Summer is here and with the changing of the seasons come the blooming of flowers and trees and environmental allergies. Symptoms of allergies are sneezing, coughing, headaches, fatigue, watery eyes, and stuffy nose. These natural approaches may help to minimize or even eliminate these burdensome symptoms.

Wildflower honey: Take a teaspoon a day of wildflower honey from your area. The honey can act as a homeopathic remedy in the body and can therefore counteract the allergies caused by wildflowers.

Quercetin: A bioflavonoid, has also been shown to help with the alleviation of allergies.

Cayenne pepper: May also help with environmental allergies due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Astragalus: These immune boosting supplements can also help to decrease and possibly prevent allergies. Strengthening the immune system may also help to alleviate symptoms.

Mono diet: It is possible symptoms may be caused by food allergies. If you suspect this may be the problem it would be wise to try a reducing mono diet. This diet consists of eating only one food item like grapes, apples, brown rice, or potatoes for a day. This allows the digestive system to heal itself. Then normal daily foods are slowly introduced back into the diet with close attention being paid to how the foods are affecting the body. If allergies return with certain foods, it is an indicator of an allergy to that particular food.

Diane Kingsley is a nutritional counselor and the coordinator of the Wellness Center at Vero Beach. Please call 1-772-778-9282 or visit www.wellnesscenterverobeach.com for more information.