Tis the Season…

Spring. The favorite time of the year. That was before my seasonal allergies developed. Now I am starting my day with accessing the potential damage first – checking the current pollen situation here. (https://www.pollen.com/)

I am allergic to practically any tree pollen one can find in Europe and the US, especially to the birch one. My friends joked that’s why I left my homeland – there are a lot of birch trees over there. That’s how I cope.

Ideally, one should go for a de-sensibilization treatment course with an allergist. I did it twice, one in Europe with sublingual drops, and one in the US with shots. Both worked somehow for a couple of years after the course, but one needs to do several years of treatment to make it work for longer, which I didn’t – I travelled too much and could not adjust my schedule.

So, over-the-counter medicine is to the rescue. There is no “one size fits all” solution, we are different, and our immune system is different as well. The best is, to try several things and see how they work. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer free samples, like this one. (https://www.xyzal.com/samples/)

In conclusion, there are few simple steps an allergy sufferer can follow to make their life slightly better, besides finding a good medication for the symptoms:

1. Invest in a good quality air filter for your AC furnace, such as Honeywell FPR 10 – the one with a black cover. I tried several, this works the best so far.

2. Wash your face often while at work – that might relieve itchy eyes a bit.

3. Change your clothing when coming home immediately, and wash your face and hair.

4. Clean your floors often – you might be surprised to see how much pollen your carpet can hold.

5. There are some allergen-reducing sprays that may help, too. I used Febreze. (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Febreze-Air-Effects-Allergen-Reducer-Freshly-Clean-Air-Freshener-9-7-oz/31964269)

6. When the season is over, some local honey can be used as a de-sensibilization tool: take a teaspoon every day, and hopefully your body will accustom to the local pollens. The best place to find it is a farmer market.

7. You can use the damn face mask, too! It reduces the pollen count significantly, therefore, the allergy symptoms. After all, it’s better to use less medication than more – all of these antihistamines make you drowsy.

Now, be well, and take care 😊