Healthier living (Allergies)

I have a quick tip on what could be a healthy switch off of medication for seasonal allergy suffers.  I know we're past the worst of allergy season, but it's never a bad time to make healthier choices. 

Every allergy season, since I moved to Texas, has always been an issue for me.  About 8 years ago I had such an intense battle with spring and was on so much medication that I finally made the decision to start the process of allergy injections (AKA: Immunotherapy).  First I was tested.  I had a positive reaction to nearly 20 allergens but oak, cedar, elm, pecan pollen, cottonwood, dogs, cats, and horses were the worst.  I was then told that I needed to prepare for a 3-5 year process that would start with an injection a day for 2 weeks and slowly taper back until I was down to an injection a month.  And after all that, it isn't necessarily permanent and may only reduce my symptoms.  I decided to take two weeks to think it over.  Three days later a friend told me to try local honey during my two week wait period.  I am not a holistic guy.  "Give me the pills".  But I figured if I was willing to get hundreds of injections, what's a little honey?  I ate a tablespoon a day, over oatmeal or in tea.  Within 3 days I had notice a drastic reduction in my symptoms.  Without even realizing it, by the end of a week and a half I had stopped taking all over the counter allergy medication.  No more falling asleep at work, breathing fine at night, and even able to mow the lawn without suffering.  Something that had, in a large way, controlled my life every spring was now no longer an issue......   I cancelled my appointment.  I was consistent with my "dosing" for a year and then I started to taper back to the point of a couple tablespoons a week.  I've even replaced much, if not all, of the sugar in my recipes with honey.  And now I can count on two hands how many times I've needed allergy medication over the past 8 years.  Even my 90 year old grandmother, a recent transplant from Arizona, uses the same honey for her allergies and says that if she forgets to take it in the morning she suffers all day long.

The key is local honey.  In my case, I started with North Dallas Honey Co.  Like I said, it was very affective.  When I moved to the Mid Cities area, I found and even more local source, which I highly recommend.  There is a small Romanian Orthodox Church, in Colleyville (map), that sells local honey right out front.

There's two sizes.  A $10 jar and a $20 jar.  Bring cash, as the stand in unmanned and on the honor system.  I'll pick up a few $20 jar at a time for us, family and friends, and they seem to last a little over a month. 

 

 

 

Just remember to clean and return the jars when you're done with them.  Oh, and if you're looking for something fun to do in November, check out their Romanian Food Festival.