Spring is officially upon us and those lovely blossoms that line the streets with a pop of pink, can also start a vicious cycle of symptoms that last from weeks to months. What constitutes an allergy? Essentially it is the body's over reaction or sensitivity to an allergen. Typically in Spring it involves exposure to airborne particles from trees or weeds-- pollen. What's really happening? While the body's response is to produce IgE antibodies that attach to white blood cells, when these cells are stimulated they release histamine causing allergic symptoms such as; runny nose, sinus congestion, itchy/watery eyes, and sneezing. Western medicine treats allergies with antihistamines like Benadryl or Chlortriplon or allergy shots by injecting small amounts of an allergen and gradually increasing the amount to desensitize the body's response. While these methods are effective in treating symptoms, there are also side-effects (drowsiness, urinary retention, dry mouth, blu
