Spring – one of my favorite seasons. The world is coming back to life and the colors and aroma of blooming flowers is always welcome after a dreary winter. But as the world springs back to life, so do my allergies. Every April and May like clockwork I start getting the familiar itchy eyes, nose, and face. Quickly proceeded by multiple sneezing attacks, fatigue, and an overall feeling of malaise. I have tried countless over the counter pills, nasal sprays, and herbal remedies. The only thing that really seems to work is steroidal nasal sprays, which I am not crazy about using on a daily basis.
That is until my daily Golden Turmeric Latte stepped in. I started drinking them on a daily basis a couple of months ago. Not only have I seen improvement in my digestion, I started to wonder if they were helping my seasonal allergies as well. My allergies didn’t seem to be as severe as the previous years. Anecdotal, yes – but when I started researching if there had been any studies connecting turmeric and seasonal allergies, I was pleased with what I found.
Turmeric is known for its many benefits and for being an anti-inflammatory powerhouse. With all its anti-inflammatory goodness, it could help minimize the irritation caused by seasonal allergies! Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a ton of studies on turmeric’s effect on seasonal allergies in humans, but some studies on mice look promising. This study showed a reduction in the allergic response of mice when they were treated with turmeric.
There is a study from the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology that conducted a human trial of the effects of curcumin on a group of 241 subjects. By the end of the study, subjects who received the curcumin showed reduced signs of sneezing and runny nose, as well as less nasal congestion. In fact, these symptoms were reduced by approximately 70 percent.
Turmeric comes in many forms including pills, teas, tinctures, and powders. You can drink it, make your favorite curry, or add it to any dish you like. It doesn’t matter how you consume it, the benefits of turmeric’s main active compound, curcumin, will still take effect. A number of research articles have shown it to have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties. Curcumin is also the main ingredient that stores most of the anti-inflammatory benefits.
While I will still probably need to take a pill or use a nasal spray on really heavy pollen days, I will continue to drink my turmeric lattes to improve my overall health and contribute to a better standard of living. Anything that helps me enjoy the spring season more is a win in my book.