If you’ve taken your anti-histamines, purchased a neti pot, used essential oils, and washed all of your clothing in hot water and you’re still lugging around a box of tissues everywhere you go, then you may want to give yoga a shot. While there hasn’t been much research done on the topic, yogis claim that the gentle breathing exercises and calming poses help reduce congestion during ENT allergy season.
Can Yoga Stabilize the Immune System?
An allergic reaction is an immune response triggered by a harmless substance. For allergy patients, the body’s immune system malfunctions and fails to correctly identify foreign intruders. Yoga helps to rid toxins from your system, improve circulation, condition the lungs and respiratory track, reduce inflammation, and lower stress. While it can’t stop an anaphylactic reaction, regular practice may help you survive the pollen season without overloading on medication. So, if you struggle with an ENT allergy, make sure to check out the recommended poses below.
Shoulder Stand:
Shoulder stands help to open up your nasal passages so mucus can drain more easily. All inverted poses will improve drainage, but make sure not to hold them too long. Inverted poses can cause pressure to build, so keep the time limit to a minute. To do a shoulder stand, lie on your back and support your lower back with your hands while leaning your elbows on the ground.
Bridge Pose:
The bridge pose helps to open up your chest and increase lung capacity. It also helps to stretch the muscles between your ribs that may become sore in helping you clear your nasal passages during the day.To do a bridge, lay on your back with your knees bent and your hands facing down next to your ears with your fingers pointing toward your toes. Then push up into a backbend. If a bridge is too difficult, try bending over an exercise ball or the armrest of a cushioned chair.
Yogic Breathing:
There are a host of yogic breathing exercises that can help reduce stress and boost immunity. To start, try alternate-nostril breathing. Hold your right nostril and breathe in through your left while counting slowly to ten. Pause for five seconds and then breathe out slowly through your right nostril while holding the left for ten more seconds.
Final Thoughts on Yoga and ENT Allergies:
If ENT allergies are part of your daily routine, consider taking up a yoga class. The simple poses and breathing exercises might just help you manage those symptoms.