|
|
Allergy Antidote
Angela Parisi
At
least 35.9 million Americans annually are plagued by seasonal allergic
rhinitis, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
Immunology. And the number of sufferers has doubled in the last 20 years,
due to factors such as environmental pollution, poor diet, and increased
stress, which make our immune, nervous, and respiratory systems
hypersensitive.
Allergies aren't just annoying; they can affect sleep, concentration, and
productivity and put you in a bad mood. Moreover, growing evidence shows
that allergies and asthma may be two sides of the same coin, as asthmatics
are more likely to be allergy sufferers too and those with allergies have a
greater chance of developing asthma.
While people often think of spring as the beginning of "allergy season,"
there are actually three separate times of year when seasonal allergies tend
to occur: spring (tree pollen), summer (grass pollen), and early fall
(ragweed pollen). Allergy shots (immunotherapy), nasal steroid sprays, and
over-the-counter antihistamines may work for many, but a more holistic
approach can help too. As a lifestyle measure, your yoga practice can help
reduce allergy symptoms by tempering your immune system's response to the
perceived offender—pollen.
"Allergies are worsened by a stress reaction, which causes physiological
responses, including the release of stress hormones and histamine, and
triggers inflammation," says Jeff Migdow, M.D., director of Prana Yoga
Teacher Training through the Open Center in New York as well as a holistic
physician at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts.
"Relaxation diminishes fight-or-flight response, and thereby reduces
allergic symptoms." Through relaxation, the nervous system basically tells
the immune system to hold its fire. Once the immune system backs off, the
inflammation and mucus decrease, and symptoms diminish.
Migdow suggests you make de-stressing your immune system a priority by
modifying your yoga practice to be less vigorous and much more calming. "For
example, avoid Bikram Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga where there is already heat.
Instead, practice asanas in a smooth and relaxing way with lots of slow
breathing."
Gary Kraftsow, the founder of the American Viniyoga Institute and the author
of Yoga for Wellness (Penguin, 1999), adds: "When allergies flare up,
avoid anything that may add insult to injury and keep energy up, since
allergies are also associated with low energy." Plus he advises against
using forceful breathing or any pranayama through the nostrils, as
congestion might make this difficult and uncomfortable. "In your breathing,
place a greater emphasis on exhalation; a short inhalation followed by a
longer one has a calming effect," he says.
Harriet (Bhumi) Russell, who is a holistic health educator, yoga teacher,
and director of Bhumi's Yoga and Wellness Center in Cleveland, Ohio, says
that inversions can help clear the upper respiratory tract and drain
secretions from the nose, allowing freshly oxygenated blood to flow into the
oral cavity. Doing Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) and Halasana (Plow Pose) can
open nasal passages, ensuring proper drainage of sinuses, she says. "But
don't keep your head down too long in poses like Adho Mukha Svanasana
(Downward-Facing Dog) and Sirsasana (Headstand), which can put extra
pressure on nasal passages."
Russell also recommends doing more standing poses—forward and backward
bends, and twists—in your practice, all of which tend to massage various
parts of the spine and the thoracic cage and condition the lungs. "Strong
lung meridians help strengthen immune-system functioning," she explains.
Angela Pirisi
is a health writer living in Toronto, Canada. In addition to her
contributions to Yoga Journal, she writes for the British medical
journal The Lancet and other publications.
Reprinted from Yoga Journal March/April
YogaJournal.com
|
|
