Allergy - "At Least It's Not A Cold"

You wake up with post-nasal drip, a sore throat, and slight grogginess. After a few minutes or hours, you come to the understanding that it's allergies. You go to work looking miserable until allergy meds kick in. How many times has someone said to you, "At least it's not a cold"? I have been on the receiving end of this statement, many times. And yet, these words have always felt a little dismissive to what I was experiencing.

There is a lot to consider when you get the sniffles, tearing / itching eyes, sneezing, ear's tingling, ear wax build up, throat irritation, coughing, headaches and more - all of this because of seasonal and environmental allergies. But, how do you know if it's an allergy and not a cold?

A cold will last 7 - 10 days. Symptoms of allergies will continue until the allergen is removed from your environment or you remove yourself from its habitat. You must understand that either way, your immune system is responsible for responding to protect your body from invaders and intruders.

And miserable is miserable. In the United States, colds account for the majority of doctor visits. Colds are highly contagious usually via touch or droplets which can also be inhaled. Whereas allergens like pollen or mold are more concerning, if the others being exposed are sensitive to it. Maybe others feel it best to avoid exposure to what they consider a contagion. But let's face it, contagions spread via multiple ways - droplets, air, surface contact, human contact.

By maxxyustas. (Unknown) Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus bacterias, 3D illustration.

Your immune system is responsible for detoxing (ridding) the body of toxins including viruses, bacterium and their wastes. Your condition of wellBEing determines how simple this process is versus how complicated it can become over time. This is why a cold or allergen can be harder on some than it is on others.

"When you catch a cold, you've really caught a detox!" (Dr Robert Morse)

If you put a person with a cold next to a person with allergy issues, could you distinguish the difference between the two people? -probably not. Herbs exist to treat both. And herbs confront the viruses and bacterium triggering the symptoms, as well as, boosting the immune system. If you do not take care, your immune system can become overloaded which gives other viruses and bacterium opportunity to wreak even more havoc on your wellBeing.

Based on your experience with previous allergy seasons and colds, you may be concerned your symptoms could mean something more and require further attention. Talk to your Clinical Herbalist, or Healthcare Provider.

When to contact your Clinical Herbalist:

• Fever

• Cough worsens

• Development of breathing complications, like asthma or shortness of breath

• Ear aches

• Severe headache

• Vomiting

• Sinus pressure

• Rash or hives appear

• Sensitivity to light

• Lack of sleep / rest

• When you want relief from symptoms

Whether or not you can readily tell the difference between an allergy or cold, take care of yourself. And if you come across someone suffering with symptoms of either, be compassionate. Kindness goes a long way when someone isn't feeling their best.

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Endnotes

American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel. (2024, January 22). Facts About The Common Cold. American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/facts-about-the-common-cold#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20colds,Colds%20are%20highly%20contagious.

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Tyra Ware, CHHP CIr CH AT RYT

A Clinical Herbalist who's passionate about Medical Herbalism and Aromatherapy for health care. She partners with her fiancé at bZengi offering healing arts services to clientele worldwide.  She enjoys yoga, listening to music, reading, mystery and action films, learning languages and developing culinary creations and spending time with her fiancé.  You can learn more about her work at www.bzengi.net.