Allergies are a response to non-harmful environmental substances that can result in a variety of symptoms: sneezing, congestion, headache, coughing, sore throat and itchy eyes.  Although most allergies are generally non-harmful, some can cause a severe reaction that can be fatal. Some potential causes for this over-reaction include nutritional deficiencies and poor digestion.

The most common form of allergies today are seasonal allergies which can be caused by pollen, grasses and weeds.  The natural allergy cures below may help relieve or speed recovery.

Top Foods For Allergies

Fresh fruits and vegetables – Provide important nutrients and generally do not cause allergic reactions. A juice fast can help with detoxification.Clean lean protein – Helps the immune system. Aim for 3-4 oz at minimum per meal. Shellfish can be problematic so avoid consuming.Flax and chia seeds – Can reduce systemic inflammation leading to a reduction in symptoms. Adding chia seeds or ground flax seeds to salads or a smoothie is a great way to consume these important foods.Ginger – This herb is anti-inflammatory.  Add a small amount to green juices or make ginger tea.Cold-pressed oils – Coconut oil, palm oil, and olive oil are easy to digest and anti-inflammatory.

Foods to Avoid

Gluten – A protein found in most foods processed from wheat and related grains, such as barley and rye.  It is likely to be found in most packaged foods.   Gluten ranks at the top of allergy causing foods.Conventional Dairy – The pasteurization of dairy destroys necessary enzymes which can cause allergies.  In addition, the protein found in most of our North American cattle contains a type of protein known as beta casein A1.  This protein tends to cause allergies because of its histidine amino acid which is a trigger for both food and seasonal allergies.Trans fats and hydrogenated oils – These contain fats that increase inflammation which may lead to immune reactions.Eggs – May be mucus producing for some people.Processed foods – Contain additives (under the term natural flavors or certain food dyes) that can cause allergic reactions in certain people.

Top 5 Natural Allergy Supplements

Stinging Nettles (300-500mg 2x daily)

Shown to be effective in reducing hay fever by reducing overall histamine production.

Quercetin (1000 mg daily)

An anti-inflammatory flavonoid found in red wine, green tea, citrus, and onions. It has been shown to reduce inflammation and hay fever.

Vitamin C (2,000mg daily) 

A powerful antioxidant that has antihistamine properties. It can also boost the immune system.  Learn more about vitamin C here.

Bromelain (250 mg daily)

An enzyme found in pineapple which reduces swelling especially in the nose and sinuses.

Raw Honey (2 tbsp daily)

Look for local, raw honey. It’s vital for the honey to be local because the bees are making honey out of the common plants in your particular area and contain local pollen. Dosing yourself daily with honey made from these plants can help your body learn to deal with the common allergens from these plants.

Essential Oils For Allergies

Eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil can open up the lungs, sinuses and improve circulation reducing allergies.  Creating your own homemade vapor rub is an effective treatment or breathing it in with a diffuser.  Also, diffusing tea tree oil can destroy airborne pathogens that cause allergies.

Allergy Natural Treatments

Using a Neti pot is also an effective natural treatment for reducing allergy symptoms.

The root chakra is the first chakra of your physical body and is located at the base of your spine, near your coccyx bone (tailbone).  The word Muladhara breaks down into two Sanskrit words: Mula meaning “root” and Adhara, which means “support” or “base.”  

Each of the chakra energy centers have a role in balancing your physical and emotional being. Your root chakra is connected to your sense of belonging, feeling grounded, and safety.  Your connection to your family, your ancestry, and planet earth all reside here in your body.  From the relative strength of these connections, your personality begins to evolve. 

Balancing the root chakra creates the solid foundation for opening the chakras above. Imagine that you’re laying the foundation for a house in which you’re going to live for a long time. A solid foundation embedded in firm soil will provide the stability you need to create a home filled with joy for years to come. 

The root chakra is comprised of whatever grounds you to stability in your life. This includes your basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and safety, as well as your more emotional needs such as letting go of fear. When these needs are met, you feel grounded and safe, and you tend to worry less day to day.  

Whether or not you feel secure now often has less to do with what you have at your disposal and more to do with how safe you felt as a small child. When you consider psychologist Erik Erickson’s stages of development, the first stage—trust versus mistrust—is closely related to your root chakra development. As infants, if your caregivers readily gave you what you needed to survive with consistency, you felt secure in the world. You felt that the world was a place that could be trusted to provide your basic needs. Yet, if your caregivers withheld or delayed in giving you what you needed, or if that giving was inconsistent, you may find yourself with first chakra blockages. 

