Beating the Cedar pollen allergy

A couple of months ago I began doing some research into how I could fix my cedar pollen allergy.

It was about three years ago that I started having the itchy swollen eyes, sneezing, runny and stuffed up nose, etc. that came with the allergy to the Japanese cedar (sugi) tree pollen in spring time.

I had intended to line up some of you as guinea pigs (including myself) put I simply had too many things on my plate. And so, I only put a couple of my plans in motion.

This thread will be to report on my findings and hopefully give some of you other suffers some things to work with and maybe even get you lined up for experiments next year.

Before you think I am crazy, let me tell you that though I have been sneezing my head off and had some itchiness, my eyes are not swollen, my nose is not runny nor is it stuffed up. Compared to the last three years, this is no sweat to me at all.

Information in this thread from me is going to be random and spotty. Sorry about that. But I feel the need to get this information out now rather than be my usual perfectionist self.

First, what I have actually done so far:

My understanding is that for these things to really work, you need to begin regularly consuming them at least a month before allergy problems are expected.

Last month I began to put turmeric in my food. I don't even remember what the active ingredient to turmeric was supposed to be, but it might have been curcumin. This chemical has been shown to reduce swelling. And that seems to be what I am experiencing. I have no swelling in my eyes or nose thus far.

I have put turmeric on eggs, toast, sushi and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I am treating it as a medicine, rather than a food, but I cannot say the taste has been offensive at all. Perhaps just a mismatch.

I am not using a phoney surgical mask (and never have) nor even the sponge nose filters I created three years ago.

I also heard that certain chemicals in wasabi were good. And after reading about curing peanut allergies by consuming small amounts of peanuts, and how some allergic reactions are related to others, I began to eat a peanut and wasabi flavored cracker mix. I ate the mix from small packets, maybe one packet every two days. If the wasabi is real or just flavoring, I don't know. But one thing about the peanuts is that I intentionally stopped eating them years ago because of the smell. So I figured that may have had something to do with me developing this allergy that I did not have trouble with before. (only once when I first came to Japan my eye got swollen for rubbing it, then no troubles for over a decade).

I also heard that quercetin was good and was available in apple skins. So I started eating apples which I never really liked, and also started to eat the skins as even on the rare occasion I ate an apple, I peeled it first, being concerned about the sprays they put on them.

Later I read conflicting information about quercetin in apples. And so I started eating capers instead. But only did that once a few days ago when I noticed other people having allergy problems.

Another recommended chemical is selenium. This is found in sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and mushrooms (I assume the European variety). So far I have had only the mushrooms, very well washed and lightly cooked a few times over the past month.

On top of that, fresh garlic, chopped, on a dry cutting board using a dry knife, and left to sit for at least 20 minutes.

Which of these has had the most effect or any or why, I cannot say. I have not ruled out placebo effect.

However, I am guessing at this point its the turmeric. That said, I have recently found out that unscrupulous spice sellers lace turmeric with lead, so you might want to watch out for that, especially if you have any intention to give turmeric to children.

Okay, so that is what I have actually done so far. Next I will begin discussing what I did not do that I was planning to do.

Also, I should point out that my research was mostly into chemicals that reduce histamine or block it, and to find foods which contain such chemicals.

I was told that ingesting propolis from local bee sources can help with local allergies, might be worth looking into

Well, I only have a test group of one, but it does seem that the turmeric and capers really worked out for me. Perhaps also the extra eggs, and also eating peanuts again (with wasabi crackers) and apples (with skins).

It seems to me that rosemary and/or fennel may have counter-acted one or some of those.

I only had about four bad nights this season where I had a stuffed up and runny nose, compared to every single night for 3 weeks last year, the year before and the year before that. And those bad nights were preceded by eating rosemary and fennel. (That said, itchiness in the eyes, nose and mouth were the same as every other year. But my eyes did not get gunked up with mucus-like substances like before. Also, sneezing as usual. In fact, I think I got a hernia from sneezing!).

Now, I know that sounds pretty conclusive, but I assure your its not. I am well aware that there are a thousand variables I have not been able to account for. However, I will be suggesting to everyone with these allergies to try the capers and turmeric from February next year, eating them daily and in quantity.

I was fine during my first 4 years in Japan and then suddenly I got allergic as well.
It was in 2012 when there were more pollen than ever - or at least a lot more than usually.
That being my first allergy ever, I didn't know what to do.

I got meds from my doctor that helped quite a bit. He also recommended a special Chinese tea, but I cannot really tell if that helped or not.
I try not to open my windows or doors too often during that time of the year and also keep my laundry inside.
When I go outside then only with a mask.
That usually helps.

Some of my students have it worse. One of them has to wear special glasses as his eyes are going crazy otherwise. Poor thing. :/

Based on the amount of allergy sufferers I saw in the train during cedar pollen season, I take it there isn't a reliable non-prescription remedy available at drug stores.

My allergies got worse every year, and the only help I found was to gargle and splash my eyes with water periodically. I didn't know about neti pots at the time, but that might help too.

problem solved!