Breathe deep to alleviate allergies
An untraditional approach to sneezing less this spring
Naturopath Ben Klinck encourages his clients with seasonal allergies to take five minutes a day to breathe deeply. It may sound counter-intuitive, he says, but it can work. The premise comes down to a strengthened immune system.
“If the body is strong and relaxed. You’re going to have a reduced response to pollen, ragweed or hay fever,” says Dr. Klinck, Director of Naturopathy at Medcan. “Because your body doesn’t have any unnecessary burdens placed upon it.”
Understanding the autonomic nervous systems
Regular intervals of deep breathing throughout the day trigger the body’s parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), also known as the rest and digest system. Klinck says research shows how conscious deep breathing – where your mind is on nothing but your breath – can mitigate the negative effect of our go-go-go culture, which can have the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on, all the time.
The SNS is meant to support us when a threat arises. It helps to fight a threat or flee it until we are safe. And that’s amazing. The problem arises when our SNS is on auto-pilot for too long and gets exhausted.
Our nerves and allergies
When it comes to allergies, Klinck says, if the immune system is already at a weakened stage, its response to biological invaders, like allergens, can be heightened, leading to congestion or itchy eyes that could have been avoided.
“Throughout your day, if you do five or ten minutes of deep breathing, along with your other conscious choices like a nutrient-rich diet that meets your needs and enough deep sleep,” says Klinck. “Your immune system has the chance to rest and recover, and ultimately respond effectively when it needs to.”
Suggested apps
Stop, Breathe & Think
Calm with Muse
Headspace
After earning his naturopathic medical degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Klinck completed a clinical externship at Johns Hopkins University at the Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center.
