2024 March

Written by: Melody Tijerina

As the seasons change our bodies sometimes struggle to adapt. Like a fish in water, we eat, breathe, and live in our environments. Changes in our environment require adjustments in our bodies. Our bodies are designed to adapt to change in temperature, the redirection of the wind currents, the blossoming of the fauna and flora around us, and the foods that are in season.  Even so, many of us often develop allergies during seasonal transitions. 

What is an Allergy: 

An allergy is an abnormal reaction to a substance in our environment such as a food, chemical, mold or pollen. Generally, the allergic reactions we experience are due to a chemical your body produces to protect itself called histamine. Allergies develop when the histamine production is excessive. 

Some reactions can be quite dangerous and require immediate medical attention. Other reactions are mild. 

Here are 7 Simple Recommendations to Calm Seasonal Allergies: 

As always, this is not to be considered medical advice. These recommendations are informative only. Please see your doctor for medical advice.  

• Drink water. Water can dilute the excessive histamine in the body and mitigate allergic reactions, so be sure that you are drinking plenty of water. In addition, proper hydration will help you liquify congestion and assist your body in expelling it. There is a lot of differing opinions on how much water we should consume each day. I think the best recommendation is to take your body weight in pounds, divide it by 2 and drink that many ounces of water per day. To illustrate, a woman who weighs 130 pounds would drink 65 ounces of water each day. 
• Drink Nettle Tea. Per Gillian McKeith, Ph.D. and the author of, Food Bible, nettle tea can help normalize histamine production, especially in the spring to minimize hay fever.
• Eat Foods that will improve the way your immune system can adapt and respond. According to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a medical doctor and author of the book, Super Immunity, he recommends the following list of foods for what he terms “super immunity”:
  • Kale / collard / mustard greens
  • Arugula / watercress
  • Green lettuce and cabbage
  • Broccoli and brussels sprouts
  • Carrots and tomatoes
  • Onions and garlic
  • Mushrooms 
  • Pomegranates
  • Berries (all types)
  • Seeds (flax, chia sesame, sunflower) 
• Use a neti Pot. In Ayurveda, a neti pot is considered a medical device as well as a personal hygiene tool. Running warm salt water through the nasal passage to irrigate and cleanse the nasal passages is a recommended daily practice. According to Dr. David Frawley, one of the world’s leading experts on Yoga and Ayurveda, using a neti pot will increase your ability to draw in prana and improve your immunity. I use a neti pot most days. In the Spring when pollen is high, I may use my neti more than once in a day. It helps me to breathe more evenly and consistently through both nostrils.  I feel much calmer and more focused when I can breathe properly. 
• Get good quality sleep.  Eight hours of sleep is the standard recommendation. The number of hours needed can vary person to person based on your dosha. I think the key is to do your best to get good quality sleep. Rest is essential to good health and healing. 
• Meditate. Meditation calms and settles the mind. It helps to downregulate the stress response and upregulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Our parasympathetic nervous system helps us to adapt to the new season by restoring balance and calming the inflammatory response. 
• Start your day with Sun Salutations. It has been said that movement is medicine and this medicine is more potent first thing in the morning. Start your day with movement, even 15 minutes of movement can improve your mood, your circadian rhythms, your digestion, your immune system, and your overall health. To maximize the benefits of your efforts, it is recommended that you face toward the rising sun (or simply East) when you perform your morning sun salutations.

Hope these simple suggestions assist you during this seasonal transition. These practices are recommended all year around, especially for those suffering from chronic allergies and/or inflammation. I encourage you to do what you can to integrate the practices that feel right for you into your daily life. Best Wishes and Namaste!  

Written by Guest Contributor: Anastasia Saenz

As the winter months come to an end and the vibrant energy of spring begins to awaken, it’s the perfect time to embark on a deep spring-cleaning journey for your mind, body, and spirit. Incorporating mindfulness into your spring-cleaning ritual can bring a sense of peace and intention to the process, allowing you to create a harmonious and balanced space both inside and out. Plus, the physical process will get you moving and burning calories! What a nice bonus!

Instructions: 

Step 1: Start by focusing on one area, such as a closet, bookshelf, junk drawer, pantry, or fridge. If your intention is to clean the entire house, take it one area at a time and complete one area before moving to the next. Please know that you are in control of the timeline. Allow yourself the time you need to work mindfully through your home. It may take a day, a week, or several months. 

Step 2: As you work with each space, reflect on the intention you have for that space and express gratitude to the space and the objects within it. Setting an intention for each space in your house can bring mindfulness and gratitude to your cleaning routine, helping you appreciate the space and the role each item plays in your home. Additionally, setting intentions can help you declutter and organize your physical space, reducing stress and anxiety and creating a more peaceful environment for relaxation and rejuvenation. When you work through your home in this way, you imbue a sense of serenity in all corners of your home. 

Step 3: If you can, remove everything from the space and sprinkle some salt in the area you’re cleaning. Salt is a potent energetic cleanser and can remove stagnant energy and purify the space. Let the salt sit for a few minutes then vacuum, sweep, or wipe the salt from the space. Then, clean any surfaces that need wiping or scrubbing. 

Step 4: Reset the space with objects that fulfill the intention you have for your home and your life.  

Step 5: Take a mindful look at the objects you’ve removed and group the contents by function, size, color or however, you see fit. Look carefully at the leftovers that don’t fit into a group. Sometimes those things have been misplaced or need to be disposed of or donated. Dispose of unwanted items in the trash or donation box and return the rest to their designated space. Then, as soon as possible take out the trash or donate your unneeded items.

Incorporating mindfulness into your spring-cleaning ritual can bring a sense of peace and intention to the process. As you declutter and organize your physical space, think of the act of cleaning as a form of self-care and self-love, nurturing not only your physical environment but also your mental and emotional well-being. Clearing out clutter and tidying up can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.  On a physical level, spring-cleaning your home can improve indoor air quality by removing dust and allergens from your living space. Engaging in physical activity while cleaning, such as scrubbing floors or dusting shelves, can also help increase your heart rate and promote circulation, contributing to a healthier body. 

So, remember, deep spring cleaning is not just about cleaning and decluttering your physical space; it’s about nurturing your mind, body, and spirit. By embracing the energetic benefits of spring cleaning and incorporating mindfulness into your routine, you can create a sense of peace, clarity, and renewal that will positively impact all areas of your life.