Is it a “cold” or an “allergy?”

It’s that time of year again...school is back in session, the weather is turning cooler, and the sound of sneezing, sniffling, and coughing fill the air. While many of you might assume that the symptoms you’re experiencing are related to a cold, you might actually be suffering with an allergy.

Let me explain. With the onset of autumn, the notorious ragweed plant begins releasing its pollen into the environment. Ragweed is the main culprit for triggering a late summer/early fall seasonal allergy, commonly known as hay fever. But it’s not just ragweed—mold spores, dust, and dander can cause havoc in allergy sufferers, too.

While both colds and allergies share similar symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, mild fatigue, and occasionally a sore throat; if you are also experiencing itchy eyes, you are probably dealing with an allergy. However, if a fever appears along with those other symptoms, you are likely dealing with a cold.

Other clues that you might be experiencing an allergy rather than a cold, is that allergy symptoms tend to come on suddenly and will last until the allergic trigger is removed. With a cold, the symptoms are finite, lasting anywhere from 3-14 days. The time of year might also point you in the direction of an allergy.

So you think you have an allergy, now what?

There are many options available for treating allergies ranging from over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and allergy shots, to utilizing a more natural, holistic approach. As a naturopathic physician, I prefer beginning with the latter.

When someone complains of allergy symptoms, the first step is to identify which allergen is causing their symptoms. Once an allergen is identified, a variety of natural substances, such as herbs and supplements known to stabilize mast cells, might be prescribed. In case you’re wondering, mast cells are a type of white blood cell responsible for releasing histamine, the substance that causes your body to mount an allergic response. Mast cell stabilizers such as quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, and components found in green tea, can help stop the release of histamine. Other options might include substances that will break down histamine like diamine oxidase, which is found in Vitamin C. However, since not all natural substances are safe, you should always check with your doctor to determine which products are best-suited to your unique health condition.

Another successful treatment I’ve used involves the use of homeopathic sublingual drops that gently desensitize your body to specific allergens. These drops, which are placed directly under your tongue, are a safe, convenient, and cost-effective method of quickly reducing symptoms.

Let’s say we determine that the cause of a person’s allergy is ragweed pollen. While you could take a supplement or homeopathic remedy to treat the symptoms, an equally important approach would be to look for food triggers.

Certain foods contain proteins that are similar to the proteins found in ragweed pollen. Consuming these foods during ragweed season can worsen symptoms. Some possible food triggers include: bananas, chamomile tea, melons, and sunflower seeds. By avoiding these foods, symptoms can be lessened. However, it’s important to understand that the above list is only a partial list. There are several other foods that cross-react with ragweed and with other types of pollen, too.

Things you can do at home.

Simple ways to reduce your hay fever symptoms include changing your clothing and washing your hands after you’ve been outside. This will help remove pollen that has settled on your body. While changing clothes during the day might not be convenient for most, removing pollen by taking a shower before heading off to bed might help reduce nighttime congestion. As an aside, nighttime showering is also a great way to wash away any non-attached ticks that you or your child might have picked up during the day.

You might also consider using an air purifier to help remove allergens from your home environment. Also, don’t forget about your pets. Our furry friends should be bathed more frequently during the spring and fall allergy seasons to help remove any pollen they’ve picked up while outside. But check with your vet to see how often your pet should be bathed.

As you can see, the “cold” that you or your child might be experiencing might not be a cold after all. The good news is that there are several natural treatment options available for those who prefer a more natural approach.

Dr. Lesa Werner is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in West Hartford /Hartford, CT. www.drlesawerner.com