Stopping Meniere’s Symptoms During Allergy Season

Allergy season both in spring and autumn/fall always means we get a surge in people contacting us for help at this time of year.

Allergy and the symptoms of Meniere’s disease

The sinuses are an important part of the immune system, filtering and draining away unwanted  allergens and anything potentially harmful being inhaled. Drugs and chemical sprays, stop the runny noses but dry out the sinus therefore stopping it from functioning as it should. The result being, you feel relief but harmful allergens are allowed past your first line of defense and can potentially accumulate elsewhere, in the lymphatic system for example, causing health problems at a later date.

The endolymphatic sac, the area within the ear that produces all the problems in a Meniere’s sufferer is part of the lymphatic system. The Lymphatic system is like a drainage system for the body.

Prevalence of allergy in Meniere’s disease

The results of a 2000 study states: “Of 734 respondents with Meniere’s disease, 59.2% reported possible airborne allergy, 40.3% had or suspected food allergies, and 37% had had confirmatory skin or in vitro tests for allergy”

How to prevent increases in Meniere’s symptoms during allergy season?

Wearing a dust mask is an obvious answer but even then it might not be enough or not practical for you.

Below you will find some of the best natural solutions to stay symptom free during this very testing time:

1. Steaming

The tried and tested old fashioned way to relieve sinuses while still keeping them moist and functioning as they  should. Use hot water in a bowl. Cover your head with a towel and bend over the hot water inhaling the steam or if easier to keep the steam constant, use a steam inhaler.  Do at least once a day during the allergy season. We have had many emails from Meniere’s sufferers telling us that this helps a great deal.

2. Look at your diet

Studies show that essential fatty acids coming from organic flax seed or hemp seed oil can help reduce seasonal allergies. Try avoiding mucous and congestion-causing foods such as dairy products, milk, processed wheat and sugar.

A healthy diet will boost your overall immunity to allergies. In fact, a scientific study done on the island of Crete found that nasal allergies were almost non-existent in this region. The reason for this is the islanders’ food intake was composed mainly of cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fish, fruits and vegetables. This anti-oxidant packed diet was exceptionally high in grapes, tomatoes, oranges, nuts and apples, all foods known to support normal upper respiratory tract health.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, 29.8 million people were diagnosed with sinusitis in 2010. For a Meniere’s sufferer sinus allergies mean a whole lot more trouble. Try this natural remedy for sinusitis.

3. Try non-toxic, organic bedding

Dr. James R. Haltom from the Mississippi Allergy and Asthma Clinic has stated that the best thing you can do for allergies is to purchase a high-quality, allergy-free cover for the mattress, box springs and pillows.  Washing your bedding once a week in very hot water can prevent build-up and help kill off dust mites.

4. Use non-toxic, natural cleaning products

Chemicals and fumes from most cleaning products from the stores have been shown to trigger allergic reactions, especially in the spring when the body’s allergic response is already heightened. Instead, opt for organic cleaning products. They are a safe alternative to cleansers that contain many chemicals that can be toxic to your health.

Studies have shown that 40% of household cleansers sold in stores have been found to be ineffective against germs.

Some ideas:

1. Simmering cloves and cinnamon as an air freshener
2. Baking soda mixed with apple cider is perfect for toilets and tubs
3. Vinegar is safe and effective on counters, floors & windows
4. Baking soda added to your rinse cycle is an effective softener
5. Lavender, thyme and tea tree oils are antiseptic and naturally antibacterial

5. Clean your living space.

If possible, replace carpet with non-toxic wool, non-toxic hardwood or cork flooring. Also, get rid of the clutter which collects allergens!

Use plants around the house that purify your air naturally. NASA studies recommend that you use one good-sized houseplant in a 6 to 8-inch diameter container for every 100 square feet of your home. (See video below for 8 plants to have in your house that purify the air)

Air purification house plants: video

6. Use a quality organic oregano oil

Although technically not a cure or treatment for allergies, many people do report that the oil of oregano helps them feel better when they’re dealing with the typical symptoms of allergies. Taking this supplement will also reduce the amounts of histamines found in the blood (this is the chemical that causes swelling and allergic reaction, hence anti-histamine drugs used).

7. Check your living space for mold and pollen.

Mold is a huge cause of seasonal allergies and is a known trigger for Meniere’s attacks if not an actual cause in some people. As the rains come down and the heat increases, mold begins to form in the unseen corners of our homes and offices. While there are many ways to get rid of mold, purchasing a high-quality dehumidifier will help prevent mold from forming and will help lessen allergy symptoms.

8. Brush off and/or thoroughly wash clothes after being outside.

After being outside, you are bringing pollen and other allergens into your house all over your clothes. Removing and washing them as soon as you get home will help prevent outdoor pollen from establishing itself in your furniture and bedding. Also, taking a shower as soon as get home will keep pollen from your hair out of your pillow at night

9. Cleanse your Sinuses, lungs and respiratory tract

According to the American College of Allergies, 50% of all illness, is caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution.

Most people actually spend over 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air may have toxic chemical concentrations of up to 100 times higher than outdoor air in addition to mold. All compounding the effects of allergens in pollen season. For the Meniere’s sufferer, the probability of an attack being triggered increases significantly.

Allergen levels in super-insulated homes are 200% higher than in ordinary homes. Over 1,000 types of mold and mildew have been identified in homes located in the United States. According to the EPA, SIX out of TEN homes and buildings are “sick” and hazardous to your health due to airborne pollutants.

A lung cleanse is a natural procedure designed to detoxify, cleanse and refresh the delicate respiratory linings of the bronchial passages and lungs by purging them of built up environmental toxins, harmful organisms and accumulated irritants.

10. Try using a Himalayan Crystal Salt Inhaler

The use of salt as a therapy for respiratory ailments, is nothing new. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, recommended salt inhalation. He inhaled steam from boiling saltwater. Unlike processed table salt, which can be the root of so many health problems, pure sea salts are rich in minerals. Pure sea salt was once so prized for its health benefits that it was used as a form of money. The term “Salt of the earth” meaning “pure and good” was first used in the  Christian bible.

Himalayan crystal salt contains 84 ional minerals and trace elements needed for optimum health.

The salt crystals rest in a chamber inside the inhaler. Breathing through the inhaler draws air across mineral-rich granules of Original Himalayan Crystal Salt. The effects can help to resolve sinus problems, sore throat, or cough. The sinuses are kept moist while allergens are extracted naturally.

Unlike steroid inhalers and pharmaceutical drugs, there are no negative effects from using a Himalayan Salt Inhaler.

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Related articles:

By Mike Spencer
Founder of Menieres-Help.Com – Supporting sufferers since 2004
Researcher and author of Managing Meniere’s Disease
and The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere

Help Other Meniere’s Sufferers.

What are your experiences with Meniere’s and the allergy season. Leave your comments in the box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Further reading: Prevalence of allergy in Meniere’s disease