I love Spring! Flowers are blooming, grass turns green and pollen is in the air! And right now the Bay Area, where I live, is thriving in pollen from all the much-needed rain we’ve received.
In the past this was my worse time of year because I suffered with allergies. I grew-up on a farm in Connecticut and was allergic to just about everything; hay, rag weed, house dust, flowers and cats. I can remember sneezing consecutively until I was weak. It was terrible. I had to get an allergy shot once a week and took pills that made me sleepy.
After high school I moved to the desert in Arizona and the allergies seemed to disappear. I assumed I had outgrown them. Fast forward twenty years later and I’m living in the Bay Area and guess what? The allergies returned. I was hosting a live call-in radio show at the time and people were actually calling in, not to ask a question, but to give me suggestions on how to alleviate the allergies. Nothing worked. And I did not want to take medication again!
It was around this time that I was studying to become a hypnotist. My instructor was working with me one day and right before the session ended, gave me a simple suggestion: “You have no more allergies, you are completely allergy free.” I had actually forgotten he said this until a few days later, while hosting the radio show, my nose was clear and my eyes weren’t tearing. Wow! I was amazed!
I started testing myself to see if this was truly happening. I went for a walk in the Rose Garden which was in full bloom. I let my friends cat sit in my lap while we watched a movie. I was fine! No allergy symptoms at all. This was one of the first big ‘convincers’ for me that hypnosis really does help alleviate physical symptoms. On another day during my hypnosis training I regressed to several childhood emotional issues that acted as the starting point with the allergies. That was in 1993. Today I remain allergy free!
Another great allergy blaster is what I call the trifecta of allergy relief. This is a combination of three essential oils; lavender, peppermint and lemon. This combination works wonders to cleanse the air of pollen or dust spores that are floating around causing havoc. Lavender aids in relaxation which helps to open tight airways. Lemon is an astringent that also boosts energy levels. Peppermint helps to clear the sinus passages and relieve headaches that often accompany allergy symptoms.
Several drops of each can be added to a diffuser which is the best way to cleanse the environment. You can also add some drops to a cup of water and breathe in deeply – just be cautious not to put your nose too close to the cup as the peppermint can be strong!
If you suffer from allergies I encourage you to give both hypnosis and essential oils a go. Both are safe modalities to help alleviate the discomforts caused by allergies. Try them, and you can love Spring again too!
