How to Tackle Spring Allergies with Your Morning Routine
When I was growing up in Japan, my parents would always gargle first thing in the morning and also when they get back home from outside to prevent colds and infections.
I was taught from a young age to gargle in the morning and after coming back home from school or playing with my friends (along with washing my hands with soap!).
Washing hands with soap after coming home from outside stuck with me to this date, very handy in Covid times! Though I stopped incorporating gurgling in my daily routine after coming to the UK. That was until I discovered Ayurveda.
In Ayurveda, late winter to spring is associated with the qualities of Kapha – heavy, cold, moist & stable.
If your Dosha(s) are relatively balanced, you tend to not (or less noticeable) experience any Kapha type imbalances and allergies during the transition and the Kapha season.
If you’re new to Ayurveda or even you have taken a Dosha quiz before this one will reveal something new – I promise 😊 Take this quiz and discover your Ayurvedic Dosha (mind-body type), uncover your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what might be holding you back from living your best life.
However, if your Dosha(s) are out of balance, you may start to experience Kapha type imbalances and allergies during the Kapha season, such as sinusitis or blocked sinuses, hay fever, asthma and colds with a phlegmy productive cough.
These Kapha type imbalances and allergies can create feelings of heaviness & sluggishness.
Gargling and using a nasal rinse is one way to prevent and balance Kapha type imbalances and allergies, but also it’s beneficial for Vata and Pitta to practice daily as well!
Rinse & Gargle
First thing in the morning (after you pee!), rinse your mouth a couple of times with lukewarm water and then gargle for about 15 seconds twice to clear excess Kapha in the throat.
Gargling helps ease sore throat, allergies as well as reducing viral and bacterial infections.
Nasal Rinse (Neti)
Then practice Neti!
Neti is a nasal rinse with a rock salt and warm water.
Make sure to use either a copper, ceramic or stainless steel neti pot and avoid plastic ones. (I use a stainless steel neti pot) and add ½ teaspoon of rock salt and 3/4 room temperature filtered water and 1/4 boiled water in the neti pot.
Make sure it is lukewarm – not too hot and do not use tap water! And make sure to read the instructions when you purchased the neti pot.
The benefits of daily nasal rinse:
- It cleanses, refreshes and protects the nasal passages
- It helps reduce allergies and mucus congestion
- It helps improve clarity and focus
- It reduces excess Vata mind (anxiety, fear etc.)
- It strengthens the Agni (our digestive fire)
- It helps aids Pranayama (breathing exercise), meditation and Asana practice as it allows the air to flow better through the nostrils
Make sure to apply a couple of dabs of sesame oil in each nostril after nasal rinse to balance the drying nature of salt.
Start incorporating gargling and nasal rinse in your daily morning routine this Kapha season!
If you’re new to Ayurveda or even you have taken a Dosha quiz before this one will reveal something new – I promise 😊 Take this quiz and discover your Ayurvedic Dosha (mind-body type), uncover your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what might be holding you back from living your best life.
Please feel free to forward this to a friend, colleague or family member who you feel could benefit.