How to Survive Allergy Season on Cape Cod (and Beyond)
I’ve always prided myself on not having allergies, but I have to admit that after six years on Cape Cod, they’ve started creeping up on me too. I find myself sneezing incessantly, dealing with a slight sore throat, and sometimes experiencing watery eyes or a runny nose.
So I wanted to share some of my go-to Ayurvedic wisdom — some of which you’ve probably already heard of, since many of these practices have become much more mainstream over the years.
Firstly: The Neti Pot
There are many different versions of this practice. You can buy a nasal spray that conveniently does the trick for you, and I’ve even seen products marketed specifically for kids when they’re sick. At its core, though, it’s all essentially the same thing: purified water and salt.
You can buy fancy salt packets or special neti salt, which are definitely convenient, but regular table salt can also work just fine.
The salt-to-water ratio should feel comfortable while you rinse. For me, it’s usually about ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt. If you’re trying it for the first time, it might seem intimidating, but trust me — it’s actually very easy.
One important thing: use sterile or properly purified water.
(That said, I do have a friend who has done it in the shower for 15 years and swears by it!)
You can check out more in this video:
https://youtu.be/WA44cMcgOiY?si=B2Ush-64zZgpm2X3
Nasya
This is something many people haven’t heard about yet, but it’s truly a magnificent practice.
Nasya essentially involves applying oil to the nasal cavities. The idea is that you use a neti rinse first to clean the nose, and then the oil creates a protective barrier between your nasal passages and the environment.
And believe me — it works beautifully.
An added benefit is that it’s also traditionally known for calming the mind.
You can use a specific Nasya oil, which is usually a medicated sesame oil, or you can simply use oils you already have at home. Sesame oil tends to work best because it’s heavier and therefore lasts longer, but I’ve also used olive oil and sunflower oil. It’s not about being perfect.
If you don’t have time to do neti before practicing Nasya, try to at least blow your nose first to clear the nasal passages.
Here’s a video for the purists among you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZXyde7Dh0Y
In reality, I usually just apply a few drops of oil onto my index finger and gently place it inside each nostril.
And in all honesty, I just had to pause writing this newsletter to do it for myself — it feels divine.
Nasya is also something I take with me on airplanes. It really helps with the dry air and keeps my nasal passages from getting irritated during flights.
Herbal Support
From an Ayurvedic perspective, allergies are seen as an inflammatory response of the body to environmental irritants.
Banyan Botanicals has a specific herbal blend called Pollen Protect that many people find very supportive during allergy season. Turmeric can also be incredibly beneficial during this time of year.
I’ll leave a link for the Pollen Protect formula here in case you’re interested.
May this wisdom serve you well, and let me know if you’re already practicing any of these remedies — or if you can’t wait to try them this season.
Much love,
Riina
PS! Picture of Marshlands in Sandwich! One of my favorite reminders that nature is always changing, yet somehow always knows exactly what it's doing.
