll want to cover it with gauze and the easiest way to remove it is with oil, not soap and water. I also love the Lymphatic Cream, which is a great support for my lymph system. I apply this on my sinus and the sides of my neck when I’m feeling under the weather.
A few years ago, I came across Earthley and started following on social media the owner and lead herbalist, Kate Tietje, whom you may also know as Modern Alternative Mama. I support Earthley as it thrives to be completely transparent. It is a family-owned and family-run company that is committed to 100% clean natural products which include face, body, and hair care, personal care products, cleaning products, nutritional support, and herbal remedies. In 2021, they were 42th fastest growing company in the Inc 5000 Midwest region in the United States and 21st in 2022, reflecting a growing customer base who trusts and loves their products, ethos, costumer support, and commitment. Earthley continues to grow year and year, and still remaining family-owned and prioritizing the quality of their products, their staff, their customers, medical freedom, and the preservation of natural health access.
As an affiliate and customer of Earthley, I love the support I get from the company about their ingredients, sources, and recommendations. I love to share how we can use plant medicine to address the imbalances in our life, while focusing primarily on whole foods. Earthley supplements such as their Immune-Aid (Vitamin C) are made of whole food sources. As a mother herself, Kate and her team are knowledgeable and careful about products for infants and kids. They also offer various sales throughout the year which I share here, and mostly on Facebook and Instagram. If you are new to Earthley, get 10% off with the code “NEWTOEARTHLEY” or “COMEBACK” for 10% if you’re a returning customer.
Lymphatic Cream
Lymphatic Cream is a lotion created to help relieve achy parts of the body caused by swollen lymph nodes. This cream tackles lymphatic congestion at the source and gently encourages drainage to help detox, reduce soreness, and improve overall wellness.
“I love this cream! I would get such a sore neck and shoulder area. I started using this cream and the pain goes away within minutes! I let my sister and mom try some for their aches – and afterwards, I helped them order some too! they also love it.”
Breathe Well Salve
Breathe Well Salve helps provide relief from chest congestion, coughs, and stuffy noses. This natural vapor rub is a healthy alternative to traditional OTC medications that aren’t safe for little ones and have potentially harmful side-effects. Our salve is safe for ages 6mo+ and is perfect to have on hand for occasional sickness and colds.
“When 2 of my favorite companies – Plant Therapy and Earthly – team up, you know it’s going to be good! I got exactly what I expected with this salve: great application, great smell, and great results! We’ve used this for allergies, as well as a few minor colds, and I’ve been pleased every time!”
Sinus Saver
Sinus Saver is an herbal tincture that provides natural support during allergy season and beyond! Enjoy relief from sneezes, sniffles, sinus pressure, watery eyes, and other annoying allergy symptoms. Sinus Saver uses the power of herbs to help clear the body of excess histamines and calm allergic reactions. This comes in two versions – original with organic cane alcohol as a preservative and alcohol-free.
“My husband loves this, not only for his seasonal sinus issues, but for when he has a sinus infection as well.”
Immune-Aid Vitamin C Powder
Immune-Aid is a Vitamin C supplement made with 100% real food. Organic berries and orange peel provide natural Vitamin C to give your immune system a boost. This powder makes the perfect nutrient-rich addition to your daily routine. Immune-Aid comes in powder form (which includes stevia leaf) and capsules (without stevia leaf). Since this is sourced from whole Vitamin C and not synthetic and isolated forms that are the Vitamin C commonly sold, you actually need less.
“I LOVE this vitamin C powder! I couldn’t find one that wasn’t filled with sugar, gelatin, or synthetic ingredients. Both of my kids take this with NO problems. I mix it in their drink or applesauce and they eat it right up!”
article updated: January 2023
