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| Brought May Flowers |
Picture this: you’re tapping your fingers impatiently as a service representative reads your confirmation code, “‘S’ as in Sam, not ‘F’ as in Frank.” This tedious but necessary clarification was the impetus to create an audible distress signal to replace “S.O.S.” As air travel between France and England increased, Frederick Stanley Mockford proposed “Mayday” from the French M’aidez - “Help Me”. Mayday quickly became an international sign of distress and part of pop-culture vernacular.
Our bodies have numerous
ways of shouting mayday. In the spring for many, that means hello Histamine
with an H - the distress call made too loudly, leading to the uncomfortable
symptoms of hay fever. Both fascinating and infuriating, your body can behave
like an overzealous sales rep, following you around the store, suffocating you.
With a stuffy nose, lung congestion, and watery eyes, over-the-counter
antihistamines often just don’t do the trick.
So, if spring allergies
are getting you down, you have a few options. There is a solid consensus on
useful natural antihistamines: quercetin, stinging nettle, vitamin C,
butterbur, and bromelain. Often, products combine these ingredients with names
like D-His - kind of a giveaway. However, these natural remedies may not elicit
an immediate response amid an allergy flare. Much like getting ahead of pain,
it is wise to begin a natural protocol a few weeks before your annual spring
hay fever.
The severity and duration of your spring discomfort will help dictate your plan of attack. For instance, if your irritation is short-lived and easily managed with OTC meds, there’s no reason to call out for reinforcements. However, if you’re popping Claritin like M&M’s, you may want to incorporate the natural substances above. If the combination fails to offer relief, it is time to add other mitigating solutions and investigate ways to strengthen your overall constitution. Don’t wave the white flag, there are many other paths to be explored so you can enjoy the spring breeze.
Please
don’t let seasonal allergies be a forgone conclusion. The best medicine is
often a phone call away. As it is Mother’s Day this month, I would like to
thank my Mom who always answers my M’aidez call; j’taime. I am aware that these
holidays for others can bring distress or grief. I am thinking of you and hope
you don’t feel alone in your time of need. Often, we send out a distress signal
and the most unexpected people answer. That is my wish for you.
This
article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment.
