Allergies

Allergies and Functional Medicine

Do you have allergies? Seasonal, indoor, outdoor, fragrances? Do you have sensitive skin? Food sensitivities? Have you tried everything you know of to try to make it better?

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I’ve had all of it, and for a very long time. I know how hard it is to enjoy your life when you can’t see through your watery eyes or have to have a box of tissue within reach at all times. It’s miserable, but it turns out it can change.

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My Story

I’ve had allergies for as long as I can remember. We could call them “seasonal” if you include all 4 seasons. And I’m talking bad allergies, as in have to hold my face because of the stabbing pain…not to mention the watery, itchy eyes, constantly blowing my nose (should have invested in Kleenex, I’m sure I kept the company in business!), and skin sensitivity with eczema patches. I couldn’t use or even be around fragrances, much less use regular laundry detergent. (I’ll save the discussion on those toxins for another day.)

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And that was my life. Every day, all year. Pretty miserable. I even moved to a different state and just found a whole new set of pollens I reacted to.

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I did just about everything. Tried every allergy medication, oral tablets and nasal sprays. I saw all the specialists, including a primary care MD, primary care DO, ENT, and asthma/allergy specialist. I had multiple sinus scans and then got tested and started immunotherapy (allergy shots). There were so many things I was allergic to, it wouldn’t all fit in one shot. And still no relief. I did go from taking 4 allergy pills a day to 2 most days. But this didn’t even relieve all the symptoms, it just allowed me to do my job without holding my face.

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Then I started with functional medicine. The focus was to heal my gut and reduce underlying inflammation. I didn’t even have gut problems, I thought. At least nothing severe, just gas and bloating that I thought was normal. Through the process I learned a lot about how my body reacts to things and made several minor and a few major changes to my diet.

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And now… I’m down to one allergy pill every other day! I don’t live next to the tissue box and I even visited my home state recently and didn’t start sneezing until I was there for 6 days! I took one pill and it went away!! I’ve never experienced such a thing in my life. I don’t have stabbing pain in my face, ever. My eczema is gone and only shows up for a couple of day if I eat the things I’m not supposed to. It's not perfect, but it's so much better, and beyond "livable". I actually feel good.

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I had no idea that what I was putting in my body what affecting so much. And I didn’t even have a horrible diet. My body just reacts to some things and I was having those things on such a regular basis there was no way to tell. Finding the root cause of my underlying inflammation made such a difference.

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That’s what led me here. Now I’m a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach so I can help you find your way to more enjoyable life too.

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Understanding Allergies Through Functional Medicine

Allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to substances that are typically harmless, like pollen, dust mites, or certain foods. While conventional approaches focus on symptom management (e.g., antihistamines), functional medicine seeks to uncover the root causes of these immune system imbalances.

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Key Factors That Contribute to Allergies

1. Gut Health: We’ve all heard of the gut microbiome by now. It plays a critical role in immune function. In fact, the majority of your immune system lines the gut! Dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria) can contribute to heightened allergic responses.

2. Inflammation: Chronic inflammation can exacerbate allergic reactions. Identifying and reducing inflammatory triggers—such as processed foods or environmental toxins—can help calm the immune system.

3. Food Sensitivities: Certain foods can trigger immune responses that mimic or worsen allergy symptoms. It ‘s hard to know if there’s a sensitivity because it’s often foods we have all the time, so we’re just always inflamed. An elimination diet can really help to identifying these sensitivities.

4. Environmental Factors: Mold exposure, air pollution, and chemical irritants can overload the immune system and worsen allergies. Having a clean home free of major chemical toxins can make a big difference.

How Diet Can Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Functional medicine emphasizes the importance of nutrition in managing allergies. There are key dietary strategies that can help reduce symptoms. Things such as adding more anti-inflammatory and gut-healing foods, avoiding sugar and processed foods, maybe even doing a short-term elimination diet to find what you're reacting to. Some changes are harder than others, but it's possible to make them, especially with support. ​

Why Work With Me?

I’ve been there and made the life-altering changes. As a certified functional medicine health coach specializing in helping busy individuals manage chronic conditions and achieve their wellness goals, I’m uniquely equipped to guide you through your allergy journey.

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What You Will Gain

• A personalized approach and program made just for you

• Support in identifying dietary triggers and optimizing gut health

• Tools to reduce inflammation naturally

• Accountability and encouragement as you make lasting changes

• A plan to work toward relief from allergy symptoms—and the freedom to live your life fully anywhere you want

Take Control of Your Allergies Today

You don’t have to live with constant discomfort or rely solely on medications that mask symptoms. With the right guidance and lifestyle changes, you can address the root causes of your allergies and reclaim your health.

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Ready to transform your life?

Let’s work together! Schedule a free strategy session today to learn how functional medicine coaching can help you reduce your allergy symptoms naturally.

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References

1. Bischoff SC et al. (2016). Gut microbiota-related mechanisms in food allergy. Frontiers in Immunology, 7(319).

2. Calder PC et al. (2010). Dietary factors influencing inflammation: Effects on immune function and chronic disease risk. Nutrition Research Reviews, 23(2), 94–105.

3. Skypala IJ et al. (2015). Food intolerance and allergy: Impact on quality of life. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 45(1), 182–192.

4. Bunyavanich S, Berin MC. Food allergy and the microbiome: Current understandings and future directions. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 Dec;144(6):1468-1477.