Spring should be a time to enjoy the fragrant re-awakening of trees, grasses and flowers. Spring symbolises rebirth and new possibilities. However, if you suffer from allergic rhinitis (i.e., seasonal allergies) spring time brings an itchy and runny nose, scratchy throat, watery eyes, sneezing and fatigue.

Symptoms can also include headaches, wheezing, coughing and irritability.

Hay fever has reached epidemic proportions. One hundred years ago, hay fever was much less common, even though more people lived on farms and were close to the grasses, moulds and pollens that trigger this well known irritation. A major reason for the dramatic rise in allergies is because our living conditions have become increasingly toxic. Not only does the toxic overload from chemicals in our food and environment cause allergic reactions, it also impairs the body's immune response to them.

During humid weather and when there are allergens nearby our already overburdened liver becomes further challenged and we experience discomfort.

Today's stress levels exacerbate symptoms. Foods which over tax the liver such as coffee, sugar, and meats which are often loaded with hormones and antibiotics should be limited. Dairy products should be avoided as they create an excess accumulation of mucous which harbours environmental irritants.

Anti-allergy drugs are heavily promoted during this time of year. Common drugstore medications generally mask symptoms and also have a rebound effect.

The more you use them, the more you need them. The newest ones are strong medicine and have strong side effects like rapid heartbeat. The drug loratadine (Claritin) has been shown to cause liver tumours including cancers.

Steroid drugs for hay fever allergies, if taken for long periods, do not cure and often make the situation worse by depressing immune defences, and impeding allergen elimination.

The good news is you don't have to choose between suffering with allergies or side effects from drugs used to treat them. Here are some safe, natural and very effective alternatives to drugs.

Stinging nettles relieve hay fever quickly in most cases, have no toxicity, and are even a valuable source of iron and trace minerals. Stinging nettles are a common plant throughout the world and a visiting botanist once told me Bermuda had some of the finest stinging nettles he had ever seen. Fresh plants have stinging hairs that inject irritant chemicals under the skin, however when dried or cooked nettles loose their sting. One or two capsules can be taken every two to four hours as necessary.

Quercetin is a powerful bioflavanoid found in garlic and berries. It suppresses the release and production of two inflammatory agents that cause allergy and asthma symptoms, histamines and leukotrienes. It also helps to boost immunity.

Dandelion is an excellent spring tonic. Fresh dandelion makes a tasty addition to salads and the dried root makes a fine coffee substitute-really! Dandelion strongly detoxifies and not only can it help with allergies but also with water retention, eczema and kidney stones.

All allergies have the potential to disappear if you make changes in your lifestyle and mental state.

Finally, we should all make cleaning up our environment a top priority.

Bermuda is becoming increasingly polluted. We should be looking at ways to reduce traffic, unwanted incineration by-products and pesticide and herbicide use to name a few. Repeated chemical exposure sets off rampant free radical reactions and allergic response. Those making the news today, environmental illness, sick buildings, breast cancer, attention deficit disorder in children, latex and insecticide allergies, are just the latest in a growing list. Worse, our bodies use up an enormous amount of nutrients trying to detoxify us from these chemicals, nutrients that could have been used to keep us healthy and happy.

So lets all do some spring cleaning -- internally with diet, herbs and exercise and externally in everyway possible!