First Chakra at a glance: 

Sanskrit name: Muladhara - root support  Element: Earth  Color: Red  Shape: Square  Petals of the lotus: Four  Seed sound: LANG  Vowel sound: O  Rights: To have  Endocrine gland: Adrenal cortex  Physical association:The skeletal structure, teeth, large intestine, kidneys, blood  Psychological function: Survival and self preservation  Identity: Physical identity  Developmental stage: Womb to 12 months  Challenge: Fear  Plane: Physical plane  Planets: Saturn, Earth  Deity: Brahma, Dakini, Ganesha  Mythological Animal White elephant with seven trunks  Sense organ: Nose  Predominant sense: Smell  Incense: Cedar  Herb: Sage  Sephira: Malkuth  Tarot suite: Pentacles 

Root Chakra Affirmations 

I feel deeply rooted.  I am connected to my body.  I feel safe and secure.  Just like a tree or a star, I have a right to be here.  I stand for my values, for truth, and for justice.  I have what I need.  I am grounded, stable, and standing on my own two feet.  I nurture my body with healthy food, clean water, exercise, relaxation, and connection with nature.  I am open to possibilities.  I am grateful for all the challenges that helped me to grow and transform.  I trust in the goodness of life.  I make choice that are healthy and good for me.  I trust myself.  I love life.  

How to Know If Your Root Chakra Is Out of Balance 

Physical symptoms  

On the physical level, the root chakra is associated with adrenal glands, the skeletal structure, teeth, large intestine, kidneys, and the blood. An out of balance root chakra can also manifest physically symptoms like: 

Loss or gain in weight  Sex drive being over or underactive  Poor immune system  Anemia    Laziness  Irritable Bowel Syndrome  

Emotional symptoms 

Volatile emotions  Selfishness and Obsession  Anger or rage Fearfulness Frustration,  

Psychological symptoms  

Restlessness and anxiety   No interest in the real world or surviving practically  Anxiety Lack of focus or motivation Depression Pessimism or negative thinking about life Long-term feelings of vulnerability Paranoia Aggression Quick-tempered Insecurity Inability to relax 

On the spiritual level, root chakra issues may show up as stubbornness and not willing to expand one's view point. Often, If you’ve always struggled to achieve your goals, or even lacked the confidence to set them, healing your root chakra can make a big change in your life. 

The root chakra is a major piece of the foundation for your overall health. When it’s in balance with no blockages you’re more likely to feel incredibly healthy, stable, relaxed, trusting, secure, and prosperous. You have an abundance of energy as well as abundance thinking in all areas of life. Feelings of centeredness, calmness, and preparation are all characteristic of a balanced root chakra. People tend to describe you as having a lot of common sense and you’ll feel easy with yourself – mentally and physically 

Healing your root chakra  

Color Therapy  

The color associated with the root chakra is red. To balance the chakra, envisioning the color red glowing brightly at the base of the spine, where this chakra is located, is the beginning of root chakra cleansing and balancing. Start with the simple meditation of imaging a bright red light at the base of your tailbone. Picture this red light extending down your legs and feet, grounding you to the earth. 

Another way is to focus on the root chakra when red colored candles are lit. Red color brings balance and energy to the root chakra. Other things which can be tried are wearing red clothes, eating red colored foods and even painting the toe nails red. By means of meditation the red energy can be brought down in the root chakra area.  

Food Therapy 

Including foods like strawberries, red cabbage and red apples can be beneficial. Earthy foods like carrots, beets, ginger or foods which have roots should be eaten, as they energize the root chakra. High protein foods like eggs, meat, nuts and beans are also good.  

Aromatherapy  

Essential oils embody the frequencies and healing properties of plants. Not only they deliver certain properties to the physical body, they also work on the mental, emotional and spiritual levels. 

Essential oils like Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Galbanum, Angelica, Frankincense, Benzoin, St.John’s Wort and other root oils can be used for healing the Root Chakra. 

Mudra Practice  

Mudras are hand positions used in meditations which help in opening the chakras. Specific mudras can send more energy to specific chakras. To increase the effect, sounds from Sanskrit letters, are chanted along with the mudra practice. The following steps can be followed:  

Touch the tip of the thumb and the index finger.  Focus on the Root Chakra or the spot between the anus and the genitals.  Chant the Sanskrit word which sounds like LAM.  

Being Close to Nature 

The element of the root chakra is the earth. Being close to nature, the sound and smell of nature has a positive effect on the root chakra. Sitting on grass or under a tree helps in absorbing the earthly energies and is an ideal spot for this activity. Take this idea of mindfully moving on your walk with you. Concentrate on your foot leaving the ground and connecting to the earth again with each step. You’ll give your mind a break and cleanse your root chakra at the same time. For bonus points, walk barefoot to really ground your energy. 

Sound Therapy 

The ‘C’ note causes harmonious vibrations in the root chakra, as well as the chanting of the LAM sound, which has a positive effect on it.  You can watch the video below to learn how to practice chakra healing through sound: