I just recently found out that I have really bad allergies to dust and grass. I always thought the constant headaches and all of the other symptoms were something else. Allegra, Claritin, Beconase and Flonase don't work for my post nasal drip and headaches. Does anyone else feel like their throat is swollen and have little bumps on the back of it? Is this due to allergies? I also have an anxiety problem and wonder if it is due to that? What medications have worked best? Thanks for the help.

Hi Lee,

You could always try alternative meds that seem to work real well for allergies.

You could go to your doc and get some desensitisation shots before the next season comes around. Probably too late for this year though.

Homeopathic remedies can be good for your sort of problem too. You may have to have allergy testing for this though. They would have to find exactly what type of dust and pollens you are allergic to. Once they have found these they would get the right mixture together and potentize it. Once this was done, you would take it in a 30c or 200c potency. This is known as Isopathy and would take it before you get the symptoms and it acts almost as a preventer to stop you getting them. There may also be remedies that you can take to help you when you have the symptoms, homeopathy, but your individual symptoms would have to be assessed first.

I would suggest that you go and consult a homeopath. If you see one, he could probably help your anxiety too by giving you what is called a constitutional remedy.

A good remedy for 'anticipatory anxiety' is something called Arg Nit. Take it in a 30c potency. Just take one when you feel anxious and see if it helps.

I would also recommend that you practice some Qi Gong exercises. This is Chinese meditation and deep breathing exercises. It is like T'ai Qi, but slower.

When you start feeling anxious, take a little time out. Sit on a chair with a straight back. Take your shoes off so that you have some connection with the earth. Just try and relax all your muscles. Close your eyes and connect the tip of our tongue with the roof of your mouth. Lastly, take both your hands and link them over your lower belly. Undo your belt or anything tight round your waist so you can really let your belly expand. Just try to empty your mind totally and take slow deep breaths - at this stage you should be breathing from your belly rather than your chest. Try and do this for about 10 minutes and you should feel a lot more relaxed and grounded, as by doing this you have collected energy or Qi. Don't worry if your mind wonders, just slowly bring it back and refocuss. This is what the Chinese call monkey mind.

Don't know whether you have heard of Indian Chakras? Well the Chinese have the same but they are know as Upper, Middle and Lower Dan Tien. They are in the chest and upper and lower belly respectively. You are working with the lower Dan Tien in the lower belly, which is the seat of Qi and this is a Qi gathering exercise.

Give it a try. I use both the suggestions that I have made to you on a regularly basis, and have had good results.

Try it and let me know how you get on? Has to be better than taking meds?

Good luck.


Sarah