Understanding Seasonal Allergies: How Your Immune System, Diet, and Holistic Medicine Can Make a Difference
Seasonal allergies aren’t just an annoyance—they’re a sign that your immune system is reacting to something in your environment. While conventional treatments focus on symptom suppression, a functional medicine approach looks deeper, addressing immune system regulation, gut health, and targeted homeopathy to bring the body back into balance.
Dr. Holly Castle, ND, brings decades of experience in treating allergies at their root cause. She specializes in immune modulation, homeopathy, biotherapeutic drainage, and functional testing to help patients reduce symptoms and achieve long-term relief. Here, she shares insights into how allergies develop, why diet matters, and which natural treatments can help you breathe easier this season.
How the Immune System Reacts to Seasonal Allergies
The immune system is designed to protect us from harmful invaders. However, in people with seasonal allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies pollen, dust, or mold as threats, triggering an inflammatory response.
- Mast cells (a type of immune cell) release histamine and other inflammatory mediators when they come into contact with allergens.
- This causes classic allergy symptoms: sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and itching.
- Over time, chronic exposure to allergens can lead to systemic inflammation, making symptoms more severe and persistent.
Both energetic and functional medicine approaches go beyond antihistamines by asking: Why is the immune system overreacting in the first place? The answer often lies in gut health, diet, and immune regulation.
What is Mast Cell Activation & Why Does it Matter?
Mast cells play a crucial role in allergic reactions, but they don’t just react to pollen—they are also influenced by diet, gut health, and stress.
- Mast cell overactivation can lead to excessive histamine release, worsening allergy symptoms.
- This is often seen in patients with leaky gut, food sensitivities, or chronic inflammation.
- Certain foods (fermented foods, alcohol, aged cheeses) can trigger histamine intolerance, making allergies feel worse.
Key Strategy: Supporting gut health and immune regulation can help stabilize mast cells, reducing allergy flare-ups naturally.
Why Diet Affects Seasonal Allergies So Much
Many people don’t realize that their diet plays a huge role in allergy severity. Certain foods either promote inflammation or help regulate immune responses. When your body is experiencing internal inflammation from the diet, for example, it becomes even more reactive to other stimuli like pollen.
Dr. Holly specializes in testing for immune-related food reactivity, identifying which foods may be worsening allergy symptoms through IgE, IgG, IgA, and IgM testing:
IgE Responses: I call the IgE immune response the “IgEmergency” response; IgE reactions are immediate immune responses. The IgE response that most people associate with food allergies is the severe peanut allergy that requires carrying and epi pin.
- IgG & IgA Responses: These are delayed immune reactions that often correlate with gut permeability (leaky gut) and systemic inflammation and they are much more common, in my experience, than the IgE immune response. My preferred test food sensitivity test focuses on IgG histamine responses, which are more common than most people realize. That is because the reaction you have to something you ate on Monday may not produce noticeable symptoms until Wednesday.
- IgM Responses: Indicate active immune engagement, often triggered by chronic infections or persistent allergens.
- IgA, IgG, and IgM immunoglobulins are all found in breast milk, which is one reason breast feeding is so beneficial to a baby’s early immune response.
- Healing the gut through an anti-inflammatory diet, probiotics, and targeted nutrition can dramatically reduce immune hypersensitivity.
Best Foods for Allergy Relief:
- Foods high in quercetin (onions, apples, citrus) – natural antihistamines
- Omega-3 fatty acids (wild-caught fish, flaxseed) – reduce inflammation
- Vitamin C-rich foods (bell peppers, kiwi, leafy greens) – stabilize immune response
- Probiotic-rich foods (yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut) – support gut health
Homeopathic Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
For acute symptom relief, Dr. Holly often prescribes homeopathic remedies tailored to a patient’s specific symptoms:
- Allium Cepa: Best for watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing fits.
- Euphrasia: Great for itchy, red, irritated eyes.
- Urtica Urens: Used for hives, rashes, and skin allergies.
At NaturopathicNV’s Allergy Workshop, patients will have the opportunity to explore homeopathic remedies in real time, learning how these treatments can be used effectively at home.
For Chronic & Stubborn Allergies: Biotherapeutic Drainage & Custom Detox Protocols
When allergies persist year after year and dietary changes don’t improve the symptoms, deeper detoxification and immune regulation may be necessary.
- Biotherapeutic drainage is a method of clearing toxins from the body by supporting liver, kidney, and lymphatic function.
- Custom detox protocols help eliminate environmental toxin buildup, which can trigger chronic immune hypersensitivity.
- Functional lab testing (e.g., GI-MAP stool tests, organic acid tests, heavy metal panels) can reveal hidden factors contributing to chronic allergies and inflammation.
Dr. Holly incorporates these tools to create a truly customized approach to allergy relief, beyond just symptom suppression.
Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Your Allergies Naturally
If you’re tired of relying on antihistamines and quick fixes, a functional approach to allergy care may be the solution.
✅ Addressing gut health & diet can dramatically reduce allergic reactions.
✅ Mast cell regulation is key to calming immune overactivity.
✅ Homeopathy & herbal medicine can offer natural, effective relief.
✅ For persistent cases, biotherapeutic drainage & detox support can help restore balance.
🌿 Join Dr. Holly & Dr. Syd at NaturopathicNV’s Free Allergy Q&A & Herbal Tea Workshop on April 5th! 🌿
📅 Event Details: 📍 NaturopathicNV Clinic | Henderson, NV
🎟 RSVP for the Herbal Tea Workshop Here: Eventbrite
💬 Meet the team, get expert allergy insights, and create your own custom herbal allergy tea blend!
🚀 Ready to work with Dr. Holly?